Evening star., 1938-02-19
JAN|SH' s DEATH
REMAINS MYSTERY
Laurel Farmland Killed by
"UnknoWn Persons" Cor.
oner's Jury Holds.
BY Stan Correspond tent Of The Star.

BY Stan Correspondent Of The Star.
LAUREL, Md. Feb. 19.-The death
Of Harry Janish. 43-year-old farm.
hand, was officially listed among
Prince Georges County's unsolved
murders today
A verdict proclaiming that Mr..
Janish was slain with a club or blunt
instrument yielded by an unknown
person or persons" was handed down
by coroner's jury here last night.
The finding was returned after po-
lice testified they were unable to learn
the identity of persons with Mr..
Janish at the time of his death. Nine
witnesses were called and none were
able to shed any light on the mystery.
The farmhand's body was dis
covered Sunday night on a farm
where he was employed near here, and
while police said there were indica-
tions a struggle might have occurred
at either of two nearby buildings,
they told the jury they were not posi-
tive where Mr.. Janish was slain.
Farmer Is Released.
Justice Of the Peace James S.
Vawter, who conducted the inquiry.
said the jury's decision automatically
released William Thorpe, 81 Laurel
farmer for whom Mr. Janish worked.
Mr.. Thorpe had been held under
$4,000 bond "as witness" Justice
VaWter said
Mr.. Thorpe, represented by State
Senator Lansdale G. Sasscer, was not
called to the stand during the pro-
ceedings.
Mr. Janish was found dead by Will
bur Salzman, Mr.. Thorpes son-in-law,
when he drove up to the latters resi-
dence. The body was lying midway
between the Thorpe home and an out
building in which Mr. Janish resided.
A club with which he had been beaten
was near his side.
1t was testified by Dr. Bryan p. War
ren, who performed an autopsy, that
Mr.. Janish's death was caused by
head injuries" inflicted with a CLUB
or blunt instrument"
No Bloodstains Found.
Ofhcers said there was no sign of
a struggle at the point where the body
was found. The jury was told things
were upset" in the Thorpe kitchen and
in the building where Mr.. Janish
lived, but there was no blood dis
covered at either place, or ANYTHING
else to indicate the man had been
Killed in fight at either point.
Through several witnesses called BY
States Attorney Allan Bowie the ac-
tivities of Mr.. Janish were traced up
to late Sunday afternoon. but none
OF the witnesses were able to testify
as TO his whereabouts that night.
An Anne Arundel County farmer.
HOBART Lawson. said he went to the
Thorpe home early Sunday "to buy
some potatoes and shoe horse" and
had called on several people in and
around Laurel with Mr. Thorpe and
Mr.. Janish Sunday morning.
He said they finally returned to the
Thorpe farm in the early afternoon
and that Mr.. Thorpe and himself had
to help Mr. Janish to his bed" in
the outbuilding about 2:3o O'Clock.
Mr.. Janish, according to Mr.. Lawson.
had been drinking before the Anrc
Arundel County man arrived in tho
early morning
Slain Mans Brother Heard.
Roy Janish. brother OF the sla!
man, said several acquaintance callee
him Sunday night and informed hir:
that his brother had been killed. H
said he drove out to the Thorpe farm
viewed the body and left to get polio
from the Hyattsville station.
Shortly after running out of lanc
leading to the Thorpe home he saw
Mr. Thorpe walking along the road
toward his residence He said tha-
the farmer had been drinking heavily.
Mr.. Thorpe, according to the wit
ness. told him Harry Janish had been
killed and that some people had oee.!
at the Thorpe home drinking. but he
did not know whether they had beaten
the dead man.