The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-11
Death in Forest Over
takes Man Who
Slew Sister.
BlOOd-Spattered Body
Found by LabOrerS
on Trolley.

HAGERSTOWN, Nd, Feb. 1.-THE
distorted body OF Thomas Mcpherson,
wanted Tor the murder Of his sister
Mrs. Jane BOweEs, was found in the
woods near Nyersville, at o'clock this
morning.
The man had been frozen to death
while attempting TO make his escape
through the lonely woods from the
posse he knew must be on his trail. His
hands were bespattered with blood
which he mad not taken time TO wash
OF, though he carried a wash basin
and towel away with him. No trace
Of these could be found.
McPherson's body was found BY
workmen employed on the trolley line
between HagerstOwn and Frederick. II
was taken in charge by friends OF the
alleged murderer. who will see that he
IS properly buried.
Searched Woods All Night.
Excitement ran high when q ,,ssa
headed by Sheriff Myers returned. after
a fruitless all-night search through tbe
woods. The county commissioners had
oIered reward of SlO0 for Mcpherson
alive and last night q big posse of
citizens set out 70 hunt down the nur-
cerer. They went through MyersyilIe
and were told by many residents OF rbe|
town that the man had been seen there
yesterday. His only hope of escapet
Souid nave been through the lonely
sno"-drlyen woods and the party dis
tFID9ted itself through the countAr and
hunted vigilantly all night.
w heh dawn came this morning SherIF
Myers and his men were nearly frozen
themselves, and decided 70 turn I'm and
renew the search later this moruf1g
McPheTsOn's body was For05 -.
%sHo % mlies from the spot where me
she'lIt posse ended its search.
Crime Aroused Country.
Throughout Frederick Harerstov,n
ana the surrounding country excitement
has been keyed up to the highest nitcb
since McPherson's atrOcious crime be-
came known. IN every house. on evar.,
street corner, and wherever. people met
the murder and the progress OF the
search for the muTdereV wern the sole
subjects Of conversation
Mrs. Bowers lonely little but near
which her mangled body was found SAT
urday afternoon, was the most interest
ing spot IN the neighborhood. and an |
manner or theories were set forth az +o /
Low Lhe old woman met her death /
Mrs Bowers was fifty-two wears oId I
anQ lived alone. Thomas Mcpherson I
her brother was fifty-five years old and /
was the last person known 10 have been /
IN Mrs. Bowers house
When Mrs. Bowers body was found /
u had been cut and siashed and torn
SO LnaI even her most intimate friends /
had difficulty in recognizing IT, and
When news Of the crime became known 4
the Indignation Of the entire cory,y1II1,'+
rose to white heSE. Posses were rrr-5 =, I
iZed ana secured the country round |
ABOUT, but each day and each night tnev
IeJur lcu emptJ-heudcd They we're oIt I
10 search for Thomas Mcpherson for ne I
was the last 10 be seen In his sisters I
home, and disappeared Immediately /
tIter Tie crime / Al bean committed.
Leave Homes 10 Search.
The fact that murder had been done
was alone enough to arouse the com
murity 10 action, but the further and 4
almost undeniable theory that the
woman had been struck down and
hacked 10 pieces by her own brother
made the countryside indignant Men
left their homes and their families tn /
run down the slayer; they forgot tbeirt
business in their haste to bring him
TO justice, and when each day thew ~
turned without having even found q /
clue there was no disCOuragemeut-onl
an added determination that tomorrow
ana the next day, and the next day.
tstNs NNN'+A q" e1fhAAl until the murderer I
had been brought to suffer for his /
crime.
Word reached Sheriff Myers last
night, that MCPHERSON had been seen /
in Myersville that day, and was maxi I
ing his way toward the mountains.
In short order Sheriff Myers had his 4
men together. and they were of for 4
the mountains. ThroGghOut the ,7rli I
afternoon and evening and all through
the biting, stinging cold OF the winter
night they secured the woods At 5 /
O'Clock their search still unrewarded,
the posse returned to their homes.
end all tie time the searchers We're
beating their way through the lonely
woods, the man for whom they searched !
1ad Deeh brougnt 70 Justice Evident !
lg worn out with cold, hunger and ex-
posure. and raCked with memory OF his /
awful crime, and the prospect of being
made 70 pay the penalty, Mcpherson |
had stopped to rest. and had met his
death in the bleak ghostlv woods
which he had hoped would De his es-
cape 20 the big, outside world
Justice Of the Peace Ernest Hoffman
of HaesrstOwn. was directed to act as
coroner in the case, and went imme-
diatelv to the spot where the body was
found.
Found in Snow.
Mcpherson was found lying on his
back IL heap Of snow near the stump
Of a tree. His ears were frozen, and
his lips showed that he had been biting
them. His hands were crossed across
his chest, and on them We're found
spots Of blood and pieces Of matted
hair. The removal Of his coat ELECTED
the fact that his shirt and arms were
covered with blood
Twelve men were sworn as jurors
Frank Mcpherson, nephew OF the
frozen man. and Edward Rowe and
Samuel Powell who found the body /
were witnesses. They identiied the
body as that of Mcpherson and told Of
the circumstances surrounding the fnd-
ing CO it