Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-21
MUCH LIKE THE REID CASE
Assailant Is Believed to Have Fol-
lowed Victim Home.
ASSASSIN IS STILL AT LARGE
No Report of Affair to Police Until
Ten Hours After Blow
Was Struck.

William Kirby, all engineer,
was fatally stabbed shortly after
IL o'clock last night while in the
dining room of his home, 402 X
street southwest. He declared his
assailant was stranger who toll
lowed him into the house. Kirby
was taken to Providence Hospital
at 8 o'clock this morning, and died
there about two hours later. The
police were not informed Of the
affair until after his death. Patrick
Kirby, son of the deceased, and a
colored man named Joseph Mack
were arrested as suspects.
Il have sent out to have my
men arrest a white man." Capt.
Mulhall said this afternoon. "and
when they get him / believe the
murderer will be in custody"
The death of William Kirby at Provi-
hence Hospital shortly before 10 O'Clock
this morning was the basis of another
e murder mystery presented to the local
police department for solution. Death
was the result of cut across the right
side of the throat The wounded man
had been attended by a physician and
was in the hospital about two hours be-
fore he died. His son. Patrick Kirby and
his daughters, Misses May and Margaret
Kirby. knew of the injury. The police
were not informed until the children
learned from the hospital authorities of
the death of their father.
who killed father" the son is re-
ported TO have said to Detective Weldon,
did net concern me-
The daughters said they simply for
got to tell the police.
1t was stated that the dying man told
him, but the police received information
which leads them to believe that a tall
colored man may have committed the
deed. tall colored man. stranger in
the vicinity of the Kirby home. 494 K
street southwest, was seen following
Kirby about II o'clock last night. Search
Is being made for him.
Inspector Boardman and several head
quarters detectives went out to work on
the case. and they soon realized that
the mystery surrounding the infiiction of
the fatal wound might be dense as
In the. case of Henry w. Reid, killed
about month ago
Patrick Kirby. son of the deceased. and
a young coiOred man named Joseph Mack
were arrested suspicion and taken to
the fourth precinct police station.
II was stated at police headquarters
lat. this afternoon that Kirby will be
released. as 1t was found there is no evil
dence against him.
Daughters Hear Father Fall.
William Kirby was about sixty years
Of age, and was employed as engineer at
the East Capitol street car barn. With
him at 492 X street southwest. resided
his two grown daughters. Misses May
and Margaret Kirby. His son. Patrick
Kirby is employed as an engineer. An
other son, Dr. William Kirby, resides in
Portland, Me.
The deceased returned home after work
yesterday and ate dinner. About 1:30
o'clock he went out saying he was going
to attend a meeting of the engineers
union The rear door was left open for
him, members of the family not being in
the habit of locking it. The daughters
say they were awakened. about 1918
o'clock this morning by the sound of some
one falling on the floor in the dining
room.
Hurrying from their room. the Misses
. Kirby proceeded to the lower floor. They
found their father lying on the floor with
blood gushing from a wound in his throat
He made an effort TO arise when he saw
his daughters. Miss May Kirby was the
first to reach him.
I'm done, the father told her in re-
sponSe to a query.
Summon a Physician.
After the young ladies had placed their
father sofa in the room in which
he was found they summoned DIR. r. r
Holden. who dressed the wound. He
found the patient in such condition that
he advised hospital treatment. but it was
not until nearly o'clock that the son
and a friend named Maurice Flynn took
the dying man to the hospital
AS soon as Inspector Boardman learned
tha: murder had been committed he
summoned all the detectives avaia bic and
also decided to personally participate in
the investigation. Capt. Mulhali of the
fourth precinct put Precinct Detective
Reinhart and his uniformed men to work
on the case as quickly as possible and
the two arrests followed.
Miss May Kirby told a Star reporter
that she had not the slightest idea who
had killed her father.
Father never had trouble with any
body, she said. "and he said he had
been attacked by a stranger
Followed by Stranger.
Miss Kirby explained that she and her
sister retired last night about The usual
hour. and were awakened by the noise
mace "nen tneir lathSr fell. She said
she hurried down the steps and found her
father lying near the stove. The stove
pip, had been thrown to one side the
stove slightly turned and a rocking chair
overturned and broken.
when asked him what was the mat
ter she stated "he told me he was done
and shook his head indicating to nv
mind. that lie believed he was dying"
Miss Kirby further explained that her
father told her he was followed through
the side alley by the stranger and the
latter said to him I'm going to cut
somebody.
Continuing. Miss Kirby related that her
fathe- told her that when the stranger
made a lunge at him he struck at the
man with his fist, but was una ,le to
escape the thrust
Heard Voice of Man.
II know there was a strange man in
the house the young lady continued.
because l heard his voice. When I