The Washington herald., 1909-05-19
MYSTERY In MURDER
Forrest Boy in Hiding and
Cannot Be Found.
REMAINED WITH HIS VICTIMS.
Singular Feature of Tragedy in 81.
Mary COunty-YOuuE Man Answer
ing Description of Missing Son
Seen Near the Wharf Given 40
Reading Sensational Literature.

Leonardtown. May ls--That the n1ur-
derer Of william Plowden Forrest and HIS
wife. who we're found slain IN their home,
near Oakville Saturday last. re-
mained in the house with the dead bodies
for several days after the preparation OF
the crime is the latest development IN
connection with the tragedy which has
mystifed every resident Of ST. Mary
County for the past three days.
This fact was brought 10 light by Mrs.
William Hurd. when. on the afternoon
Of Sunday. May 6, went TO the home OF
the FORESTS. and was unable 20 gain ad-
mittsnee or get any response TO her
knocks. She thought they had gone away
for the day. Peering In a window. she
saw two coffee pots on the kitchen stove
with the lids closed, and ons plate on the
table.
on the following Wednesday she again
went % the house, and Wss again unable
70 set an answer 10 her knock. Looking
in the kitchen window, with view 10
seeing q there were any signs OF the
family having been al home. she noticed
that there was only one coffee pot on the
stove. and that TIE I'D was raised. The
dishes had been pushed back on the table.
Notified BrOther-in-Iaw.
Il seemed 10 her little strange that
she had not been sble 20 get IN at either
visit. and on the following day she re-
turned she found things In the same
Or. J. o. King. the husband OF Mrs. For
rests sister. who lives on the a6joizing
place. Dr. King attached no importance
To the matter al the time. but his wife
became anxious. and on Saturday induced
her husband 70 cali Al her sisters home
In company with John Davis. a neigh
Dor. Dr. King forced an entrance into
the house. As soon as he entered re
found that something was wrong. and.
making his way into the attic. ne dis
covered the bodies Of Mr.. and Mrs. For
rest stretched upon two beds.
Man Seen on Road to Wharf.
On Sunday afternoon a youth answer
ing the description Of young Forrest was
seen by Joe McGfn, Of Oaks Point. pass
ing through LeonsrdtoTn. in the direction
Of the wharf He vas walking in the
middle Of the road. and appeared 10 wish
70 avoid meeting any one. This was prior
TO the arrival OF the boat. After the
boat had left the young man was not
seen in the town
Young Forrest Is not very well known
by the people IN the vicinity OF his home.
He lived almost as a Tecluse, II is said.
spending most OF his leisure in reading
sensational literature. and apparently car
ing little about having friends or ac-
quain;ances.
Many Theories Entertained.
Every conceivable theory as 10 the
crime has been resorted 10 by the people
in the vicinity, but not one Of them IS
satisfactory. and the murder remains an
impenetrable mystery The family life OF
the FORESTS has been minutely discussed.
with a view OF gaining support for this
OF that hypothesis, and every scrap OF
gossip in the neighborhood has been gath
cred with the same end in view. Much
Of this gossip Is OF rather a vague char
acter and cannot be relied upon con-
hdently-
Sons Absence Suspicious.
These facts embrace about all that IS
known OF the life OF the family by the
neighbors. who are loath TO see in them
any circumstances upon which TO base g
belief that the murders were the result
OF family troubles. Nevertheless. the ab-
sence Of the son. the fact that his best
clothes are missing. and the fact that
nothings has developed 10 indicate that
robbers did the deed. has led to at leas;
a strong suspicion on the part Of most
Of the people in the neighborhood that he
may have been the murderer.
One theory is that there may have been
an attack made by his father upon his
mother on account OF money matters
and that he may have avenged his moth
er's death on his father and then have
fed TO escape the consequences OF his
deed. It IS also suggested that he may
have attempted 70 obtain the money bis
mother had in the home. that he may