Evening star., 1902-04-30
BODY TO Be EXHUMED
Turner's Death to Be Further
Investigated.
THE MURDER THEORY
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY AU-
THoRITIEs TAKE ACTION.
Dr.. Evans Belief That Dead Man Was
Victim Of Foul
Play.

Lewis Turner'S body is to be disinterred
tomorrow morning at the Prince George s
county almshOuse cemetery. Health Officer
Griffith Of Prince Georges county will su-
perintend the work and will probably make
the examination Of the body. This will be
done by direction of Mr.. w. NJ Levin, the
county prosecuting attorney. Mrs. Turner
| called on Capt. Boardman at police head
quarters this morning and requested that
the remains of her husband be taken up
and given a more careful examination.
She was not satisfied that the examination
In the woods was as thorough as it might
have been under more favorable conditions.
Mrs. Turner does not believe her husband
took his own life, and she has heard the
suicide theory advanced so many times
that she became extremely anxious to have
a second examination made In order to
place credence In the suicide theory she
realized that she would have to ignore the
statement made by Dr. Evans. This she
was unwilling to do. DR.. Evans was the
only physician who had made an examina-
tion of her husbands body, and although
the autopsy was performed under most un-
favorable conditions. Mrs. Turner was
satisfied he had made no mistake
When she called on Captain Boardman n
she requested that the body should be ex-
humed and brought here, but the police
captain did not see his way clear to do that
II would put the District to an expense of
80 or 500, for which there is apparently no
authority. There had been no evidence re-
celVed by him to show that the crime was
committed in the District of Columbia, al
though the man had lived here. Had there
Deen any such showing the captain would
have brought the body here and had an in
quest held
Mrs. Turner was present in Captain
Boardmans Office when the conference with
stated her version of the affair, and after
the matter had been fully discussed Mr.
Levin telegraphed instructions to the coun-
ty health officer to take the action stated
Mrs. Turner went home fully sa atisfied that
the death Of her husband will be fully in
vestigated.
TT seems absurd to say my husband COM
mitted suicide remarked Mrs. Turner to a
Boardman's office. '"If he had contem-
plated such deed he certainly would not
have gone so far out into the country to
accomplish it,
Difference Of Opinion.
Lewis w. Turner. a cousin of the de-
ceased, told Star reporter that he be-
lieved a murder had been committed He
further stated that he thought the body
was not taken to the woods until some time
after death occurred.
Capt. Boardman and Detective Hartigan
are of the opinion that Turner took his own
life. Yesterday afternoon Detective Harti-
gan recovered the gold-flled watch that
had been owned by Turner. The timepiece
was pawned for 81 the day before Christ
mas. That 1t was pawned by Turner there
can be no doubt. He gave his name as
Henry Thompson however, the same as
was given by the man who purchased the
revolver. When the watch was pawned he
gave his address at 526 18th street south
east. where he lived before he was married.
At the time the weapon was bought his
address was given as 712 18th street north
east. where he had never lived.
Detective Hartigan visited Mrs Turner
last night at her home, and she fully iden-
tsfied the timepiece that had been recovered
from the pawnshop. Mrs. Turner mailed
copies of yesterdays Star to her husband s
relatives in Charles county, and some of
them are expected here tomorrow.
Friends of the deceased who discussed
the case with a Star reporter expressed the
belief that Turner was foully dealt with.
What the motive could have been, unless it
was robbery, none of them could suggest.
They said Turner was ambitious.
he took his discharge from the navy
yard they said, because he hoped to go
into business and better his financial con-
dition. 1t is known that he made the re-
mark that he had 500 with which to begin
business. and his friends believe this re-
mark may have been heard or communi-
Gated to somebody who waylaid him for the
money.
1t is recalled by the Anacostia police that
several people have been held up and
robbed on the roads beyond Anacostia
More than two years ago Lewis w. Turner,
t he cousin of the deceased, was robbed in
that vicinity by two colored men.
State Attorney levin said this after
noon that he had communicated with |
Sheriff Hardisty about the case, and the
latter said he would go to the place where |
the body was found and make an investi-
cation of the case He supposes the sheriff |
visited the place this afternoon.
Suggest Another Examination.
The suggested plan of having the body Of |
Turner disinterred from it's grave at the |
almshouse at Forestvilie. Prince Georges
county, Nd, and brought to Washington
for an autopsy under more favorable con-
aitions than existed Sunday last when Dr.
formed the operation. has met with uni
versal approval among the residents of
he county near the scene of the tragedy
The people OF the locality, while more than
ever impressed that Turner was foully
1ealt with. are unwilling to put any OBJ
'tacle in the way of satisfactory solution
of the manner in which he came to his
ieath. The part OF Prince Georges county
"nere the body was found has a number |
II drinking places along several roads in |
he locality, and sequels to brawls at the |
escorts frequently come to the attention of
he police of the city. In fact, several ar |
'ests have been made from time to time as |
he outcome Of visits made to these places
~ parties from the city. The saloons are
sometimes frequented by characters with a
Dad reputation. and 1t may have been that |
Turner fell In among such persons while
,oing over the road. The idea has been |
'roached that he may have intended to
Tisit his relatives in Charles county, for
which purpose he was walking through
Prince Georges county, after having first |
purchased a revolver and some extra car |
ridges for his protection.
The older residents Of the section recall
hat not far from where Turner was found
murder was committed several years ago |
Which was never solved. Peter Iushy a |