Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-28
Coroner's Jury Passes Upon
Mysterious Case.
DEAD MAN IN WOODS
FOUND ON FARM IN PRINCE
GEORGES COUNTY, MD.
Detectives Endeavor to Obtain Clue to
Perpetrator Of the Crime
Body Described.

Local detectives are working on a case
which may develop into murder commit
ted in this jurisdiction, notwithstanding
the body was found in Prince Georges
county, Md. A man, about whose age or
identity nothing is yet known, was the vic
tim That his death was due to violence
there is no doubt. Who inflicted the fatal
wounds is the question the police are trying
to solve
An effort is being made today by Detect
ives Hartigan and Miller to establish the
ownership of a revolver found near the
corpse. 1t is believed the weapon was
bought in this city, and it is further be-
lieved that the victim had resided here.
The clothing on the body gave the detect
ives the idea that the dead man had be-
longed in the city and not in the country.
Buzzards had so completely destroyed the
mans face that the features could not be
identified.
When the case was reported to the police
yesterday afternoon Captain Boardman
sent Detective Miller and Photographer
johnson to the place where the body was
found, a point between Camp Springs and
Silver Hill, and they made number Of in
qulries about the affair, but returned home
before the inquest was concluded. Upon
their return the detective submitted a
written report to Captain Boardman, in
which he detailed the bullet wounds in the
left side Of the breast of the dead man,
and also mentioned what appeared to be a
gunshot wound of the right side of the
breast They learned nothing of a stab
wound which was discovered later, when
the body was more closely examined.
The Detectives Report.
The report made on the case reads:
Upon examination there were found
three bullet holes or shot wounds in his
left breast over the heart, covering a space
of about and one-half inch square.
Another hole in his right breast, about two
inches in diameter, looked as though it had
been made by shotgun at close range, as
his coat was burnt and there was a large
hole in his coat and vest.
"A revolver was found nearby, on his
right side. The body was SO much decom-
posed that 1t was impossible to, tell his
age.
"A clipping from The Evening Star con-
corning the Ayres case, with picture OF
the Kenmore Hotel, was found in his pock-
cts; also small comb and small ticket
and stamp case.
In my opinion the man did not commit
suicide.
The man was white, about five feet nine
inches in height, $50 pounds, slender build,
dark brown hair, blue and white striped
shirt, white turn-down collar, blue serge
diagonal coat and vest, dark grey striped
pants, black derby hat-size Z; No. shoes
One gold tooth and one crowned on lower
jaw next to the last tooth. Initials L. T
and American cCat-of-arms tattooed on
right arm, and initials L. T. on left arm.
Doube-breas ted watch chain, with twisted
links-three of silver and three of gold
with cameo charm, black stockings and
feece-lined underwear. Collar, 1414; laun-
dry mark, H. 433.'
The revolver was Young America
No. L. 1856, double action, thirty-two
caliber, five-shot. made by II. & r. Arms
Co., Worcester, Mass. and had the cost
mark or selling price IT. NJ. D. scratched on
handle or butt.
THE remains were found by J. H Grimes
Of Oxon Hill. Prince Georges county, Md,
on the farm of William Pyles, near Silver
Hill, Md, about seven miles from Anacos-
tia. D. c."
Developments Made Today.
A revolver-probably the one which
figured in the case-was- traced to a local
dealer this morning by Detective Hartigan
He ascertained that a thirty two caliber
Young American revolver, made by the H.
& R. Arms Company of Worcester. Mass,
had been sold in this city by the firm of d.
n. Walford. This weapon was a five-cham-
Der affair, and bore the number IL 1868"
with the selling price. ct. NJ. o." scratched
on the handle, while the report of Detective
Miller gave the marks as IL. 1885, and the
selling price, 'TMD." The records at Mr..
Walfords store show that the weapon IL
15s6' was sold there January 2, 1902, to a
man VINO gave his name as Henry Thomp-
northeast. 1t developed that no person
named Thompson had ever lived at the
number mentioned.
Detective Hartigan went to Prince
Georges county this afternoon to get the
weapon, Mr.. Walford will be able to
Identify 1t if it is the one sold at his store
Coroner's Verdict.
The officials of the community where the
W ooJr
searching investigation and cor
oner's jury was impannelel for this
purpose by Magistrate John M Rob-
erts of Oxon Hill, Md. After hearing
all the testimony that could be adduced
bearing upon the matter the jury adjourn
ca until yesterday, when, after careful de-
nperatlon verdict was returned, at night
faii, to the effect that the deceased had
come to his death from a stab wound
reaching the heart and inflicted by some
one unknown to the jury. The jury also
found that four pistol bullets had penetrat-
ed the dead mans body in the region of
the heart.
DR.. Albert w. Evans, former physician
Of Washington, who is now stopping near
OXon Hill. made the final examination of
the body that resulted in the jurors reach
ing the verdict mentioned. DR.. Evans made
MS post-mortem examination of the body
as 1t lay in its rude box exposed to the
gaze of many people.
Theory Of Murder Endorsed.
The verdict, which officially stamped the
case as one Of murder, met with the
unanimous approval Of the several hundred
persons assembled on the scene The Jury.
which was summoned by Constable A. E.
Day Of Oxon Hill, comprised the following
weH-known citizens of the section: VIII
lam d. Pyles. Robert Padgett, Henry Pad
gett. Frank Day, Henry Frye, George
Forest. Thomas Taylor, Irving Allen,
Henry Andrew, Tony Allen, William PAYNE
and Irving Washington. Mr.. Pyles acted
as foreman of the jury. Deputy Sheriff
James H. Grimes of Oxon Hill was pres
ent with Constable Day during the pro
ceedings. Many people came from a dis
lance to view the remains of the dead man.
as well as to advise and confer with the
local authorities. number were present
from Anacostia, including Mr.. George F.
Pyles. a brother of the citizen on whose
farm the body was discovered
Alonzo Talbert and Herbert King, young
men who live at Camp Springs, were in the
woods on Mr.. Pyles' place Saturday in
search of arbutus when they discovered the
dead body. Without molesting the remains
and only satisfying themselves that the
man was really dead they hurriedly went
to Mr.. Pyles' residence, where thew re-