Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-16

she was sure she could not have been mis-
taken about hearing the pistol shots. She
went downstairs earlier than usual. and
when nobody had spoken of the occurrence
she began to imagine she had been dream
ing.
II wondered if had had the nightmare"
she said, for | do sometimes dream, and
that night | had eaten quite heartily.
Her mind was relieved when Vincent
Hopkins, a small boy, who occupied room
on the fifth floor, asked if anybody had
heard the shooting. Miss Minas was then
assured she had not dreamed of the hap
penins, and she was certain, she said,
something awful had occurred. Calling che
of the colored walters she asked if he
would not go to the fourth floor and call
Mr.. Ayres. He did as she requested. first
asking if Mr.. Ayres had said anything
about being called early in the morning.
Miss Minas said he had not made such a
request, but she objected to satisfying the
curiosity of the colored waiter.
When Mr. Ayres failed to respond the
policeman was sent for, she said, and he
forced open the door.
II was really disappointed in the morn
ing at not finding dead body in the hall"
Miss MinaS repeated T.
She said she heard nothing that would
indicate a scuffle. She could not believe
Ayres killed himself, and again referred to
her conversation with him Tuesday night
in the ball room. Mr.. Ayres, she said call
ed her attention to a newspaper article
about the census bureau being made per-
manent affair, and told her he felt certain
of retaining his position, as his work was
of difficult character.
Heard Parties ScuffinS
Miss Kate Lawless, who is employed at
the bureau of engraving and printing.
cupied the room to the north of the one in
which the horrible crime was committed.
She went to work yesterday as usual and
returned in the afternoon. There Is only a
thin partition between her room and the
one occupied by Ayres, but Miss Lawless
says she heard no pistol shots She did
hear a noise during the night that she
thought sounded as If some people were
scuff1ing. About 10 o. clock at night she
saw Ayres passing through the hall, and
he stopped at her door to tell her he was
going to move from the hotel. She con-
versed with him few minutes, and when
he left he said he was going to his room
to pack his trunk.
The testimony of Mrs. Flynn, who occu-
pied room on the fifth floor, will also be
of Importance. She was not feeling well
Tuesday night and 1t was late when she
retired. About o'clock she heard voices
indicating quarrel, and then she heard
what she thought were three knocks on a
door. These supposed knocks she realizes
We're the reports of the revolver. She
opened her door to listen, and heard Mr..
Hopkins asking for particulars Of the
trouble
Died Defending Himself.
was inflicted while Ayres had his arms
raised in an effort to defend himself, and
Dr. hewitt holds the opinion that the vic
tim was not on his feet when the fatal
shot was fired. The position of his body
on the floor with his arms In front of his
face indicated that he died defending him
self.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook, in perform
ing the autopsy, discovered that the bullet
penetrated the left lung and severed one
of the main arteries, landing against rib
which was slightly fractured. 1t was the
condition of the mans legs that caused the
belief that the man had participated in the
fatal struggle. Wounds his legs APP
peared as if they had been made by some
strong person who was wearing shoes. On
the right leg there are four bruises, some
Of them on the inner side of the leg, where
they would hardly have been received by
being knocked against the furniture In the
room. There were two similar bruises on
the left leg, and slight cut over his nose.
Then, too, the mans feet were bruised, as
If they had been scraped with shoe.
Who Owned the Pistol.
Another question the detectives are try
ing to solve is the ownership of the pistol
Friends Of the dead man are Of the opinion
that the weapon was his, and that he
brought it here from Michigan. No matter
who owned the weapon, the detectives and
everybody connected with the case are sat
isfied that the crime is murder.
Detective Horne took charge of the torn
fragments of the Japanese fan founG In the
room, and he expects to have 1t ldentlfed
as having belonged to woman.
An important move was made IN the case
today in the matter of protecting the blood
stains until DR.. Edmund Nj. Schaener,
medical expert, can examine them. Pieces
of the wall paper were removed today TO
have the stains examined, in order to deter
mine If they were made by blood Some addi-
itNpn roll tr hon
on the fire escape at the time the woman
descended the iron structure, nave been
found, and these will be subjected to
chemical analysis. The hand prints on the
WlnGoW Sill OF the room in which the MUIR
der was committed attracting more at
tention than any other stains about the
hotel. Because of the small size of these
imprnts the detectives are confident they
were made by a woman'S hands. Their po-
sitions indicate that the woman stood with
her back to the window and put her hand On
the Sill and gave Swinging jump. which
landed her on the SILL, Then turning to-
ward the south she reached the landing OF
the fire escape. The direction in which the
blood Is smeared shows that the woman
went outward instead of entering. because
the tips OF the fingers pointed toward the
room instead of to the street
The police learned this afternoon that a
woman In house almost opposite the Ken
more had heard the pistol shots, we'll as
the mans appeals for help. She did not
see the woman descend the fire escape.
Ayres' Personal Habits.
Something of the habits of James Sey-
mour Ayres was learned today from Miss
Agnes Marcy of No 90 New York avenue
northeast She met Ayres about the last
of February at dancing school and each
formed an attachment for the other. They
attended Mueller's dancing school on 14th
street and had made an engagement to go
there next Saturday Miss Marcy says
that AyreS told her copSidpra bile of hiS Hfa
and had told her of having been despond-
ent at times, which caused him to drink.
I'm a bad boy" he told her, but l
won't tell you ALL
Miss Marcy said she knew he went with
other ladies, and she also knew he drank
at times. for he had told her so.