Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14
SLIGHT CLUE FOR POLICE
Stranger Acted Suspiciously Near
the Scene of Crime.
HAT FOUND IN THE WOODS
This and Other Clothing May Lead
to Identification Of Victim.
Many Theories Advanced.

NONCiopIeTtS are antlC1-
pated by the Prince George county, Nd,
authorities who are investigating the
murder OF the ten-year-old colored child
whose oody, with the head nearly sew
cred from the trunk. was found in the
WOODS on the property Of George Pal
mer' between Maryland Park and Seat
Pleasant, Friday afternoon. Those who
are engaged in the Investigation are not
satisned that the murder was commit
ted by a colored person
That the murder was committed by
two persons Is the belief Of some who
are taking an active interest in the in
vestigation. Several supposed clues
were obtained last night by Constable
Lee Harmon. but at a late hour he had
not succeeded in securing an identifi-
cation Of the body or in making an ar
rest Of a suspect.
The conduct Of a white man. a stran-
ger In the section of the county in
which the body was found, is attract
ing attention. and Constable Harmon is
making every effort to find him. Ac-
cording to statements made by two
residents OF the county. the strange
man was on the road near Palmer's
near the Catholic Church there he ask
ed young man named Nicholson what
church 1t was. The latter told him it
was a Catholic Church. and he inquired
what time they had mass Sundays. Sud
denly his conversation changed. and he
made anxious inquiry about Palmer S
woods.
Stranger Seemed Anxious.
rs there a public road through the
woods" the stranger asked. He was
told there was not and then asked about
cross paths. He was told there were
plenty Of them. and then, Mr.. Nicholson
states. repeated his inquiries about
there being any public road through the
woods, his manner indicating he was
considerably worried Mr.. Nicholson
says he saw the same man returning
from the District line on a street car
Tuesday night, his appearance attract
nigan. the other man questioned by the
stranger, says his inquiries were about
the same as those made OF Mr.. Nichol-
son.
The finding Of a hat in Pamers' woods.
thought to be the ha: ~ child wore
when 81 was murdered, was turned
ove- to Constable Harmon last evening
1t Is a red cloth hat, with patent leather
crown, and is I'm keeping with the good
clothing worn by the child. The hat was
about twenty-four hours before the ghast-
~ discovery was made by Roy Rollins.
indicating that the murder was commit
ted before Friday.
That child was in somebody's way,
suggested one of the residents Of that sec
ton last night. "She knew story that
needed hiding and the only way to do
II was to commit murder "
Crowds View Body.
All day yesterday a stream of curious
persons entered and left the small struc-
ture of the Chesapeake Beach Railroad
Company in which the body Of the muir
dered child rested. but none was able to
identify II.
Both white and colored people from the
vicinity Of the District line and villages
about Prince George county and the Dis
triot viewed the body. Teachers in sew
eral schools were sent for. but none Of
them had ever before seen. the child.
Harry and Walter Houchen and James
Hunt are the boys who found the red
and black hat in the woods Thursday
afternoon. They were looking for squir-
rels and their attention was attracted to
what appeared to them to be a pile of
leaves. 1t was some distance from where
the body was found about twenty-four
hours later. and the hat was covered
witn leaves the same as was the body of
the murdered child. The boys took the
was paid to 1t until after the finding of
the chld's body. Then II was sent to
Constable Harmon, who deposited il with
the body, being certain il had belonged
to the girl.
The suggestion was made yesterday
that the murder had been committed
in this city and the body taken to tine
woods to be disposed of. but the de-
tectfves and county authorities think
otherwise. The terrible gashes in the
child's throat meant almost Immediate
death and the loss of large quantities
OF blood, and the ground about tho
| body was saturated, making il certain
that the crime was committed in the
woods.
District Detectives Aiding.
Inspector Boardman. chief Of detec-
tives. has copies Of the photograph Of
the murdered girl and had Detectives
Burlingame and Mullen assisting in the
investigation Of the case. The descrip-
ton taken of the corpse by the police
gives her color as medium copper She
wore a red striped dress and pair of
Bostonian school shoes. There was a
slight scar on her face. 1t is believed
| that the coat and shoes will assist In
the work OF Identification
Undertaken Scott Armstrong of For
estville was directed to take charge of
the body last night and hold Ii a rea-
soma Bile time for Identification. Inspecto or
Boardman directed the police last night
to make inquiries about local institu-
tions and other places for the purpos,
of ascertaining something which may
lead to the identity of the victim. The
police believe the child went to the
woods from this city. having been in =
weighed there by the person or persons