Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-24
MYSTERY REMAINS UNSOlVED
UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE
OF NEEDHAM'S DEATH.
Verdict Of Coroners Jury-Testi-
mony at the Inquest-Sheriff
Commences Investigation.

Some SuperStltlouS persons residing III
the vicinity of Camp Springs and Sur
rattsville Prince George county. Md, are
said to have spent sleeplsss nights since
the body of Charles Needham. the must
clan and piano tuner. was found in Rob-
erts' woods. near the former place. last
Sunday morning. They had hoped physi-
clans would be able to determine the
cause of his death and the county officers
would clear the mystery. Or. John Sans
bury OF Forestville and DR.. John L. Ryan
of Surrattsville, who examined the body
yesterday afternoon. did not reach con-
clusion. They found that the skull had
not been fractured. rs was supposed. The
coroner's jury heard the testimony of
several witnesses. The members, 1T Is
stated, were satisfied the man had been
foully dealt with. but the verdict sets
forth that they were unable to determine
the cause Of death.
The verdict does not assist Sheriff Hurd
and his deputies much in the investiga-
ton, and in the absence of a definite clue
the case promises to remain an unsolved
mystery. Sheriff Hurd was at Upper
Marlboro today to begin the investiga-
ton. Considerable interest is being mani
tested In the case by the county authori-
ties and residents of the section where
the body was found. and no trouble will
|
Allen and Suit were at the inquest, and
they listened attentively to what was said
by the witnesses. although. 1t Is stated,
they obtained nothing in the way of a
clue.
Needham came here from Lowell. Mass.
He was a musician and tuned pianos for
many residents Of the southeast section
Of the city. He was friendly with men,
bers OF the Pine Ridge Club, often visit
ing the club. At the recent annua! outing
OF the organization. it is stated. he was
prominent figure Shortly after that
event Needham accepted a position at the
home Of DR.. J. B. Blandford at r. B.
Those who knew the deceased say he sell
dom drank to excess.
Meant to Return Here.
Needham left that part of the county
the night of December %. three days after
going there. saying he meant to return to
this city and stop at the house Of Philip
Schneider. SIC E street southeast, where
he resided before he went to Prince
George county. DR.. Blandford's son took
Needham's clothing to the Schneider
home. as Needham had requested. and
although that was several days after the
departure of Needham from Maryland
the latter had not reached the Schneider
house. Friends of Needham made in
quiry regarding him. and were informed
this city. 1t was stated yesterday tina,
the body of a man found near Oxon Hill
several miles from Camp Springs, was
identified as the remains of Needham and
buried In the woods near there. There.
fore those who had heard of the buria
Of the body were surprised when they
were told that Needham's body had beer
found in the woods on the T. B. road.
Wallace and Charles Simms, the col
cred boys who found the body. were
q Inn vv,tHy ~ H. 1T
elderly father was with them, and al
three members of the family were still
suffering from nervousness resulting from
the finding Of the body.
Roy Soper testified that he heard strange
voices In the woods near the spot where
after the holidays.
Il looked in the direction from which
the sounds came" he said, land saw a
gray-haired man there. 1 could hear the
other voices. but did not see the other
men. The man I saw was about fifty
years old. 1 should say. and was stran-
ger In this part Of the country
Regarded as Important.
The presence Of the three men in the
woods Is regarded as an indication that
Needham was murdered. The finding of
the whisky bottle, gloves, hat and other
articles In the road the morning after
NeeQnam leIt SurrattSVllie, and the con-
dition of the road, indicating there had
been struggle, the authorities think
will have an important bearing on the
case.
These conditions are said to indicate
that Needham engaged in a row, was
fatally wounded and was dragged into
the dense woods where the body was
found. There has been no positive iden-
tification of the property found on the
road, but the fact that il was so near
the spot where the body was discovered
eleven weeks later makes II apparent that
1t probably belonged TO the piano tuner
Prints of the wheels of a carriage or
light wagon were found leading into the
woods.
Should 1t develop that the articles found
In the road did not belong to Needham
and that the body was taken to the woods
in vehicle it may be shown that Need
ham was murdered at q distance from
the place where the body was found.
1t Is said that Needham left Surratts-
Vile sufficiently early in the day to have
passed Roberts woods before shutdown
but so far as the authorities have been
able to learn nobody seems to have seen
him on the road. and II was not definitely
known last night If he really left the
vicinity OF Surrattsville alive. The body
was taken today to the county almshouse
by Mr.. Piper and buried.
A report from Lowell, Mass, is to the
effect that the deceased was brother of
James w. Needham of 243 East Merrimac
street, Lowell.
NAVAL NURSE CORPS.