Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-12
AWAIT DEVELOPMENTS
LAUREL MYSTERY STILL UNDER
CONSIDERATION.


the grave on the Birkhead estate. near Jes-
sup. Nd. yesterday afternoon. for the pur-
pose of having relatives of missing men en-
deavor to identify the body of the man who
was found dead In the woods there last
Wednesday. heretofore published in
The Star revealed horrible sight. There
had been but small amount of earth
placed on the box that had been buried IN
a ravine where it had soon filled with
water and the people who went there from
this city were loud In the condemnation of
the conduct of the county authorities for
interring a body in such a manner and
place. Mrs. Walter w. Daniels was Ger
tain that the body was that of her stepson,
and her husband. Walter w. Daniels, ST.,
said he felt that the body is that of his son.
Members of the Griffin family and the
committee from the bureau of engraving
and printing, where John F. Griffin was
employed, saw nothing to indicate that the
body was that of Griffin. Mr. Daniels is
still of the opinion that his son was MUIR
dered and robbed. although there was moth
Ing found yesterday to substantiate his
theory. In the absence of medical teSti-
nony there is nothing in the case to show
that the dead man was the victim of foul
play. Part of his wearing apparel was
found in the woods, but the body was in
saw it were unable to form any idea of the
cause of death. Unless there is a careful
examination made by physician the body
will he buried without the cause of death
ever being known.
Mr. and Mrs Daniels, Mrs. Griffin and
other members of the party went from
Laurel to the grave in the woods, dis
lance of about seven miles, in vehicles. ON
the road they witnessed an exciting incl
dent and thought. for an instant, that
death would result. A deputy sheriff had
Randolph Gather, colored, taking him TO
Jail at Ellicott City. to be held to answer
a charge of carrying pistol. The prls-
oner. who was handcuffed. jumped from
the buggy and made an effort to escape.
The deputy sheriff was out of the vehicle
in short order and Magistrate Beall was
there to assist him. Pistols were drawn
and ii was feared one of them would shoot
the troublesome prisoner, but the latter
soon quieted down and returned to the
buggy.
Many Persons in Party.
More than a score of persons composed
the party in the woods when the grave
was opened. In order to reach the grave
1t was necessary to almost crawl beneath
the underground. The articles of clothing
that were found near the body were De-
reath a big oak tree, and the underbrush
about 1t was so thick that 1t was hard to
realize how a man ever reached there.
otNerdl iaQleS VINO composed the party re-
manned on the outer edge of the woods
until the grave had been uncovered, and
then they mustered courage enough to view
the horrible spectacle.
That's my boy Walterr' dramatically
exclaimed Mrs Daniels. 81 told you he
was dead
Mrs. Griffin. who had not been of the
opinion that her husband had died after
leaving sanitarium in that vicinity. looked
upon the decayed body, but could see moth
ing TO indicate that the remains were those
OF her husband. The grave was kept open
more than an hour, and most of the mem
berS of the party remained about there, as
II they hoped something would develop to
clear away the mystery. Others went in
search of something additional which would
assist in the matter of Identifying the re-
mains.
Arthur W. Jess. the young man who
found the body. a member of the
party in the woods. He explained how he
rnany buzzards lowering about a melon
patch. and found the remains. Mr.. Jess
told of the position in which he had found
the body. The arms were twisted in such
manner, he said. as to give the impress
sion that one of them was broken. The
body was buried without much ceremony.
and very little more thought was given the
matter. Another member of the group
was Marjorie Dixon, the small child who
found the coat near Deep run one Sunday
morning while on her way to church. John
Washington. a colored boy who was taking
the child to church, was also in the gath
ering. 1t had been reported that letters
We're found in the pockets of the coat, but
this was denied by the girl and the colored
driver.
An Envelope on the Ground
There was an enyelone on the ground