Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-17
STILL A MYSTERY
Detectives Unable to Discover Muir
derer of Young Ayres.
ANALYZING TIE BLOOD STAINS
Jury Summoned for the Inquest
to Be Held Tomorrow.
AN ARREST PROBABLE
ARREST PROBABLE

stated that the mystery had not been
solved.
The window sill upon which the imprint
Of a hand had been made was removed
from the hotel yesterday and turned over
to DR.. Schaeffer, the medical expert, who
also took particles of the stains from the
fire escape and the front of the house, as
well as pieces of the wall paper from the
hall wall on the fourth floor of the hotel an
mex. After a careful examination of the
imprints DR.. Schaeffer reached the conclu-
sion that they were not made by the hands
of the deceased. This leads inevitably to
the conclusion that they were made by
the individual who left the room after the
ia tai shots were fired.
MIR. Baker, who saw the party leave the
room and descend the fire escape has
closely observed number of women at
the suggestion of the police, but so far as
could be ascertained this afternoon he did
not fully identify any of them. That he
could get a good view of the woman on
the fire escape and possibly recognize her
the police are satisfied, for the street about
the hotel is brightly lighted, and the wo-
man was not many feet from him.
Major Sylvester visited Mr.. Bakers room
last night and was shown the condition of
the surroundings. This woman, as here
tofore published, was minutely described
| by Mr.. Baker. Her skirt, he says, was of
dark goods, probably black, and her skirt
was held as high her knees to prevent
its catching in the fire escape
Young AyreS was handsome and attrac-
tive, and no motive other than Jealousy
has been suggested in the case.
The absence of any other motive nd the
appearance OF the woman on the fire escape
makes 1t plain to the police that such
Jealousy caused the tragedy. With these
conditions before them the police have de-
voted almost their entire time in inveSti-
eating the movements of women, some of
ant,
QuantanceS of the deceased Room after
room in the hotel has been searched but
the police say they failed to find in any of
them evidence to in any way connect the
occupants with the crime. Blood stains on
dark dresses skirts were searched for
but none could be found. There were no
blood stains on the floors or walls of any
of the rooms, and some of the detectives
gave up hope in the case
Police Responds to Charges
Some comment has been INDUCED in
about the loss of time on the part of the
police in starting the investigation If
there was any such loss. it is claimed, it is
the fault of the occupants of the hotel
rooms and neghbors who heard the pistol
shots, and failed to make any outcry. Had
the alarm been given when the shots were
fired the police believe the guilty party or
parties would have been in custody in a
short time. AS it was, the body remained
on the noor In the pool of blood more than
six hours before it found
During this time, the police say the wo-
man, if it be a woman who committed the
crime, could have disposed Of all evidence
in her possession. Her blood stained dress
Tor the garment must have been stained
before she got out the window could have
been cut into shreds and sent down the
sewer.
On the other hand, if a man participated
in the tragedy, and many people believe
he. rnIl11 how lnft
room, following the woman down the fire
escape, and gone his way. There has been
no identification Of the woman who was
on the fire escape, and until something
more definite is obtained the question Of
whether the woman was a guest of the
motel or an outsider will not be determined
Inc detectives as well as Major Sylvester
seemed more confident this morning than
ever that the mystery will be solved and II
Is limited that they expect to arrest the
guilty person before night. During the day
the members of Inspector Boardman's staff
made mysterious moves about the city and
some of them appeared to have infOrma-
ton Of Importance.
An arrangement had been made to have
the witnesses In the case, chiefly hotel
guests, appear in the district attorneys
Office this morning and submit to cross
examinations, but this plan was aban-
doned, and they will appear at the inquest
tomorrow. About twenty-five witnesses, it
is stated, have already been summoned
Inc Anonymous Letter.
1t is believed that the anonymous letter
received by Representative Weeks some
time ago concerning young Ayres may
play an important part in the murder mys-
terry.
This letter is is believed, was written by
woman who was actuated by jealousy
Ayres, as heretofore stated in The Star,
was caller upon the daughter of the Mich
ipar faf o,,I
was particularly attentive to her 1t is
stated that there was foundation for
the statements made in the letter reflect
ing on Mr.. Ayres' character. The Young
man was told of the letter and he con-
versed with friends about it, saying 1t was
written for the purpose of injuring him.
Representative Weeks has been commu-
nlcated with. and he says he will send the
letter here if he can possibly find it, He
think 1t has not been destroyed Should
he be able to find it effort will be made
to identify the handwriting. Samples of
the handwriting of several women have
been obtained and if that in the letter is
identified the police think the author of
1t may render them some assistance
1t develops that Ayres made arrange
sions. and it is believed he was persuaded
by some Of his friends to remain His
father, whom he told Of the contemplat ed
change, warmly approved the idea.
Miss Minas Interrogated.
Miss Mary Minas, the young woman who
occupied room No. q, adjoining that in
which the murder was committed, was
summoned to police headquarters this at
ternoon.
Major Sylvester, Inspector Boardman and
some of the detectives heard her repeat
the story Of her experience in her room the
morning Of the murder. She told them Of
having heard the three shots fired in rapid
succession, and Of the agonizing cries and
groans, following a call for "help." The
young lady also told Of her fright during
| the early morning hours, and Of her report
which resulted in the finding of the body.
She did not hear two voices in the room
OF Mr.. Ayres at any time, nor did she hear
anything prior to the time the shots were
fired.
A colored domestic who worked in the
hotel Is said to have given the police some
information concerning Mr.. Ayres and a
woman which may be of assistance to the
officers working on the case.
Coroner hewitt has not yet obtained re-
port of the analysis made of the stains on
the wall paper. DR.. Schaeffer and the cor
| oner went out into the country this after
noon to experiment with a revolver in order
to get more definite idea of the burns that
| would be made by firing at certain dis