Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-07
Body of Clarence Keefer, rs,
Discovered 200 Yards From
Home in BrookIand, D. c.
POLICE SEEKING COUPLE
VICTIM HAD FOLLOWED
Bullet Holes in Breast Show Cause
of Death-Residents in Vicin.
ity Heard Shots.

Murdered in a dense woods last night
about 200 yards from his home, Michi-
gan avenue and Sargent road nortn-
east, Brookland, D. c., thet body OF
Clarence Keefer, twenty-six years old.
was discovered this morning. He hao
been shot twice in the breast. The po-
lice are searching for man and wom-
an who they believe. can throw some
light on the tragedy.
The murder was discovered by c. l..
Reiser, a member of No. truck com
pany of the District fire department,
and a half-brother of the dead man,
during a search for Keefer. The body
was found in the woods about 100
yards from Michigan avenue and just
a short distance from the Bunker Hill
Public School.
Keefer was sitting on the porch OF
his home about 9 o'clock last night
talking with his mother. Mrs. b. T.
Banfield, when a couple passed. Inc
man was wearing a Palm Beach suit
and the woman was attired in a shirt
waist and black skirt, the police were
told. After the couple had gone up
the road a short distance and entered
the woods, Keefer told his mother he
intended to follow them. He did so
The mother saw him enter the woods
and that was the last seen of him alive.
Search Is Instituted.
When Keefer had not returned home
this morning his mother became alarm
ed and informed Reiser, who, with H
A. Hodgson, who conducts a black
smith shop nearby, started out to search
for the missing man.
The men entered the woods and sep
arated Reiser said he took course in
which he had seen couples on Other
occasions follow. He had gone about
100 yards into the woods when in dense
underbrush he saw the body of Keefer
Keefer had fallen down and was in
jured or asleep. Reiser caught hold Of
his hand. 1t was cold. He became
frightened and Immediately sought
and discovered that Keefer had beer
shot.
A telephone message was sent to thu
tenth precinct police station. Capt. Judge
in command, informed Chief Of Detec
tives Grant, who dispatched Detective,
Weber. Armstrong. Boyle and Stringfel
low to the scene in an automobile. Capt
Judge also sent a number of his officer:
to the place.
"A search was made by the police o.
Tie WOOuS III TIE N1Clnty vi Tie CLuic
Their search resulted in finding a chear
hatpin. containing a number of brilliants
a car ticket. collar button and cheaI
fraternity ring. All of the articles were
picked up within a few feet of the spot
where the body was found. Although the
twigs and underbrush showed some signs
Of having been disturbed there was nc
indication that a struggle had occurred
Several Heard Shots Fired.
Following the search of the woods
canvass in the vicinity to learn If any
one had heard the shots fired. Albert
Hodister. residing at 16 Michigan ave-
nue., told the officers that about 9:15
o'clock last night he heard shots fired.
He did not see any one in the vicinity
Immediately before or after the shoot
ing. Other residents in the neighbor-
hood also heard two shots, but, be-
lieving them to be some distance away,
did not make an investigation.
The couple who Keefer had told his
mother he intended to follow into the
woods were not seen to emerge from
them.
Believing the couple Keefer had fol-
lowed possibly had gone to the place on
Brookland line car which arrived at
Michigan avenue and 18th street north
east. the terminus, about 3 o'clock last
night, the detectives are endeavoring to
locate the crew of the car to possibly get
description of any couples who might
have boarded the car near there They
also are endeavoring to learn if any cou-
pie answering the description given by
the mother of the murdered man took a
car for the city later in the night
The body of Keefer was removed to
patrol and an inquest will be held prob
ably tomorrow.