The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-27
A VERDICT OF MURDER.
Decision of the Coroncr's Jury in
the Marshall HaII Mystery.

At an inquest held yesterday at Guns
toms wharf, on the Virginia side of the
Potomac, below Marshall Hall, Md, over
the remains Of the negro found floating in
the river early Monday morning, the fol-
lowing verdict was rendered: THAT the
unknown was murdered; that death was
caused by blows inflicted with some sharp
instrument. probably a Ratchet, in the
hands of a party or parties unknown"
Detective Parham and Harbormaster
Sutton represented the local police at the
inquest, which was held by Virginia Of
fcials. Every effort was made to identify
the body, but without success. Several
persons have been reported missing here
during the past month, and it was
deemed expedient to have a detective
view the body and attend the enquiry.
Accordingly the police harbor boat was
despatched yesterday morning down the
river. Detective Parham returned to the
city last night, and made a report to In
spector Boardman. 1t appears to have
been clearly established that the body is
that of negro. There is as yet no clew
to the murderer
Two witnesses were examined yesterday
at the inquest. They were Norman Shep-
pard, fisherman, who discovered the
remains, and Samuel Green, colored, a
resident of the neighborhood of the
wharf. Sheppard told of finding the re-
mains entangled in his nets about day
light Monday morning; of towing them
ashore, where he tied them to a stake,
and of reporting to a constable living a
mile from the wharf. Sheppard said he
knew nothing of the identity of the de-
ceased. Green lives near the wharf He
is fisherman and a laborer. Late at
sevhr MDr inc 70 hi CT
mony. he heard calls for help coming
from the direction of the river. and
shortly afterward cries of murder, and a
faint splash. There was thick fog over
the river. After while everything was
quiet, and Green thought nothing further
about the matter until the body was
found by Sheppard.
A physician who had examined the re-
mains prior to the inquest told of the
nature of the wounds which had caused
death. He said there were three deep
Gashes. One was at the bridge of the
nose, and penetrated to the brain; an
other was across the forehead crushing
the skull, and the third was on the back
of the head The jury, composed of
farmers and fishermen, asked Detective
Parham for his opinion of the case and
then returned the verdict given. Last
night the body was buried on the shore
near the wharf.
Everything points to the theory that the
crime was committed on a coasting YES
sci, sloop or other small craft, of which
it is supposed the victim was a deckhand.
Whether the murder was provoked or the
result of cold-blooded intention will prob
ably never be known. The identity of the
slain and slayer will also likely remain a
mystery, there is nothing for the
authorities to work upon.
The body is that of a negro about
thirty-two years old, six feet two inches
tall, weighing 2l5 pounds. 1t was clothed
i'm a dark blue serge vest, cotton under
shirt, dark blue trousers. and cheap new
shoes, pointed at the toes. In a pocket
of the vest was the paper cover Of
novel entitled White as Snow"