Evening star., 1916-10-26
MURDERED,
SHERIFF BELIEVES
Discredits Suicide Theory Ad-
vanced by Some Residents
of ForestviIIe.
NO ONE is SUSPECTED YET
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FORESTVILLE, Md, October 26.-
That Frank Poschl. who disappeared
from his home here August "a and
part of whose charred bones were
w. w. Stewart, not far from where
Poschl resided, was murdered was the
theory advanced this morning by Sher-
if r. ]. Gates.
II feel perfectly satisfied that he was
murdered" said the sheriff to a Star
reporter this morning. ut may be some
little time before the mystery is
solved, but think something will hap
pen that will bare the crime"
Sheriff Gates. discussing the disap-
pearance of some of the larger bones
of the legs, said he doubted If the hre
left flesh enough on the bones to at
tract buzzards. He further doubted if
burned flesh would prove attractive to
the scavengers of the woods. If dogs
had dragged the bones from tss place
where the body was incinerated, he
any great distance and certainly ought
to be found in the nearby woods.
Discounts Suicide Theory.
The sheriff discounts the suicide
theory. He suggested that some resi-
dents of this section are anxious to
have the tragedy given such an aspect
in order that the serious crime of muir
der and fire to hide the crime should
not be recorded against their part OF
the county. It Is the intention Of the
sheriff to visit here tomorrow morning
and resume the investigation. He ad-
mitted today that he had no direct In
formation upon which to base the mur
der theory, but said he felt confident
that such information would be forth
coming.
Following the funeral yesterday. at
the Catholic Church, members OF the
families of the two sisters and broth
ers-in-iaw of the dead man returned
to their respective homes. the Som.
mers to their home near the scene OF
the tragedy, where Poschl resided.
and the Gibbes to Centerville.
Residents Of this section VINO are
not relatives of the dead man have
strong opinions regarding the man.
ner in which Poschl was killed. Poschl
had no enemies. 1t is stated. and the
finger of suspicion has not pointed
toward any particular Individual shvn by oy
those who hold to the theory that
murder was committed.
No Search for Missing Bones.
On the other hand. there are those
who cling to the suicide theory. and
point to the statements the farm
worker is said to have made Of his
shining, and suggestion
that no death would be too severe
punishment for him. Many persons
have visited the place where the bones
were found. but, 1t is stated. there
has been no systematic search Of the
woods for missing parts Of Poschls
body.
No importance is attached to the hnd-
ing of the metal ends of two 12-gauge
shells at the place where the IRE came
fication of the few bones that were left
to make certain that the body of a hu-
man being had been burned. DT. Stew
art. owner Of the property, recalls gun,
and says many used shells undoubtedly
were discarded in all parts of 1t.
Persons who advanced the suicide
theory admitted they were at loss to
understand how Poschl was able to
have suffered had he started the fire
and thrown himself into 1t.
while 1 believe he committed sui
eide" said one of his neighbors. Il also
ner before he put himself in a position
to be cremated. My first thought was
that he had cut his throat with his
knife and that the loss of blood weak
ened him to such an extent that when
he reached the fire he could not drag
himself from It.
But the knife was closed when II
was found The question in my mind
is whether he would have closed the
knife after using it. That would hard
r. t.
his wrist OF some part of his body
other than his throat.
After ALL" he concluded, "the affair
is mysterious one that hope will be
more definitely solved"
Discovery Of Shells Not Significant.
Persons who are clinging to the mur-
der theory are making all kinds of
suggestions as to how and when
Poschl met his death. 1t is pointed out
that very careful preparations were
made in the woods to prevent the f1re
from spreading and doing damage. and
1t is doubted by some of the victims
friends If he would have taken such
careful precautions in event of con-
templating suicide.
IF he knew he was going to die.'
said one of the interested ones, "ft
does not seem likely that he would GO
to so much trouble, but would be more
inclined to finish the Job in the short
est possible time. and, on the other
hand, a slayer trying to hide the crime
would not want the fire to spread and
attract attention. In such an event a
person leaving the scene might attract
attention and be suspected of murder -
DR.. Stewart, who is satisfied that
Poschi committed suicide, says he
thinks 1t the most natural thing that
Poschl should arrange the fire SO az
to prevent it from spreading to the
woods.
"Poschl was very fond of our family
he said, "and I'm satisfied he would
have done nothing that he thought
would harm US or our property.
BRITISH MINE SWEEPER