The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-01
WHITE MAN KILLED
AND BODY BURNED
Shocking Murder Near
Chester, Pa.
NEW RATCHET WAS USED
Clothing Saturated With Oil and
Ignited in Effort to Con-
ceal Crime.

CHESTER. Pa. June lin the cen
ter of a burned area several yards in
circumference County Detective Berry,
Of Chester. today found the body of a
white man. who. from all appearances.
was murdered his slayers afterward
satursting the body with oil and set
ting fire TO # in an abortive effort to
conceal the crime
After as searching an examination as
could be made I'm the few hours Of day
light that elapsed between the time OF
the discovery Of the body and nightfall,
Berry and Coroner Fry. Of Delaware
county. decided that they have before
them to solve a mysterious murder that
has not had its parallel in this section
Size the Eyre case.
Nothing is lacking to indicate that
the victim met his death by violence.
Two large assures appear in the skull,
showing where the blade of a Ratchet.
which was close to the body. penetrated
the brain.
An empty oil can which had held kero-
sene indicates the means the murderers
took to render as certain as possible the
gruesome work that they begun after
their violence had cost the life Of the
man.
Coroner Fry's Statement.
Coroner Fry said:
The murder is one of the most bru-
tai and mysterious that 1 have ever
had to deal with, and l hardly know
what conclusion to reach. I am posi-
tive that the body is that of a white
man, and I judge that the murder was
committed several weeks ago.
Il will leave no stone unturned to
have the body identified. and will try
to run down the murderer. The in
quest over the remains will not take
place until the police have had a chance
10 work on the case"
Flock of Crows.
The place where the body lies, await
ing removal to this city. is the vicinity
of Essington. The nearest house is oc-
cupied by Charles Howe.
Berry was in Essington on business.
and noticed a large flock of crows acting
in peculiar manner. He climbed into q
field. where the crows were, and pushed
his way into a thicket
Partially hidden by the dense growth,
Perry saw the body. All about 1t the
groond was charred and denuded OF
grass by fire. The body lay on its back
glance at the skull showed the de-
tective that the man had come TO HIS
end by foul means. On one side the
bone was crushed In two places. There
was no possibility of Identifying the
man. All distinguishing marks Of fea-
lures or clothing were obliterated. save
the teeth and tuft of hair on the back
of the head.
Evidences of Crime.
Berry sent for Coroner Fry. When
the coroner came Berry showed him a
Ratchet, the oil can, a pack OF playing
cards, piece of pipe. two keys, and a
small chain which he had picked out OF
the ashes.
Coroner Fry examined the head. he
found the teeth in good condition Only
one mOlar was missing. He inferred
from the state OF the teeth that the man
was no more than thirty years old The
hair that chung to the scalp was brown
and silky.
one OF the mans shoes was only
new and was OF good material and
workmanship. The oil can and the
Ratchet were also new.
Possibly a Gambling Row.
The presence Of the playing cards
caused the detective TO form a tentative
theory as TO the events which preceded
and followed the murder. It is possible.
he thinks. that the man might have
been gambling in the vicinity with some
companions, that a quarrel arose end
that the man was either shot or slain
in some other manner.
The newness Of the Ratchet makes it
appear as though the wounds on the
head were inflicted after death. to make
certain that life was extinct before the
body was set on fire.
Confronted with the necessity Of dis
posing Of the body, the murderers pro
cured the oil, poured II upon the VIC
Tins garments and touched a match 10
them. hoping the flames would consume
the body so that the fragments might
be scattered broadcast.
The work OF burning the body resolv-
ed Itself into a bungiing job. and the
murderers evidently became frightened
and abandoned the task
Killed Two Weeks Ago.
Coroner Fry is OF the opinion that the
man was killed about two weeks ago.
Excepting for the shoe. no shred OF the
mans apparel remains II he is identi-
fed It Will be through the teeth, the
hair or the keys.
Stains Of blood discolor the blade Of
the Ratchet. the handle Of which was
burned The Ratchet was examined
by several axmakers who said that 81
was new and had been used but slightly
close 20 where the body lies is Darby
Creek On the bank. Detective Berry
found bit OF soap which bears spots Of
ciood The murdeTers. he thinks went
there and washed their hands before
leaving the vicinity
The Howe house was about 400 feet
from where the body was found No one
of the occupants OF the premises remem-
bers hearing any unusual sounds or see.
Ing the light Of a fire in tho thicket
ECMnEO CAUEn