The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-11-21
THEO. WALKER, INCENDlARY,
HANGS HIMSELF.
THE()
Negro Had Mortgaged His Property
and When It was Sold he set Fire

Negro Had Mortgaged His Property
and When It was Sold he set Fire
to Il.
Rather than face charge or arson.
after evidence that he had set flre TO
his mortgaged estate and burned 1t to
the ground had been unearthed, Theo-
dore Walker, a well-to-do negro OF
this county, hanged himself from
tree with a trace chain, about four
miles from Middleburg, early last
Friday morning. His body was found
suspended from the tree in sparse
woods about four miles from his burn
ed farmhouse by State Fire Marshal
G. Edward Myers and Detective John
Kratz The two officials had arranged
to lay the charge against the negro
the same morning in this city, and
when Walker failed to put IN his ap=
pearance a search was instituted No
note or message was left by the man.
Since the burning of his home about
3 o'clock in the morning, November III,
he had roamed about the country in
a buggy, which was found in church
yard near the spot where the body
hung. He had met the Fire Marshal
and Detective Kraft near Union
Bridge on Thursday, and had promis=
ed to join them in States Attorney
Weant's office the day that he COM
mitted suicide. At the time OF the
meeting Thursday some evidence
against the negro had been gathered.
but the officers did not think 1t suffi-
cient to convict him. At the time they
gave him no hint that he was suspect
ed, but asked him to meet them on
matter concerning the collection OF
fire insurance The man had promis-
ed them that he would meet them,
but supplemented the significant
phrase IF nothing happens"
The mans motive for destroying hiB
estate, which had been sold At public
auction on November |, was doubtless
to collect his insurance. Had the
property not been destroyed Walker
would have collected only 800 clear
of debt. The sale of the property had
not been ratified at the time OF the
fire, and Walker was still occupying
It.
The fact that the house had been
sold at public auction because IL was
heavily laden with mortgages. and
the fact that Walker had a fire insur
ance policy, excited the suspicious Of
States Attorney Weant, who happen
ed to know the financial condition Of
Walker. He knew that as soon as the
sale of the property was ratified
Walker would have to vaeate and
turn over the estate to Samuel har-
mon. a white farmer. the purchaser
He also knew that the late Walker
had undergone a moral change and
that his reputation as a thrifty man
was rapidly fading So on Wednesday.
November L, Mr. Neant notified
Marshal Myers, who. IN company with
Detective KFatx, came Immediately To
Westminster. Here they we're put
in possession Of the facts and began
an investigation. They visited the
scene of the fire and learned from
PloWman that Walker had been seen
driving toward uniontown on the
morning of the fire. From other
sources and from Mr. Weant they
learned that his finances were becom=
ing rapidly lower. and they were
satisfied that IL was case Of incea=
diarism.
After waiting in Mr.. Weants Office
for the negro TO appear Marshal
Myers and kratz went back TO Union
town and failing TO locate their quar-
ny there. they continued up the road
toward Middleburg. On the way they
were met by John Lynch, the insur.
ance agent who had handled tn
Walker policy. and he told the officers
that he had come across Walkers
body In the woods.
The body was found and taken
down and later turned over to thu