The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-23
CORPSE In BUSHES
BelieyedtO Be Murdered Body
of Charles Needham.
MAN MISSING THREE MONTHS
Indications of VIOIence-Skuu Ia
Crushed In-Negro Boys Make Dis
cOvery-COroner and Jury to Con-
tinue Investigation-Enec Found
in Road on Night OF Disappearance.

A body, believed to be that OF Charles
Needham. a piano repairer. and mu-
stefan. was found hidden in a dense clump
OF bushes in Roberts Woods. near Camp
Springs. Prince George County. Md.
The man had been dead for about three
months. The body Is badly decomposed.
1t Is believed 10 have been murder.
The corpse was found az 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning by two negro boys.
1t was lying face upward
Paper I'm Pockets Identified.
A piece Of paper was found in one
OF the pockets OF the clothes on which
was written the name Philip Snyder.
and the address. 5l6 L street southeast.
Sir- Snyder was seen and Identified the
paper as one he had given Charles Need
ham several months ago.
Needham was last seen alive on De-
cember g The same night his hat.
gloves, a tobacco box. and a flask Of
whisky were found on the road directly
in front Of the path leading toward the
bushes where his body was found
He had been known as heavy drinker
and It was the opinion that Needham had
Jury Continues Investigation.
Coroner Edmund Tolson was notified OF
the finding and jury was impaneled
The jury visited the scene and examined
the body and the woods surrounding.
The decomposed condition Of the body
made IT impossible 10 Geterm ne whether
there were marks OF violence. A depres-
sion in the skull IS believed, however. to
have been caused by a blow with a blunt
instrument
The jury. after celebrating for some
time decided 90 continue their investiga-
ton until to-day. An autopsy viii be per
formed
Needham was first heard OF early in
December, At that time he obtained en-
ploymeut from Philip Snyder He played
and repaired the piano and did chores
about the house.
Later ne left the Snyder home ana
found employment about the saloon OF
John NJ. Becker. at Il20 Eighth street
southeast. He played the piano in the
drinking room and tended 10 Becker's
horses.
on December 26 he was employed by
Joseph Blandford. contractor. living
near Camp Springs. He went with Bland
ford TO his home and worked for three
days
Disappears December -.
On December % he left Blandford's and
started on foot FOR Washington. That
night his hat. gloves. tobacco box, and a
bottle Of whisky were found in the road
several miles from BIandford's home.
Yesterday morning two negro boys. both
named Sims who live near Camp Springs.
were searching the woods for violets. In
a dense clump Of bushes they found the
corpse. The boys hurried 20 the home of
Coroner Tolson-
The coroner. his jury. and Sheriff Frank
D. Hurd went to the woods and carefully
searched the vicinity for traces Of murder.
The ground from the road TO the body
looked as If a heavy object had
been dragged over IT, The clothing
on the body was rolled under the mans
head, showing that ne had been dragged
into the bushes feet foremost Clods and
leaves were also piled under the body in
a way to strengthen this theory.
Apparel of Corpse.
The corpse was dressed in a coat and
vest dark sweater, dark trousers. and
black lace shoes. The clothing was
stained with mud. Near the lapel Of the
coat are stains. believed TO be blood.
Philip Snyder said last night that Need
ham, also known as Roscoe" had fire.
quently told him about relatives he had
in Lowell. Mass.
Sheriff Hurd believes the man was muir
dered, and will attempt to fasten the
crime on several strange negroes who
were seen around Camp Springs about the
time Needham disappeared.