Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-16
BODY FOUND IN WELL
Martha Rodgers Mystery
Solved by Police.
THE WORK OF TODAY
TIP GIVEN AUTHORITIES BY A
RELATIVE
Results in Recovery Of Body by
Searchers-Left Hospital Some
Time Ago.
THE WORK OF TODAY

There is no longer any mystery surround
ing the disappearance OF Martha Rodgers
the colored woman who left the home OF
her sister, Mrs. John Owens, near the OLD
Fort Stanton property IN Anacostia, more
than week ago, her body having been
found in the well on the premises OF her
sister last night. 1t now seems certain that
the woman was not seen In the woods about
the old fort, was reported to the police
se7eral times, the condition Of the body IN
'icating that death had occurred some days
ago. Since she disappeared the police have
searched nearly every well about the fort
property, out neglected to investigate the
contents Of the one at the home of the SIS
ter OF the missing woman. This was deemed
unnecessary because of the statement that
the trap door covering the well was closed
the morning after the woman went away
from the house.
'If she had gone down there" 1t was
stated, the door would have been left
open"
and the well was not searched. Yester-
day afternoon Mrs. Hammond, q neighbor
of the sister of the missing woman, in
sisted upon having the well examined. Ed
ward Dant, contractor, was sent for and
requested to make the investigation. He
soon found that the we'll was about forty
feet deep, and contained about fourteen feet
of water. Lowering himself to the edge
OF the water he soon found that the body
was at the bottom of the well. This was
determined by using long pole. Attaching
a hook to the end Of the pole he managed
to bring the body to the surface Of the
water, Ropes were tied about the body
and the form of the woman was soon
raised to the top Of the we'll. The police
had been notified that the body was To-
Gated at the bottom Of the we'll, and Ser
geant Anderson was on hand with several
policemen at the time the body was taken
out.
Sent for Dead Wagon.
He sent for the dead wagon and had
the body removed to the morgue. Coroner
hewitt viewed the body this morning, and
while the circumstances surrounding the
woman's death made 1t appear that she
had committed suicide he deferred the
giving of a certificate until the police
had been given opportunity to make
a complete investigation of the case. 1t
is stated that when the body had reached
a point near the top of the well some
thing dropped back into the water and
made a splash that was loud enough to
be heard by the party of curious people
who were standing about the opening
waiting to see the body. The suggestion
was made that a brick or heavy weight
that had been used to keep the body
under the surface of the water had drop
ped and that the finding of the article
might throw some light on the womans
death Sergt. Anderson heard all sorts of
stories about the affair and when the
people of Anacostia demanded that
search be made Of the well he commune
Gated with Capt. Boardman. 1t was sug-
gested that the work of getting the wa
ter out of the well might be done by one
of the engines of the fire company. but
the police found a cheaper way of hav-
ing the work done, and men were en-
gagged to start upon 1t without delay.
The police have received Information
which explains one of the several scares IN
the woods Sunday. 1t appears that a party
OF boys dressed one of their number in
gown and had him run through the woods.
He was seen by number of persons ana
his conduct caused some alarm to the peo-
pie about the fort. An effort Is being made
TO find the boy. and he will be prosecuted
II the officers can find law under which
they can charge him with an offense.
Martha Rodgers had on more than her
nightgown when she left her sisters house
early Monday morning week ago. she
was in her stocking feet and had on
black skirt, white waist and underclothing.
Capt. Boardman received a highly comph-
mentary letter about Martha from her en-
ployer in New Britain. Conn, and the lat
ter also made an offer to render any as
sistance he could. He stated that Martina
had been employed in his family for more
than eight years. Arrangements have been
made to ship the body OF the dead woman
TO the home of her parents at kittrel,
\. c.