The Washington times., 1916-10-29
MYSTERY DEEPENS IN
POSCHL DEATH CASE
Exhaustive Search Being Made
Of Woods for Traces Of
Missing Bones.
CONTINUED from Flr.t Paee.)

day they had made no Roadway. In
deed, extended consideration OF all the
Incidents preceding the tragedy only
serve to darken the mystery.
Looking into Poschi 8 past life the in
vestigators have found rather pathetic
struggle of an immigrant against condi.
tons In o new environment, handicapped
by misfortune, and brought to a climax
by death which must have been of
great suffering.
Came Here Thirty Years Ago.
Poschl came to the United States
about thirty years ago. He married q
woman who was willing to fight against
the odds OF new land with him. Like
many German women. she went into
the fields and worked on the little farm
near Forestville. as hard as her hus-
band, and after years of this strug gle
ana the most rigid economy. Poschl was
own.
Now Poschl was a capable farmer: he
knew some of the German methods OF
Intensive farming, and his small tract
Is one OF the richest pieces of ground
In his neighborhood.
Just as he attained the goal OF own
Ing this piece OF land. the realization of
his ambition was discounted by the
death OF his wife.
Deeply religious, Poschl saw in this
a NAStNutiVu TONlueHtt.
fact that he had no children already
preyed upon his mind.
When his wife died the strain which
he had been under was too much for
him. the genial farmer became morose
and sullen, and was taken to a snni-
tarium In Baltimore.
Sister Came to Him.
Recovering his strength. but still
moody and Respondent. Poschl came
back to his place. and invited his sister,
Mrs. William Sommer and her hus-
band to live with him. While he was
away another sister and her sons had
been working the place.
For three years Poschl lived with the
Sommer family. He worked hard. al
most In frenzy. to keep his mind
on his troubles, and when he did odd
rived at dawn and worked until dusk.
Many times he was told To desist
and cali 1t a day." He usually an.
swered. Il want to give you your full
moneys worth" Then when he sent
In his bill he charged no more than
the average wage for a ten-ho,fr day.
More and more the belief that he
had committed an objectionable sin
preyed on Poschrs mind. When he
was working for his neighbors they
family. as Is the custom In the simple
neighborly community about Forest
VILE Nearly always he would answer;
"Not Fit to Come In"
"oh. no. no. am not fit TO come
in a decent mans home. II you only
knew how wicked 1 have been you
would not ask me.
His advice on all matters OF plant
ing and fertilization was sought, he
was an expert woodsman. and tina,
fact is cited by those who believe nc
could have built fire so skilltuliS
that its flames would cremeSe his oods
thoroughly. IL,
Others pointed to his deeply relig
ious nature as proof that he woult
not have taken his own life, Tor M
had been heard TO say that he never
would do anything that woufd' reNen'
his being I'm consecrated ground.
ON the evening of August 20 Posch
had been summoned 10 dinner, but IN
would not eat with the Sommer ram
ily that evening because there wal
company at the home.
For three years he had spoken Il
no one he could avoid, and even oil
his trips to his work and back IN
would cut through tho woods, nevel
taking to the open road IL he coul'
help IL.
Nothing More Seen of Him.
He told Mrs. Sommer on that even
ing that he would eat later. He did
Nothing more was seen OF him. AS tn
| family and their friends were sittinl
| In the front yard OF Poschrs vine cla'
little cottage along came neighbo
who called out:
~ met Frank down By the bridge
He says not to worry-he 10 goinl
over to spend a few days with hi
4 sister. Mrs. Gibbs.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Sommer knew that tn
Gibbs family had asked him to yisi
them. and. knowing his habits
thought il not strange that he shout
have slipped off in this quiet fashion
| 4 week, and then another. slipped by
and a friend asked the Gibbs family on
Sunday how Poschl was getting along
They expressed great surprise and sal
| they had not seen him.
| Immediately Mr.. Sommer started
search. He called upon the constable a
Forestville. Robert l.. Anderson. an
told him he thought Sommer Nigh
have gone TO the home OF some relative
thep. They had not seen Poschl.
| Meanwhile the Sommer children, on
lby one, were taken down with scarle
fever. SomTner could not leave hi
home. which had been placed unde
Quarantine, and he could not press tn
search for Poschl
Found Bones in Pile.
Last Sunday. a neighbor. strollin
through the woods near the Poscl
place, found burned pile OF brush. !
It were the chalky bones of a man
leg Then he found a portion OF a skull
Digging about further he found pei
knife, and on the edge OF the fire Va
a charred hat, which later was ident
fled as Poschl's.
Did Poschl send back the message
throw the Sommer family off the
GUARD, then build fire and fling hin
self into II?
Was he really going to his sister
home and did he meet with foul pla
on the way? Then. did his assailai
seek to conceal the evidence OF III
lcrime by burning PosChls body?
II Poschl burned himself he probabl
did It on or soon after August 20. o.,
SO why were the ashes black instea
of gray; why wasn't the pyre covere
with fallen leaves? Why We're !
traces OF his shoes found? Why al
the heavy bones OF his body missing,
II Poschl was murdered, what cou
have been the motive. He had qua
relied with no one, carried no mono
| about with him. had made no will, hs