Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-05-05
FOUND BY A HORSE.

The mysterious disappearance Sun
day morning April q. OF Mr.. William
Smith, a farmer living near Wood
bridge, was announced 10 the Gazette
lest week. Hundreds ofpeople, includ-
ing Detective McDeVitt, of Washington,
bad been eDdesvoriDg to ascertain his
Whereabouts, but their effort, had been
fruitless, aud late Saturday night the
antics OF a horse led to the discovery OF
bis body 10 badly decomposed oondi-
ton in a secluded clump of woods neir
whore tue mi sing man had lived. An
examination proved that he had been
murdered, 90 many bad eurmised, and
! bis body placed where found.
Ga Saturday, April 26, some Balti-
more friends of Mr.. Smith spent the
day END night with the old gentleman.
Mr.. Smith was sixty.fye years OF eye,
and he'd made his home, since the death
OF his wife two years ago, with one OF
his sons, Mr.. Walter NJ. Smith, who is
the telegraph operator at OccoquaD
station, On the Washington Southern
Railwsy, station that is also known
az Woodbridge. AaOlher son OF the
murdered mao L. George w. Smith,
also 10 the employ OF the Southern
Railway az agent ct Burke's station.
The old gentleman got up early the
following Sunday morning TO go to the
train Witn his Baltimore visitors, and
at Toe stltion shook hands with them
and started to make some visits 10 the
neighborhood, ss had been mis- custom
for several yesrs. He called at one
mouse some distance from the depot
and left there for another farm. Since
that time he disappeared mysteriously
and completely, aud up to the time OF
the greVsome discovery Saturday night
no trace had been found OF him, al
though diligent search had been made
by bis relatives aud neighbors.
Ga Saturday last farmer, living
considerable distance from Occoquan,
drove to that village 10 order to pro-
cure some fish for sailing. About @
mile or more from the town his horse
acted strangely while passing lit lie
patch Of woods through which the ROAD
ran. The driver got out Of the vehicle
and soothed the animal, and it finally
passed tn spot and the farmer contio-
ued on to town. There he heard OF the
mysterious disappearance OF Mr.. Smith,
but did net connect the peculiar actions
OF bis horse with the matter. With his
purchases be left Occoqusn very late
Saturday night for his drive home. At
exactly the same spot 10 the patch Of
woods, his horse again suddenly stop
ped and refused TO go forward, whining
as if 10 fright, The farmer got down
aud, pushing through the heavy under
growth aud bushes, discovered, with
the aid oil lantern, the dead body OF
man q few feet from the road, but in
the thickest OF the forest growth. be
returned to Oecoquan and reported bis
discovery, and Immediately crowd OF
the residents started out to carry the
body to the village.
The coroneI's jury, after viewing toe
remains, rendered the verdict that
civilian Smith met his death at the
hands Of person or persons unknown
to the members OF the jury"
The body when found was 10 an ad-
vanced stage of decomposition, al
though t1e features we're easily recog'
nlzable. Examination by the coroner
and his assistants showed great, dark
bruise Just beneath the victims heart,
Which, from appearances, 1t was de-
clded, wss struck with some blunt In.
strument. On The left arm appeared
another wound, evidently Inflicted
with the same weapon. II was believ-
ed that this wss received 10 trying
to defend biz life from his sssailant or
asssilanis. UpoD the right hand were
two or three deep gasaes. Mr.. Smith
was q man Of strong physique, and or
dinsrily, it is believed, would have
been amply able to protect himself.
From the nature Of the wounds 1t 10
believed that he did make inefiet tual
effoits TO ward of the blows. Near
where the body was found there were
absolutely no signs OF q struggle, and
IL is for this reason that the officers
have decided that the murder occurred
elsewhere and the body was carried to
the spot where it wes found,