Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08
DEAD BODY FOUND
GRUESOME DISCOVERY IN BUSHES
NEAR LAUREL, MD.
Thought to Have Been Remains Of
John Griffin Efforts at
Identification.
Special Dispatch to TIE Star.

Special Dispatch to TIE Star.
LAUREL, Md July S.-A gruesome dis.
covery was made near here last evening
when the nude body of a white man, about
| thlrty-iive years of age. feet and 10 inches
! In height and black hair. was found In an
| Isolated clump of bushes on the Rirkhead
| estate, about five miles from Laurel by Ar
| thur w. Jess, who lives near by His at
tentlon was attracted by a large number
of buzzards lowering around. Upon lnves-
tigation he found the body covered with
buzzards The face was entirely eaten
away He went to his home and informed
his father Edward A. Jess who went with
his son to the place the body was lying
and made closer examination of the body.
The body had turned so dark that but
for the straight black, but recently
trimmed hair 1t would have heen impossi-
bic TO tell his co.or Justice Beall of Elk
ridge was summoned, and upon his arrival
an examination OF the ground was made
A few bushes were found broken; the body
was lying straight. the right arm over the
head; the left arm, from its position. ap-
peared TO have been broken. No trace Of
clothing was found.
The Birkhead estate has been unoccupied
for over two years, and il Is supposed the
man had been dead for about three weeks.
Justice Beall ordered that the body be
buried where ii was found. There was no
indications of foul play.
1t was ascertained that a patient of Dr.
Gundry s sanitarum at Gainesville had
been missing since about June 10 by the
name of John f. Griffin a plate printer
employed at the bureau of engraving and
printing, who resided at 1891 II street
northwest, Washington, and DR.. White of
the institution was sent to Identify the
body, but failed TO recognize It.
The body was that of a man probably
thirty or thirty-five years OF age, about five
feet in height, with dark hair.
Some think that the body wag placed
there, while a great many are OF the opin-
ion suicide was the cause of death, and the
man destroyed all means OF Identity before
taking his life
General Matters.
Mrs Griffin called on Capt. Boardman at
police headquarters in Washington this
morning and interested the captain in the
case. Policeman Sandberg, the police de-
partment photographer, came to Laurel
with friend of the Griffin family this
afternoon and will have the body distn-
TERED for the purpose Of Identifying IT. Mr.
Griffin had several Of his front teeth filed
with gold.
Elk Mayor G. B. Timanus who was re-
Gently appointed postmaster of Laurel and
who took charge OF his office few days
ago, has retained the old employees of the
Office and increased the force by the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Eugene Little as a clerk.
1t Is understood that the new postmaster
contemplates number of changes for the
eHlclency OF the service and convenience Of
the patrons of the office.
The second shirt waist dance OF the sea-
son was given here last evening by the
young men of Laurel to the young ladies in
return for the one recently given to them.
large crowd was present
The special municipal election held here
yesterday for a mayor to I'll out the unex-
PRED term of Mayor q. 3. Timanus, who
was recently appointed postmaster of Lau-
rel. resulted IN the election OF DR.. T. Watts
Byerly, prominent physician, over Mr..
William H. Diven. Very little interest was
taken in the election and the ma ority of
the voters did not go to the polls as the
election of DR.. Byerly was expected. The
vote was as follows: DR.. Byerly, 147;
Diven. II.
DR.. Byerly is a son of Judge William
Byerly, near Fairview, fourth district, Bal
timore county.
His term will expire next April when a
general municipal election will be held.
The ter moi the mayor and counclmen
IS two years The mayoralty is more of
an honorary position than anything else,
only paying 500, while the councilmen re-
ceve $25 per annum.
The newly elected mayor is a democrat,
although politics do not figure in munich
pal elections.
He rendered a reception to his friends
here last evening.