Evening star., 1919-08-18
FARMERS SLAYER
BELIEVED IN HIDING
NEAR PETERS HOME
Blood Stains Strengthen
Theory Negro May Have
Killed Self.
DAUGHTER, WOUNDED,
IN EMERGENCY HOSPITAL
Miscreant Who Killed George Peter
Also Fired Eight Bullets
Into Young Woman.

Finding of blood stains by posse
of boys about a mile from the Peter
home, near a swamp, this afternoon
has led Sheriff Bell and Deputy Sheriff
Garrison of Anne Arundel county to
believe that the man who murdered
George Peter and shot his daughter,
Katherine Peter. yesterday afternoon
at Jericho Park, near Bowie, Nd,
either committed suicide or is in hid
ing in the swamps-
County police officials this after
noon will ask Washington authorities
TO send on to the scene of the murder
the kennel of bloodhounds at the
. workhouse in this city with a view
to using them to track the murderer.
Stains Found Near Swamp.
The blood stains found by the boys
were at a point at the junction of two
roads, a mile from the Peter home and
a mile from the Patuxent river, and
near swamp. They were discovered
at ] o'clock.
The police advance the theory that
himself and is in hiding near the mur-
der scene. or that he attempted sui
eide when he realized his misdeed.
1t was said that the murderer was
Intoxicated and the theory of suicide Is
advanced because Of the probability
of the reaction on the mind of the
man after the murder was committed,
which brought on remorse, and fear
of being captured.
Inquest Is Awaited.
The body of the murdered man is at
the Peter house awaiting the action
of an inquest before DR.. W. B. Leech,
justice of the peace. who is acting as
coroner.
the jury that has been sworn in for
the inquest.
This morning there was found in
the kitchen of the Peter home five
empty shells. said to have been drop
ped by the murderer in the house.
Murderer's Victims.
The dead man is George Peter, fifty
two,L and his daughsre.. who is at
Emergency Hospital n4re with eight
bullet wounds in hef body. is Miss
old.
The father was she< and instantly
killed by the coIored man in the peach
orchard back OF his home, near Jericho
station. near Bowie. following brief
argument. in which it is believed the
.
Leaving the father dying in the
yard. the man went into the house
and emptied the revolver at the girl,
who was ill in room on the second
fioor.
Meade Soldiers Hunting Negro.
More than 200 soldiers from Camp
Meade, Nd. and a posse of seventy
five citizens are scatterej through the
fields for miles around Bowie today
10 capture the fugitive if he is still in
the vicinity.
With the Baltimore police watching
every road leading into that city. and
the District authorities taking the
same precaution, officials of Prince
Georges county feel that they have
the colored man surrounded. They
hope to arrest him before night
Residents of the county in which
the crime was committed are calm to-
day. but determined. While there is
no loud talk or violence. authorities
fear that IL the assaiiant is found in
the county he will be in danger of
Miss Anna Peter. sister of the
wounded girl. who lives on Woodley
road, this city. said today that Cath
crime believes the man worked on her
fathers farm at some time, his fea-
lures being familiar to her.
Wounded Girl May Recover.
Physicians at Emergency Hospital
said today that. unless pneumonia
some other unexpected complication
sets in. the wounded girl will recover
She was comfortable during the
night. but this morning. the doctors
said, the terrible experience of yes
Ierday began to pass again through
her mind. aggravating her nervous
condition Today she imagines she
still hears her father crying to her
from the apple orchard where he was
slain.
Although she is fully conscious. the
hospital authorities will permit no
one to see her for several days. The
story which Miss Peter unfolded to
her sister, Anna. was one of bravery
and courage unequaled in the memory
of attendants at the institution. Anna
talked to her sister before she was
operated on yesterday. and again this
morning
Sister Tells of Tragedy.
Catherine was sick in bed yester-
day morning" said the sister land
did not go with my mother and two
Younger sisters to church She heard
my father and the colored man talk
ing down in the yard. but could not
catch all of the conversation. She
1iHnks the man asked father for
something to drink and that father
.old him he had none. Then she
thinks, he asked father for money.
When Catherine heard the pistol
shots she had no idea that father had
been killed She thought he was
shooting at crows. as he often does
The next moment she heard footsteps
in the house and saw the coIored man
rummaging in another room NV
sister ran into the closet of her room
and closed the door"
Miss Anna Peter confirmed the re.
port that assault as well as robbery
was the intruder's motive Accordins
, TO one of the doctors who attended
the girl. the negro found her in tbe
closet, pulled her out and Commands
her to get in bed. She had been wins
down before the tragedy began and
was attired only in hc- night dress
She refused to obey the command
according to the physician, even afte,
several shots had been fired She
!'ade an unsuccessful attempt 70 90.
ape through trapdoor leading te
the roof.
Twelve Wounds Found.
On the operating table at the hos.
rital twelve wounds were found or
her body and arms. where bullets ha,
one through the flesh and passed oul
asain.
Even after the negro had fired sew.
eral shots into her body in the bed
1oop Miss Peter did not collapse. bu