Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21
DIES SOON AFTER ARRIVAL
Police Receive Report as to Alleged
Assailant.
DEEP STAB WOUND OVER LIVER
Reserves Of 9TH Precinct Sent Out
Endeavor to Learn All
the Facts.

William McKeim Miles, twenty-ssven
years Of age. was removed to the Elmer
gency Hospital this morning about 1:15
O'Clock from his homo at the corner Of
9th ana r streets southwest. suffering
from q deep stab over the liver. T1o died
Of internal hemorrhage a few minutes
after reaching the hospital
Miles was unconscious when found. and,
Of course. was unable to supply any in
formation a. to how the wound was re-
ceived.
Az soon as the police Of the fourth pre-
cinot learned Of the case through the hos
pital authorities, who had been requested
to send an ambulance to the house. Lieut..
MulhaH ordered out the reserves and en-
deavored without delay to learn ell the
facts possible about the affair.
A man named Thomas e. Copeland was
located. who told the police that Miles
was stabbed by q young man about
twenty-three years Of age. who wore q
dark suit Of clothes and a derby hat.
Effort was made at once to verify that
statement. as well as to locate. II possible.
man answering the description given.
Accosted by Stranger.
Mr.. Copeland told the police that he and
Miles were employed at the Tolman laun-
dry. and that Miles home was In Fairfax,
Va, where his mother resides. He and
Miles. he said, boarded at coo street
southwest.
According to Copeland. he and Miles
were standing outside the door Of their
boarding house about o'clock this morn
ing. when they were accosted by a stran-
ger, who asked them what they were doing
there at that hour. Miles Is said to have
replied that he was at his own door.
The stranger, whose features Copeland
could not make out in the dark. but who,
he says. was dressed in black clothes and
wore black derby hat, thereupon struck
Miles on the head with his fist according
to Mr. Copeland's story, exclaiming as he
did so:
you have got no business around peo-
pies doors at this time Of the morning"
Have Hat as Evidence.
The two men clinched and Copeland
says he did not see the stranger draw a
knife and does not know exactly when the
cutting was done. Copeland says he tried
to separate the two men and the stranger
attempted to strike him. In the struggle
Copeland dropped his cap. and says the
Stranger got H.
The derby hat worn by the stranger
fell to the ground and was picked UP by
Copeland, who turned 1t over to the po-
lice as evidence. On the inside of the
hat are the initials "R. L. c." Copeland
says the stranger suddenly disappeared
with his cap. which was light gray in
color.
Did Not Know Miles Was Hurt.
Copeland says that he did not know that
his companion had been seriously hurt, and
he went upstairs, leaving him outside the
door. He learned afterward that Miles
knocked on the door, which was opened by
the landlady. The wounded man had tainted
from the loss of blood
She summoned DR.. Montgomery, who
Immediately sent for the ambulance, in
which Miles was taken to the Emergency
Hospital.
Copeland declares that he never before
saw the man who inflicted the wound on
his companion.
Copeland in Custody.
After the police had concluded question:
ing him. Copeland was placed under ar
rest and detained at the fourth precinct sta
ton house.