Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-23
SUSP|C|ON0F MURDER
Body of Charles Needham
Found in Woods.
MISSING SEVERAL MONTHS
Prince George County Authorities
Making an Investigation.
WILL PROBE THE MYSTERY
Coroner's Jury to Meet Late This
Afternoon to Hear the
Testimony.

The body of Charles Needhan. piano
tuner and expert performer. formerly OF
Lowell. Mass. and whose home was with
Philip Schneider. said to reside on T. street
southeast. was found about 10 O'Clock
Yesterday morning in a dense woods near
Camp Springs. Prince George county
Md. by two colored youths. Charles ana
Wallace Simms. who were in the WOODS
at the time hunting huZzards nest
1t Is the suppoSition that Needham was
murdered nearly three months ago ana MS
body dragged to the spot where IL was
found December Is he left the Schneider
residence to go to the home of DR.. ). b.
Rlandford of II. B.. small place aboul
fifteen miles from this city. to entertain
the doctor and to tune plano lie re
manned there three days and spent muci
Of his idle time at the restaurant of W. A
Miller Of SurrattsviIe. three miles from
r. B. Needham left the home of DR..
Blandford and started on foot to this city
the Goth of December. but since that time
he has not been heard from by his friends.
The day of his departure from the nome
Of Dr. Blandford he asked the doctor
son, Joseph Blandford. q. contractor OF
the county. to take his clothes and other
belonging to the Schneiders. on his way
to Washington some day. Several Gays
later Joseph Bandford did as requested.
but upon reaching the Schneiders' resi-
dence was told that Needham had not
returned.
No particular attention was paid to his
absence. as he was known to be a wan
derer and was occasionally absent for
long periods.
Articles of Apparel Found.
The morning of December 20. while
driving home from Washington. Miss
Helen Middleton, daughter of former
Sheriff Middleton. who resides at T. B..
found a hat, pair of gloves. a bottle of
whisky and bag Of tobacco on the T. B.
road. about a quarter of mile from
Camp Springs No attention was paid to
the finding of these articles at the time.
but 1t is now thought they belonged to
Needham.
The two Simms boys came across the
body during their hunt for buzzards nests
yesterday morning about 10 o'clock about
three hundred yards from the road ana
at the point where Miss Middleton found
the articles supposed to have belonged to
Needhanl. On examination 1t was found
that the head at the back Of the Skull
was crushed in. as II 1t mad oeen slruck
by a club. and the face was eaten away
by buzzards so as to make identification
impossible except by the clothing worn
by the dead man.
The body was taken to the house Of Mr..
Charles PEPPER. short distance from
Post and Sheriff Frank Hurd were imn1e-
diately notified and soon put In an ap-
pearance. The sheriff came to this city
last night and succeeded In bringing
about the Identification Of the body. The
inquest was started yesterday a short
time after the finding of the body. and
was adjourned until 3 o'clock this after
noon. Deputy Sheriff Lemuel Allen has
charge of the investigation In the county.
About two weeks after Christmas Roy
Soper, while rambling about in the woods
heard the voices Of three men and saw
one of the men. In describing him he
said he was a man about fifty years old
and a stranger in that vicinity. He could
hear the talking. but thought nothing OF
the matter at the time. 1t is generally
believed now that the men knew some-
thing of the killing. 1t is the supposition
that the three men intended to bury the
body. but upon seeing Mr.. Soper they
changed their minds and got away as
quickly as possible. leaving the body a
prey to the buzzards.
Wagon Tracks Discovered.
I'm the course of the investigation 1t
was discovered that a vehicle Of some
sort had been used in bringing the body
to the spot where it was found, as the
tracks are still visible. When found the
mans head rested between two trees,
which fact makes 1t appear that he was
dragged some distance after being taken
from the vehicle.
When seen yesterday Sheriff Hurd
seemed to be satisfied that Needham was
murdered and he stated that he will put
forth every effort at his command In
clearing up the mystery. He also stated
that he had no definite clue as yet. but
that he anticipates securing information
in this city that will greatly aid him in
his investigation.
The body will be examined by DR.. War
ring Of Surrattsville. who will appear as a
witness when the inquest is resumed this
afternoon.