Evening star., 1921-05-20

MRS. MARGARET f. WEBER.
At 2 o'clock today a posse was
organized and, headed by Mary
Land authorities, sent to search the
woods near SeabrO0k. Md, for q
col0red man who. at about 1 O'Clock
this afternoon, Nvas seen to rush
from the woods and make an un-
successful attempt to board a NOV
Ing freight train. He fell, picked
himself up and ran back to the
woods.
Seabrook II few miles north Of
where Mrs. Margaret f.. Weber
was murdered yesterday.
Criminally assaulted, robbed and
garet Elizabeth Weber. twenty years
old. the seventh months bride OF
John F.. Weber. jr., Of Columbia Park,
Md. was found yesterday afternoon
in the woods near Whites station. on
the Washington, Baltimore and An
napolis electric railroad. The third
finger of her left hand was severed
by the murderer to remove two rings.
one a plain gold wedding ring. the
other an engagement ring set with a
diamond. presented to her by rela-
tive. 4 bracelet and a pocketbook.
dOOut fls, were also taken,
but a small ring worn on her right
hand was left undisturbed.
James Dixon, colored. Of Ardmore.
Nd, was arrested last night by Dep
uty Sheriff Warner of Prince Georges
county as he stepped from an cleo
held at the Hyattsville Jail for in
vestigation in connection with the
crime.
The body of Mrs Weber was found
by a colored girl. Edith Queen. living
on the farm of ]. p. Wilson. about a
mile from the scene. She notified Mr..
Wilson. who communicated with coun-
ty authorities and the Washington po-
lice. The officers reached the scene a
little later and the investigation began
Immediately.
Some Sign Of struggle.
Mrs. Weber evidently had started
from her home to visit an aunt Mrs.
George Sheetz. in Hyattsville. She car
ried with her freshly baked cake and
two dozen eggs as a present. She
must have been waiting At the station
for a car. according to the police
theory, when she was accosted by the
murderer, who forced her to walk.
probably at the point of a pistol. up
the little path that leads across the
She may have struggled little. as
the deeply imbedded footprints show
she resisted as she walked.
When she reached the secluded spot
in the wood where the murder was
committed the paper bag in which
placed gently on the ground. This was
proved by the discovery that none of
the eggs was broken, nor was the
soft cake dented. as would have been
the case had the package been thrown
to the ground.
Ia n
of Hyattsville reached the scene OF
the murder yesterday the body had
been untouched. The clothing was not
torn. and the hat and eyeglasses worn
by Mrs. Weber were undisturbed. The
revolver wound showed the gun had
been placed against her head, powder
burns on the flesh and clothing being
apparent.
Detective Sandberg found the dis
membered finger not more than ten
inches from the hand from which it
had been severed. and a small blood
stain on piece Of paper was exam
ined for fngerprints. 1t failed to re-
veal any such traces. however.
Although little has been found to
committed. testimony Of persons who
passed the spot show the murder took
place between and l o'clock.
Mrs. Weber. daughter Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles G. Schmitt, 1875 F street
October 81 last by Rev. Clarence Il.
Wheeler. pastor of Holy Comforte,
Church. 14th and East Capitol streets
and had resided at the home of the
wife's parents until April 1s. when
they moved to Columbia Park and
resided with the husbands sister
Mrs. Clarence Brady. Weber had
started the erection Of a homo and
expected to occupy it before his wife
would become mother. The body
was taken to the home Of Mrs. Web