I'm not related to these folks, but came across this article when looking through some old newspapers on film at our local library in Lafayette, Indiana. Thought someone might find it of interest. I didn't see anything more about this case - just out of curiosity, does anyone know how it came out? Adina Dyer _____________________________________________________ Lafayette Morning Journal Thursday, July 23, 1908, pg. 2 Lafayette, Indiana AUTHORITIES JUMP AT SUICIDE THEORY Mystery in Death of Old Maryland Suitor May Never Be Solved DOCTOR SAYS IT'S MURDER Strong Effort is Being Made to Have Body of William Williams Exhumed MARYDEL, Md., July 22 -- Indications are that the mystery surrounding the death of WILLIAM WILLIAMS, the aged suitor of 12-year-old ELIZABETH WALLS, and whose body was found hanged to a tree in Neal's woods, five miles from here, a week from today, will remain unsolved. Although the authorities of Queen Anne county have not ceased investigating the case it is evident that they are at their wits' ends as to how to proceed. Every clue with possibly one exception upon which the authorities have been working has petered out. The county does not seemed disposed to expend the money sufficient to prosecute a thorough inquiry, and if the investigation is continued at any great length it will likely be performed in the same perfunctory manner that has characterized it from its inception. This is evidenced by the readiness with which the authorities seem to accept the assumption of DETECTIVE SERGEANT JAMES K. DICK, of Baltimore, who, after two days, announced that he leaned toward the theory that WILLIAMS committed suicide, in face of the fact that Coroner's Physician JOSEPH R. SMITH, who performed the autopsy, declares that this theory is untenable and that WILLIAMS was unquestionably murdered by being struck on the head by some blunt instrument, which caused a cerebral hemorrhage and consequent death prior to his being strung up to the tree, which was done in an effort to create the impression that he took his own life. In the absence of other professional opinion it would seem that the findings of the coroner's physician would have to stand unless proven to the contrary by a re-examination of the body, which would necessitate is being exhumed. Such a proceeding would, he declared, not only settle in his own mind whether or not the suicide theory is the correct one, but in case of his being in error, might furnish him with several essential facts in connection with the murder. In order to press his case further he went to Centerville for a conference with THOMAS J. KEATING, district attorney of Queen Anne county. No definite conclusion as to the exhuming of the body was reached at the conference. The district attorney will consult with DR. SMITH today, when a determination will be reached as to whether this course will be pursued. It was decided, however, that DICK should continue in the case for the present. Among the things the detective wishes to show by a re-examination of the body was whether WILLIAMS' neck was broken, whether he was strangled or whether the blow to the skull was of sufficient force to have caused death. DR. SMITH has already answered these questions, but DICK is not convinced. So confident is the physician that his assumptions are based on actual facts, that he has volunteered to conduct a re-examination in the presence of other reputable physicians gratis. Among those questioned by DICK since his arrival were ELIZABETH WALLS, WILLIAMS' 12-year-old sweetheart, and her parents, MR. and MRS. SAMUEL WALLS. It has been the assumption all along that the most plausible motive for the murder was to prevent his marriage to this child, this being strengthened by the fact that a marriage license for the wedding of the aged farmer and the WELLS girl was found on WILLIAMS' dead body.