Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-03
MURDER, SAY POLICE
Think Man Killed by Train Was
Bound to Tracks.
MYSTERY NEAR ODENTON
Identification Made Impossible, as
Body Is Cut to Pieces.
STRUCK BY INCOMING EXPRESS
Remains Strewn Along Road for
Distance of 800 Yards.
May Be Stranger.
MYSTERY NEAR ODENTON
STRUCK BY INCOMING EXPRESS

| Inc Washington police are working in
| conjunction with the Maryland author
tues In an effort to ascertain the
| identity of a man killed on the tracks
or the Pennsylvania railroad. near
odenton Junction. Md. early yesterday
morning. Parts of tile body were found
streWn along the track for nearly 800
Ieet The indication is he was bound
to the track. The body was literally
ground to pieces beneath the fast New
York express, due in Washington at 1
O'Clock yesterday morning
First evidences of the crime were dis
covered when the train reached the Union
station. Blood was seen on the cow
catcher and a piece of shirt was hang
ing on the locomotive. The railroad of
f1cials Immediately notified all track
walkers between Washington and Balti-
more to try to locate where the man was
struck Isaac Wilson. colored. a track
walker. found parts of the body on the
tracks between Odenton Junction and
PatuXent
The country around where the body
was found consists mostly of swampy
land, and the nearest house is fully a
quarter of mile away from where the
oodE is thought to have been tied to the
track.
Fred Sandberg. official photographer
Tor the Washington police department,
Went to Odenton this morning in the
nope that he might be able to identify
parts OF the body, and after talking to
several residents of that part of the
country started for Waterbury,. Md,
Where the parts of the body were taken
after the cOroners inquest. which was
held last night at Patuxent, Md.
ne coroners jury was composed of
Eden Watts foreman; w. F. Phelps F..
w. -; Matts' Hanford b. Wicks. Lewis
Clark. j. A. jackson, sr.; J. A. Jackson,
curtis Fisher \. B. Riden, Gilbert r.
SHAW. Byron Phelps conducted the in
quest as acting coroner
Verdict of Coroner's jury.
The members of the coroner's jury de-
cided unofficially that the man met his
death by being tied to the rails by some
person or persons unknown at the pres
ent time. or else by tying himself secure
ly to the rails. They, however, do not
place much credence in the theory that
the dead man took this step to end his
own life.
The authorities believe the man was
awe when he was placed on the tracks
otherwise the murderers would not have
wasted time by delaying long enough to
make the man fast to the rails Strips
OF burlap wound about in the form of a
rope were used to bind the man. it is be-
lieved. and several pieces of these have
been found.
1t is not believed the murder was
committed for the purpose of robbery.
Tor silver watch was found in piece
OF vest nearby. The authorities have
the number of the timepiece, and
think this will aid them in identifying
the body. Nothing was found in the
way OF papers or Identification cards
session it is thought they were taken
from him before he was killed.
Body Badly Mangled.
The wheels of the heavy locomotive
mangled the body SO horribly that only
one distinctive mark was left for the
authorities to work on. 1t was found
that the thumb on the left hand had been
cut off in some accident or was amputat-
ed several years ago on account of dis
ease. The stub was entirely healed.
The man was a stranger at Odenton,
Sheriff G. Thomas Beasley said today,
after thorough canvass of the town.
He is comforting with the Maryland
states attorney. The only tangible clue
that has been found was the fact that
two strangers were seen at Odenton
few hours before the crime is supposed
to have been committed. and they are
said to have boarded a train for Balti-
more which left Odenton at 12:1o O'Clock.
The sheriff has asked the assistance
of the railroad officials in trying to trace
the two men who boarded the train, in
the hope that they know something of
the affair.
1t was suggested today that the man
probably had been murdered elsewhere
and taken to Odenton and placed on the
tracks to divert suspicion.
This, it is said by residents of the
county, would not be difficult thing
to do. as the roads leading from WASH
ington and Baltimore to Odenton are
very lonely and body could easily
have been taken to the spot and placed
on the track without any one knowing
of it.
The man evidently was German.
Sheriff Beasley says. he has all the
characteristics of n man of that ma
tionality.