Without Doubt A Suicide

WITHOUT DOUBT A SUICIDE

Unknown Body Found in Vacant House

THROAT CUT EAR TO EAR

It Was the Body of a Portrait Canvasser, who Registered as W. H. Woodward-The Inquest

The body found Monday in the cellar of an unoccupied house belonging to Frank Phelps, one and one-half miles south of Dexter, is clearly that of W. H. Woodward, a traveling solicitor for the Chicago Portrait Co. It was also clearly a case of suicide. The throat was cut from ear to ear. Near the body was a razor covered with blood. The right hand of the man was also covered with blood. In his pocket was the cover for the razor. The suicide probably occurred on Sunday, May 3. That was the day that Woodward disappeared and that was the day be borrowed a razor.

Coroner Watts empaneled a jury consisting of M. S. Cook, L. T. James, Geo. F. Higgins, H. M. Phelps, David Kelly, P. Sloan.

Frank Phelps testified that he was looking after his sheep at about 7 a. m. Monday, May 25. He found an ewe and lamb missing and heard a blatt in the cellar of the unoccupied house, when he found them. While looking for them he found the dead man on the cellar bottom. He notified his brother Charles and drove to Dexter and notified the coroner. He had never seen the man before and had not been In the cellar for three months.

Charles Phelps corroborated his brother's testimony.

George H. Hill, engaged in the clothIng business, boarded at the Martin house. He had talked with Woodward May 2. Woodward said his home was in Woodstock, Ontario, and he was working for the Chicago Portrait Co. He saw him the next day, Sunday, May 3, at 8 a. m. He said he was going to shave. That was the last he saw of him. Healey, foreman of the gang, told him Woodward had borrowed his razor to shave himself. Woodward had not been seen since to his knowledge. He was about 33 to 37 years old, dark hair and dark complexion and 5 feet 6 or 8 inches tall.

Charles A. Martin, hotel keeper, testified that on April 30, a party of canvassers for the Chicago Portrait Co. stopped at his hotel and registered as A. R. Pearson, Chicago; W. H. Woodward, Chicago; J. T. Hughes, Ypsilanti; R. J. Haley, Chicago; D. C. Miller, Chicago-Toronto. Woodward stopped about three days. Sunday, after breakfast, he disappeared. He had not seen him since. Healey was foreman. The rest of the party stayed a week or ten days. Healey tried to find Woodward, and went to Ypsilanti to look for him. All the party seemed anxious about him and regarded it as strange that he should leave the party in such a manner. Healey said Woodward had borrowed his razor that Sunday morning.

Dr. Niel Gates testified that he examined the body which was lying on the cellar bottom on its chest and face. The throat was cut from ear to ear. A razor was lying close by covered with blood. There was blood on the right hand. The body was so badly decomposed that it was impossible to recognize the features.

The jury rendered their verdict that W. H. Woodward came to his death some time between the third day of May and the twenty-fifth in the cellar of Frank Phelps' unoccupied dwelling in the township of Scio, by cutting his throat with a razor which was done by his own hands.

In the pocket of the body was found a notice to a customer of the Chicago Portrait Co., signed W. H. Woodward.

The body was put in charge of Mr. Higgins, the undertaker, and was placed by him in his vault, awaiting word from relatives, if they can be found.

Lightning struck a barn Wednesday afternoon belonging to Michael Radka, outside the city limits on the Geddes avenue road about a mile and a quarter from the university. The barn and contents were destroyed as the fire spread very rapidly. The house was saved.