The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-20
Coroner s Verdict of Sur
eide Is Not Credited
by Camp Spring
Farmers.
Disappearance of HuS-
band After the Funeral
DeepenS Mystery of
Strange Family.

Although a cOroner's jury has de-
cided that Mrs. Emma Sumner COM
mitted suicide by shooting, in her
little home, near Camp Springs, Nd.
last Wednesday, there is so much
mystery about the details Of her
death that many farmers who live
IN the vicinity have begun to ex-
press the opinion that murder may
have been committed.
Thomas Sumner, the husband Of
the dead Woman, has told of the
manner in which ne discovered his
wife's body Mrs. Sumner, he said,
had been in the habit Of going to
her room On the second floor of
their little farmhouse each after
noon and taking a nap. She invari-
ably locked all the doors and win
dows on such occasions, he saws.
Last Wednesday he was working on
the farm until 3 o'clock, when he
went to the house, and found il
locked. as usual
Thinking that his wife was taking her
customary siesta. he returned 10 his
work. walking down the road with q
man named Richardson. lie returned TO
the house again between and 8 O'Clock
and the doors and windows were stiU
locked
Sumner got an ak. forced window
open and entered the house He IN
went % his wife's room and found her
StIr-cied On the led with & bullet hole
tnrouEE the had Sumner SAWS thar he
hurried fffoB tEe hc use and notiEeq
s..l5.. !. 60. i'Ise5' = nelgh9er, who. WIKI
= SIdI otlefs. viewed -hC body. Thar
ntent tie farmers picked a furF. which.
ai'eS uciiperatIng some time, rendered
n verdict az suicide.
Evidence Against Verdict.
There are bits OF evidence however
which do no. 1t into the suicide theory
and there is a strong suspicion rbar
murder has been committed Neigbborz
who visited the house say than when
they saw Mrs. Turner's body lying on
the bed. there was no blood under or
near her head. There was a uooI Of
blood on the floor and a few spots on
q pillow as though il had been splash
ed there
The bullet wound was directly over
Jne lett eye Il PASSED through tB--
mead and lodged in a wall Another Pc
cullar circumstance in connection with
TIE shooting is lh2t there were no now
Ger marks or burns. The weapon here
fore. must have been held at sonle lit
tie distance from the head when the
bullet was fired
Sumner testified before the jury that
he discovered the body Of his wife
between and O'Clock. The death OF
tho woman occurred some time before
that hour. apparently. Tor Della fudge.
a siNteen-year-9ld girl who lives lust
across the road from the Sumner place.
said that she heard two revolver shots
between and o'clock.
The Husband Disappears.
Summers whereabouts at the present
time is unknown. He accompanied his
wife's body 10 Rock Creek Cemetery
this afternoon. but before leaving he
hunGed the keys To his house 10 a man
named SOper ana said he would never
return To me scene OF the tragedy.
Later he modified the statement bv
saying that he might return next Mon
day.
The Summers themselves have been
more or less Of a mystery since thew
came from England seven years ago and
purchased an eiEhteen-acre farm near
Camp SpTiI.E g, In Prince George county
Nd. Their house occupied a secluded
spot on the farm. and the neighbors
not only saw little of them, but they
earned practically nothing of their past
history and knew as little about their
daily lives.
Sumner has made no effort TO clear
10 this atmosphere of mystery. even
since his wife's death and his present
disappearance is scarcely more Of
mystery than has been his daily life
IN his lonely farm.