Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-22
HELD FOR GRAND JURY
Action Today in the Case OF
Ralph L. Croft.
STABBING OF w. Nick. MILES
Initials in Lost Hat Furnish Clue for
the Police.
NKon WYNN cNyD
STABBING OF w. Mex. MILES
EARLY MORNING STRUGGLE
Story of Row That Resulted in the
Death of One Of the
Participants.

The police department has solved what
was a mystery in connection with the death
of William McKim Miles. The latter died
at the Emergency Hospital at an early hour
yesterday morning from the effects OF
stab wound in his right side, received while
he was near his boarding house. 9Th and
F streets southwest. as reported in Inc
Sunday Star. The owner of a hat dropped
on the street near the scene of the fatal
struggle in which were the initials r. l..
g." was located about 2:30 o'clock yes
rerday afternoon and arrested by Detective
Fred Cornwell. He Is Ralph L. Groh,
twenty-five years of age. whose home Is
at 217 E street southeast The arrest was
effected by systematic search made for
all persons whose initials were similar to
those that were found in the hat. Capt.
Boardman procured list Of the persons
and sent the members of the detective
corps to the houses to see them. Detec.
tive Cornwell reached the home of Gron
about the time stated. and when he asked
for him he was told that the young HAL
was asleep.
After a short walt the detective was con-
fronted by Croft, whose general appearance
indicated that he had been engaged IN a
he was the owner of the hat that had FUR
nished the only clue in the case. The right
eye Of Croft was dfscolored, his neck
scratched and there was an ugly brulse on
his chin His coat and trousers were smear
ed with mud showing to the satisfaction OF
the detective that he had been down during
the struggle
Treated Rather Roughly.
"They must have treated you rather
roughly" the detective suggested.
Croft admitted that such had been the
case, and he also admitted that he had lost
his hat. The young man finished dressing
and accompanied the detective to the sta
ton. Later he went to police headquarters,
where he made q statement With Croft In
custody the detectives felt that the mystery
had been solved, the only missing link be-
ing the finding Of the individual who had
been involved in trouble with Miles and his
companion, Thomas E. Copeland. Copeland
and Miles, both of whom were employed at
the Tolman laundry. boarded at the home
of John o. Elgin, who conducts a grocery
store at 600 F street Miles. 1t is stated. was
engaged to be married to a daughter Of
Mr.. Elgin.
On account Of the late hour at which
Miles and Copeland returned home yester-
day morning. they experienced trouble IN
They proceeded to climb an awning pole.
hoping they would be able to enter
through a window on the second floor: It
claimed. that another man approached and
said something to them about their con-
duct. A little later Croft appeared. He
there before but he denies that assertion
When one of the pair, 1t is declared. ex-
claimed There he Is now.' Croft says he
did not know what was meant. but he soon
found it necessary to defend himself
against an attack.
Two Struggles Reported.
yxit on side
Copeland and Miles on the other, occurred,
according to the statement of Croft. The
latter does not admit that he did the cut
ling He says he remembers what occurred
and he has no recollection Of having used
ais knife He told the police that he had
owned a small penknife and that he had
;ost It, but he was unable to tell when
or where After Croft had been taken
to the fifth precinct station and detained
for short time he was transferred to
headquarters.
Il am employed by the Berger Manufac-
turing Company Croft explained and
worked at 10th and F streets Saturday At
4 O'Clock in the afternoon l quit work and
drew $40 on account. l went home, PAID
out 81 and then went to a restaurant near
7th and n streets. This morning had 10
cents in my pockets.
The prisoner stated that he drank sew
eral glasses Of beer in the saloon and
later in the evening he played several
games of pool After the games lie In
dulged in two more glasse of beer, start
boarded 7th street car going south and
fell asleep. 1t was his intention TO leave
the car at Pennsylvania avenue, he says,
but he was asleep when the car reached
that point.
when 1 vas awakened the car was at
7th and I streets southwest" Croft said.
II got off and walked north to street
and then turned east, intending 70 walk
1t, 10 40 oh RI
the avenue and then on an avenue car.
Received Blow on the Mouth.
The young man says he started along E
street. and he did not meet anybody until
he reached the southeast corner of + and
9th streets, the home of the Elgin family.
Two men, he states, were standing near
the corner, and one of them remarked:
There he is now" and struck him on the
mouth with his hand.
81 ran north on 9th street." Croft de-
clares, and they followed me. overtaking
me when in the middle OF the block and
grabbing me. The men threw me down
and beat me, but finally managed to get
away from them and ran south on 9th
street. turning east on street They
overlook me before I reached Az street
and renewed the attack / struck back at
them over my shoulder, and when / got
away from them / ran, leaving them
fightlng and also leaving my hat"
Croft said that he drew rule from his
pocket and pointed it at the men to fright
en- them. but he had no recollection of hav-
ing drawn his knife. He said he had own
ed an ordinary two-blade penknife and that
he had lost it. When or where he losts It,
he said, he had no idea. He did not re-
member having used the knife during the
past two days. The larger man Of the two,
Croft stated, struck him first. The smaller
one was the swiftest runner and he was
the one who caught him when he tried
to get away from them. His numerous
cuts and bruises. he said. were received
during the two encounters he had with the
men Sunday morning.
Amount Of Beer Consumed.
about how many glasses Of beer did
you drink Saturday night?" Croft was
asked.
about fourteen or fifteen" was his re-
sponse.
Croft then related that he went home
and was greeted by his mother and his
sister Flaw, his father being in New York
on business. His mother, he said. remark
ed to him: You must have had q good
time. coming home bareheaded." He said
he had wiped the blood from his face with
his handkerchief. but that he could not
hide the bruises and cuts. He went to bed.
he stated, without telling his mother Of the
trouble Croft declared that he saw no