The Washington times., 1902-04-29

recent news concerning the murder The
action of the Coroner's jury late Sunday
night in returning the verdict of murder
spurred the local police on and the Mary
land officials were only too glad, as was
evidenced by their action. that the local
authorities would assist them in solving
the identity of the forest victim.
The first person visited By the detec-
tive yesterday afternoon was Mr.. Pyles.
who accompanied The Times representa-
tive TO the scene of the finding of the
body. The path leading 10 the dark hid
ing place was blocked with trees and
bushes. and it was evident that no one
but n person perfectly familiar with the
surroundings could ever find his way to
the place. After walking for almost a
mile the party reached the bank of
ravine or swamp. The bank was covered
with thickets and trees while at its bot
tom, hundreds of feet below. the water
was waist deep. Under 4 thick clump of
bushes. so protected that not the slight
est ray of sun could penetrate it, nor even
snow or rain could possibly wet anything
beneath il. was the spot where the unfor-
tunate mans body lay. II was. indeed.
only by the merest accident that the two
boys. Herbert King and Alonzo Talbert,
discovered It on Saturday morning.
The ground beneath the little hut was
soft and slushy. the water oozing from
the damp ground. The only entrance to
the place was through a small aperture
made by the parting of thickct. which
would scarcely allow a child's body TO
pass through. To this opening the body
OF the dead man. 1T is thought. was first
dragged by the heels. because when found
the dead mans coat was rolled up to his
neck. as was his vest and shirt. The
nj drni ad tad for ha
ing of such horrible crime. and in itself
even seems to forbiG a solution of the
mystery
Yesterday the body Of the man was
placed in a caTs by Mr.. Pyles and re-
moved to thS Snty almshouse. where
it was bur,ra re clothes which were
torn from tfs Sody before burial were
of the finest texture. and the deceased
wore q new derby hat of the latest block.
Mr. Pyles. who acted as foreman of
the Jury. turned over a newspaper clip
ping containing an account of the Ayres
trial the bloody revolver. a comb. pocket
book. two pencils. and watch chain and
charm to Detective Hartigan. who. upon
his return to this city late last night, gave
them TO Captain Boardman.
Saw Pool of Blood.
Before returning TO Washington Detec
tive Hartigan met another person who
saw the pool of blood on the Silver Hill
Road February 10. in the morning. He
was DR.. Evans. a surgeon. who per-
formed the autopsy over Howard's re-
mains.
The hair OF the head man was scatter
ed all around through the thickets where
his body was discovered, and Detective
made thorough search through
both the thickets on the bank. and in the I
swamp, thinking 10 recover the knife |
which caused the mans death, but he 1
was not successful.
Although the crime was committed out /
side of the Jurisdiction of the District of /
Columbia. Police Captain Boardman be-
lieves that the person murdered is a
Washington man, and consequently is
making every effort TO establish his iden-
.ity. In fact. had the local authorities not |
.aken steps to solve the mystery. they
believe 1t never would be. at least by the
Maryland officials. who have not taken
action in the matter. This Is because
hey claim that their county commission
ars have not held their annual meeting.
and therefore the county officials are
1owerless.
The work Of investigation by the local
will go on. however. and every
detective at Headquarters is striving hard
o secure information which will clear up
he mystery surrounding the horrible
murder IN the Maryland woods.