Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-27
DROP MURDER THEORY
N. THE POSH[ Case
Neighbors Of Man Whose Chazred
Bones Were Found Think He
Committed Suicide.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
| FORESTvIILE, Md, October IL
Neighbors Of the late Frank Poschl.
whose charred bones were found re-
GENTLY in woods on the farm Of W. w.
Stewart, who were inclined at first to
believe ne was the victim Of a muir
derer. are fast eliminating the murder
theory and expressing the belief that
poschl was a victim OF self-destruc-
ton There are others who hesitate
| to express an opinion.
az wouldn't like to say what think"
one Of the dead mans near neighbors
told Star reporter today. ut fire.
quently happens that the wrong theory
| Is advanced. and in this case / could
not give any particular reasons for ad-
vancing the murder theory. I know
most people think he committed sui
eide"
Sheriff Robert J. Gates is one OF the
few persons familiar with the mystery
Poschl was murdered. 1t Is the sheriff $
belief that the slayer of the farmer
some day will be brought to justice
for the crime.
Search Fails to Disclose Clue.
A search of the woods yesterday
failed to reveal anything that would
suggest clue to the manner in which
Poschl died. Nothing was seen Of the
missing bones of the legs. nor were any
articles of clothing found. The fact
that buckles and buttons were found
among the burned and charred WOOD at
the place where the body was ere
mated is taken to mean that Poschfs
coat was on his body when he was
burned.
near the charred bones made certain
the Identification of the body, so far as
the authorities and relatives OF the
dead man are concerned. and Sherin
Gates is holding them to be used as
evidence in the event the mystery is
solved.
William Sommer. brother in-law OF
Poschl, at whose house the farmer re-
sided up to the day he disappeared. is
completely at sea regarding the affair.
He recalled to a Star reporter that
Poschrs death means trouble for him
self and family.
owned" he said, land now I suppose
the place will be sold and we will have
to move.
1T would like to own it, he said. but
haven't the money to buy 1t. A farmer
can't save money on small place when
fertilizer Is so high. A sack OF fertilizer
costs SO or more, and it takes a great
many vegetables to pay for that one
sack"
Futile Effort to Locate Poschl.
Sommer recalled the search that was
made for Posch1 when it became known
that he was missing. His disappearance
was made known when nephew asked
about him and was told that he had
left the Sommer home fully two weeks
hnf ioif ia Cd
Then the search was instituted and
reward offered for information leading
to his whereabouts.
Searchers, including Frank Sheon-
bower. Bladensburg, a cousin of the
dead man. went through the very
woods in which the body was found
last Sunday. They did not go over the
beaten paths, however, Sommer stated,
thinking it more likely that he might
be found in the dense woods.
1t was suggested that he might have
gone to the forest to live the life of a
recluse. his brother -in-law said, and for
that reason 1t was believed he might be
found in the densest growth of the
large piece Of woods on DIR. Stewards
1--WE went to a point within a hun
body was found" said sommer, but
did not detect the odor Of burned wood
or find anything that helped us in our
search"
since FoScnl return from the spring
Grove Hospital for the Insane. Sommer
said. he was able to converse on any
subject. the same as he had years ago.
He was Interested in farm work, and
seldom neglected to inquire about mar
ket prices when Sommer returned from
the city, and seemed much pleased
when told that good prices were OBJ
tanned.
Victim of Imagination.
One trouble with Frank, the brother-in-
law stated. was that he thought himself
responsible for all sorts Of troubles.
HE even imagined that responsibility
for the European war rested on his