Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-07-30
SKELETON OF ADULT FOUND BY W0RkMEN
IN CELLAR OF LATE C0L0RED PHYSICIAN;
STATE HOLDS BONES FOR INVESTIGATION
Cody Thought To Be That OF Woma-Age Length OF Bur-
ial, Identity Of Person OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Wounds
Thought Indicated On Temples OF Original

While digging in the cellar of the
home Of DR.. Samuel Gray, deceased
colored physician, on West Martin
street yesterday workmen happened
upon a human skeleton in one cor
ner Of the cellar, completely buried
4 1nd burned, it is believed, by quick
lime. Coroner Sites was called and
with Drs. Eagle and Oates he went
to the house r"o~e the bones had
been exposed light. The ex-
animation that the skele
ton was tina adult and that
it had been I'D some time-per-
haps two, perhaps five or six years.
There was evidence that the per-
son had been shot, it Is said, bull
let wound showing on either tenn
\ple of the skull. The physicians are
{bf the opinion that it is woman,
whose age cannot be determined
with any certainty. it is said. 1t is
not known Furthermore, whether
the person was a white or black,
although the thickness of the skull
Indicates that it was a negro.
Coroner Sites reported the case to
Prosecuting Attorney Hannis and
the remains will be held for some
Inquiry. Funeral Director Cole TAX
ng charge of the bones to hold
Them at his Establishment until the
Ptate determines what disposition
bhall be made OF the remains. No
inquest has been held as yet, and
lprobably none will be held. At the
present the authorities are canvas
Sing the whole situation and, with
only general evidence to work up
ION, are unable to indicate their pro-
cedure.
Complete mystery surrounds the
situation which put the skeleton in
the ground. The use of quicklime,
which Is thought to have been
used, indicates that conscious eff
fort was made to decompose the
body quickly, it is thought. The
body was buried in one corner Of
the cellar, not far from the steps
leading down from the first floor,
and was discovered only by accident
when the excavators were increas-
Wing the depth of the cellar, Dr..
Gray, the former occupant of the
house, died in Baltimore during the
influenza epidemic three years ago
while on a visit there to see a sick
sister. TIE house was burned some
Emonthe go and has recently been
rebuilt b it's present owner, Berke-
ley Fa fax.
DR.. Cray lived in the house for
approximately eight years, 1t is I'M
derstood, following Mrs. John
kShaull, widow Of a former assessor
I'm Berkeley county who, with Mrs.
lEhaull occupied the house for some
years.
J The bones were found, the officials
|@aid today, in a pile and not arrang-
4 led lengthwise in the form Of a
1skeleton in the ground, which has
Tied to the theory that the body was
perhaps cut up before it was bur
! led. Not all the bones were in the
pile which was found by Fairfax,
who was doing the diee'0g, nut the
authorities thinf that smaller
J bones, which are the ones missing,
! will be found in other parts Of the
| cellar. The bones were covered over
according to the finders, although
Not buried to any depth.
Drs. Eagle and Oates were of the
opinion that 1t was an adult be-
Rcause Of the we'll preserved and in
Etact condition in which the bones
tywere found, the assumption being
fthat the bones Of child would have
Hcrumpled and decaped during the Pc
lrind of burial