Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-23
DEATH TRAP VICTIMS
y I'D
Two Bodies Taken From
James Greek Canal.
CHASTITY SPECTACLE
ONE Is FOUND IN AN UPRIGHT
POSITION.
That of a Middle-Aged, Well-Dressed
Man-The Police Making In
vestigation.

Two more victims have been claimed
recently by the South Washington death
trap which is officially known as the
James Creek canal. This morning about
$50 o'clock the dead body of a mid
dle-aged man was discovered in a
standing position in the mud covering
the bed of the canal near the M street
bridge. Policemen johnson and Lester
made the discovery and notified the super
intendent of the morgue. The remains being
in an upright position, with the head and
body above the surface, it presented
CHASTITY sight
Superintendent Schonenberger hurried to
the scene and found that rope had been
tied about the neck Of the dead man to
prevent the possibility of the body being
carried away by the tide, although the mud
and filth on the bed of the sluggish sewer
outlet was SO deep and thick that it could
hardly have been moved by that means. =
When the morgue was reached the body
lice photographer. 1t was fairly well
dressed, but there was nothing in the pock-
cts, other than set Of prayer beads and
three Keys, which would in any way lead
to fdentificat ton.
The deceased was apparently about forty
fve or fifty years old and nearly six feet
TALL He had gray mixed hair, heavy
sandy mustache, and square features, and
Ills tcetu were Ialfly SOOu COHOlClOn.
They were separated and presented the ap-
pearance of having been discolored by the
use of tobacco.
Description Of Clothing.
The man had worn a black serge suit
with a four-botton cutaway coat and high
cut vest. He wore No. Is white shirt and
collar, and ready-made four-in-hand tie
of plaid design. One of the keys found
on him is probably barrel key such as is
used to open spigots of whisky barrels.
1t has been less than three weeks since
Mr. Garrison drove overheard near III street
and was drowned. During recent years
number of people have lost their lives near
the M street bridge, where the body was
found this morning. The dangerous condi
ton Of the canal has been frequently called
to the attention of the authorities, and 1t
is declared that the expenditure of few
hundred dollars would make the more dan
gerous places along the waterway practi-
cally safe, and prevent further sacrifice of
human life.
A number Of people visited the morgue
during the day, but no one was able to
identify the body.
Second Body Discovered.
About 80 o'clock this afternoon a second
body was found In the murky waters Of the
canal. It Is believed to be that OF Michael
Deenahan of IT Myrtle street northeast,
who disappeared from his home the 18th
of this month. The body was discovered in
the canal near the N street bridge, just
one square south Of where the body of the
other man was located this morning. 1t
had the appearance of having been in the
water fully week,
In one Of the pockets of the mans cloth
ing was found half-pint flask, which con-
tanned a small quantity of whisky. A num-
Der of collar buttons were found in another
pocket. There were also small amount Of
money and several bags Of tobacco taken
from the pockets Of his clothing.
The appearance of the remains indicated
that the man had worked in a machine
shop or on a railroad. He wore a blue
shirt, corduroy pants and a dark coat and
vest. His hair was brown, and he had
heavy mustache Of the same color.
De ~ahan was employed in the round
hous. of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, and when last seen he was under the
influence OF liquor.
The Coroner Notified.
Coroner hewitt was notified soon after the
body reached the morgue, and he will hear
the statements of witnesses before he takes
any action in the case. On slip of paper
found in the mans pocket was written
''140Sh 4th street northwest" and the word
'TWash" was written across one corner of
the paper. A key such as is used by rail-
road men was also found on him.