The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-31
THE BODY NOT IDENTIFIED
Impossible Thus Far to Solve the
Chain Bridge Mystery.
4 C"ron"r's Jury Returss II Verdict
of suicide-The Theory of Murder
Supported by Napy-DescriPtion of
Clothing TO Be- Buried Today.

The body of the unknown man found
Friday on a height one mile from the
Chain Bridge, in Fairfax County, Nir-
ginia, will be buried this forenoon. Ideu-
tification of the remains has not been
possible. and. despite enquiry yesterday
the manner of death was not determined.
There are two theories, each with firm
adherents. Those who think the unknown
was murdered are less numerous, but
fully as persistent as the believers in sui
eide. The latter theory has the verdict
of a coroners jury to support it.
Health officer Woodward. detectives,
and others from this city viewed the re-
mains yesterday and obtained a minute
description OF the unknown. his clothing,
and other effects.
Since the body was discovered Friday
afternoon by five boys, who were hunt
ing along the hills that skirt the Virginia
shore for miles west OF Georgetown. it
has remained unclaimed and unidentified.
The covering afforded the body by clothes
worn alone protected it from being de-
youred by buzzards. 1t WAS viewed yes
terday by many. chiefly farmers and resi-
dents of the neighborhood where it was
found Badly decomposed. with face rem
dered unrecogniZable by birds, the body
is apparently beyond the possibility of
identification, and distinguishing marks
on the personal effects are lacking. EX
animation of the remains shows them to
be of man aged from twenty-five to
thirty-five years, and five feet six and
one-haIf inches tall. In weight the body
is very near 40 pounds. Sandy hair. regU
lar and prominent teeth, are the principal
distinguishing marks. Both ears are gone.
and the hands have turned blue. The
hair is ciotted with blood
Minute examination of the clothing was
made by Detectives Browne and Bur
roughs, who went to the scene yesterday.
The unknown wore dark grey coat and
vest with trousers of dark steel grey
color. and a very fine red stripe running
down the leg. The clothing was new. A
black derby hat, size 67s. with band
marked Morocco leather" was found be-
side the body Health underwear. the
shirt being size 81 and drawers size "a, and
a blue and white striped outer shirt were
also found to be new. A white standing
collar of medium height and size 16
bears the mark international and
small steel grey necktie is marked Ed
Steudter Hoboken. N. J." The un-
known wore black socks, grey at the
was the number 1915 in red figures A
light grey overcoat completed the ap-
parel.
Beside the man was found a .32-calibre
revolver, made by the Four Hands Arms
Co, Worcester, Mass. The letters IF
w" were marked on-the handle of the
weapon. from which two shots had been
fired. The pistol number is 1885, In the
pockets of the unknown man We're found
gars. a lead pencil, and atsmall box of
matches. A 81 bill was found in vest
pocket. 1t was appropriated at the di-
rection of Henry NJ. Fortner, justice of
the peace, for the purchase of a box in
which to bury the remains. Small oval
cuff buttons. OF blue @..Fl white enamel.
with a small white centre We're found in
the sleeves of the outer shirt,
Justice of the Peacs Former conducted
the inquest yesterday over the remains.
No witnesses were heard. but several pres
ent suggested theories about the manner OF
death The jury. composed OF j. Nj. Wal
theirs. foreman: John @. Grant Emory
Boucher, Ward Kirby. Charles Schutt.
William Rodgers. and w. T.: Phillips. Were
sworn over the body ontthe spot where it
was discovered. Shortly afterward the
following verdict was returned.
We. the undersigned jury. viewed the
remains of dead man found on the Nc
Carthy farm, in Fairfax County, Va, and
suppose that the said man came to his
death by pistol shot from his own hand:
said man supposed to be about thirty-two
years of age five feet seven inches in
height, and weighing about 40 pounds.
We suppose that he has been dead for
three weeks.
After the verdict the articles found in
the clothing Of the dead man were placed
in charge of Squire Fortner. while Con
stable Mccarthy made arrangements for
the funeral. He stated that the inter
ment would be made near the spot where
the body was found, and when seen by
reporter was on his way to Georgetown
to secure a suitable coffin.
While every effort Is being made to
Identify the body. none of those reported
missing in this city appears 10 answer
the description of the unknown. num-
ber of persons disappeared. especially
during Inauguration week. 1t w2s at
first thought the body found might be
that of Harry Wilbur, Secretary of Health
Officer Woodward. but that idea was dis
sipated WHEN DR.. Woodward viewed the
remains yesterday afternoon. DIR. Wood
ward says the body Is that of a man
about twenty-five years old. He believes
tho bullet which probably caused death
entered the left side of the head.
The theory of possible murder seems to
derive support from three facts The
revolver was found grasped in the right
hand. while the bullet in the head is
thought to have entered the left side. A
cash in the throat, supposed to have been
made by a knife or other sharp instru-
ment. is vet to be accounted for. because
no such weapon was found. Two shots
were fired apparently from the revolver
found while but one seems to have en-
tered the body OF the dead man.