Evening star., 1953-11-09
County 10 Seek
And Destroy
Hidden Wells
Death Of Girl, 3,
Spurs Drive in
Prince Georges

part of the county. Authorities
urged the public to help find and
report such menaces.
1t appeared that new legisla-
ton for tighter control on well
building would develop as police
and health department officials
pursued a two-way investigation
in the wake of the death of Jeryl
Lyn Ridgeway.
The child. daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Harold E. Ridgeway, of II
Glenn street, Suitland, drowned
in 10 feet of water. She fell in
when a decaying wooden cover,
topped with 18 inches of earth
and snow. gave way under her
feet.
Police Push Probe.
Mr.. Morrow opened his inves-
tigation today. Police still are
investigating and what they
learn will be turned over to the
States attorneys Office at Marl-
poro Tor possible action.
The well in which the child
drowned is in the front yard at
the home of her grandmother,
Mrs. Johanna Ridgeway, %
Glenn street.
Mrs. Bessie l. Kidwell, the
child'S maternal grandmother,
who lives at Is Glenn street,
discovered the open pit and set
of the search which led to re-
covery of the body.
"They are the most dangerous
Of all because there have never
been any regulations governing
such wells on private property,
except when they could be con-
sidered health menaces," Mr..
Morrow said, discussing water
wells.
May Need Ordinance.
The county has had a sanitary
code since 1899, he added, con-
tanning definite rules for septic
tank systems. New regulations
by the State Board of Health ap-
plying to both sewage and water
wells are about to become effec-
tive, he said. Mr.. Morrow said
he is uncertain whether an i'm
plementing county ordinance is
needed.
County Commissioner Daniel
A. Abbott. who lives in the
southern part of the county,
said that if stricter laws are
needed. he will request them.
''It was revealed, meantime,
that the we'll involved in the
girls death was to have been
covered with concrete, but for
some reason this was not done.
E. l.. Stowe, 20 Randall road
Suitland, a contractor, said he
built the house at % Glenn
street about IL years ago. He
installed a septic system with a
tile field outlet, he said. But
he added, he knows nothing OF
what occurred ,afterward, except
that his business partner, George
Jones, told him he had hired a
man to dig the pit into which
the child fell.
William E. Edwards, colored
handyman who lives in Forest
vile, told police that man liv-
ing in the house in 1943 hired
him to dig the well. He said he
had forgotten the mans name
but Mr.. Stowe was living with
the elder Ridgeways at the time
Dug 13 Feet Deep.
Mr.. Edwards said he dug the
we'll to 13 feet, bricked it up to
within two feet of the top, and
fitted it with a wooden cover. He
said the man who hired him told
him that a concrete cover would
be poured later.
Mr.. Stowe said he believes Mr.,
Jones is in Guam.
NeighborS said the wooden top
was in place several years and
that during that time several
cats and dogs fell through into
the well. Just when dirt was
thrown over the cover could not
be determined. NeighborS said
it was at least a few years ago,
because nobody remembered the
pit was there.
The Suitland Citizens AsSo-
citation will take steps to help
authorities prevent a recurrence
of Saturdays tragedy. Daniel j.
McGillicuddy, the units presi-
dent, said yesterday that spe-
cial meeting may be called to
discuss the matter before the
groups regular meeting Novem-
Der II.
HOmeOwnerS Warned.
Mr.. Morrow urged home
owners. especially those who
came to the county some time
after the houses they occupy were
built, to get in touch with his
Office if they don't know whether
there is an abandoned water
well or an old dry we'll on their
|~pEenerty. He said his Office has
records on water wells, because
for years permits have been re-
quired to build them. He added,
however, that the records do not
pinpoint the locations.
Funeral services for Jeryl Lyn
will be held at 10 am. Wednes-
day at the w. w. Chambers
funeral home, SIT Eleventh
street Sc. Burial will be In
Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Johanna Ridgeway, the
child's grandmother, collapsed
when the girls body was recov-
cred Saturday. She was taken tc
Providence Hospital suffering
from shock. Her condition today
was listed as good.
Grieving residents of the little
war-born special improvement
district community known as
Navy Day. set about yesterday tc
aid the RidgewayS. Mrs. Lens