Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-22

CHAS. THOMAS IN CUSTODY
WAS SEEN LEAVING THE HOUSE

Detectives assigned to the case
say that by the arrest of Charles
Thomas. colored. yesterday after
noon, the murderer of William
Kirby was placed in custody. The
voice of Thomas was today de-
clared to be that of the stranger
in the Kirby house when the fatal
blow was struck. Further, it is
said. Thomas was seen departing
from 'the front of house a few
later.
1t is the belief of detectives working on
the case involving the murder of William
Kirby yesterday morning that they have
solved the mystery. Charles Thomas
colored, who was arrested yesterday after
noon. as stated in The Star, being ac-
by, the younger of the two daughters of
the deceased, heard the voice Of the pris-
oner at the fourth precinct station this
morning. The detectives had the pris-
oner say, who's that?" the words ut
tered by the stranger in the Kirby house
when Miss Kirby called from the upper
floor. just after hearing her father fall.
Miss Kirby, when she heard the pris-
oner's voice at the station house, became
hysterical and screamed. The voice, she
said. was that of the strange man who
was i'm the room with her father yester-
day morning. The young lady had to be
assisted to the room of Capt. Mulhall by
or laNSr vr-..c Ia
into the room. When Miss Margaret Kir-
by had recovered. she left the station.
Sergt. Yates yesterday afternoon found
a witness, a colored man. whose testi-
mony. the detectives think. will fasten
the crime on Thomas. His name is Will
liam Anderson. and he lives at 626 X
street southwest, the house where Thomas
slept Wednesday night.
Alleged Threats by Thomas.
Arde rson tells of threats he heard
Thomas make, and says he saw him run
from the front of the Kirby home about
1920 yesterday morning. Policeman San
ford of the first precinct saw Thomas in
front Of Javins' oyster house, $50 street.
about 1 o'clock in the morning. about
forty-f1ve minutes after Kirby was
stabbed. The policeman Questioned him.
aud he said his name was Charles Smith;
that he was from Mobile. Ala, and that
he had just reached here from Alex
endria on a boat. His story seemed
plausible and he was not arrested.
During the investigation of the case
yesterday the police learned something of
the movements Of Thomas. whose first
name they were originally told was
Frank. and Of William Green. The two
men had been about saloons i'm South
and were in Madden's saloon
at 9Th and X streets southwest when
Kirby left there and proceeded to his
home. only a few doors away. The ar
rest of Thomas was effected by the police
or the first precinct, Detective Watson,
Policeman Drae ger and Special Policeman
Riley finding him on Louisiana avenue
nea- 10th street. Prior to being arrested
hs told Ernest Boarman. colored, of 14e
Garfield avenue. Anacostia. that he had
trouble with a man the night before
and had cut him.
Intention to Cut Throat.
Boarman told the police that Thomas
said he thought the man he had cut was
,olored. He explained to Boarman. the
latter stated. that the man raised his
arms, and that he welded the knife so
as to cut his throat Thomas is alleged
10 have also told Boarman he had been
When the officers who made the arrest
learned Thomas was wanted they sent
two colored men to converse with him
and they learned something of his conduct
The previous night When placed under
arrest he admitted he had had a row
With man. but declared his victim was
rolored. There were blOodstains on his
knife and coat. the police say, and
Thomas told them lie thought they were
from piece of liver found in his pocket
Particles of what appeared to be blood
were taken from his finger nails for
analysis, and the spots on the coat will
D no &c nI,o
was stolen from Freedmen's Hospital by
Thomas who was released from there
asst "Wednesday. Green was also a patient
IN the hospital
answered the description of a man who
was in the saloon of Henry Reid the
night the latter was murdered. but ne
could not have been there. as he was
patient in the hospital at that time.
Thomas statement to the police is that
he came here from Birmingham, Ala.
and that this Is the second time lie has
been arrested, the first having been in
for fighting. and for which
ne served three months on the street
work.
William Green and Thomas call them
selves 'buddies." although there is no
claim that Green was with him i'm the
house of Mr.. Kirby
Says Thomas Drew Knife.
1t was learned by the police that Green
and Thomas were in the bar at Halls
late Thursday night only a few minutes
when trouble occurred. Thomas disap-
peared and was found I'm the yard.
Before he left the place." Good said
today. ''he became ugly and drew a knife
don't know If he intended to cut me.
His buddy said something that he did
not seem to like, and 1 thought he prob
ably intended to use the knife on him."
From Halls place the two men went to
Buckley's saloon. at the southwest corner
Of 9Th and X streets. They wanted credit
for a bottle of whisky, but were refused
and ordered from the place. They then
to the saloon of John j. Mad
len, southeast corner of 9th and X streets.
Green says he returned TO 626 X street.
where he had slept Wednesday night.
while his buddy went in the direction
Of Kirby's. Mr.. Kirby left the saloon
about that time, and, it is claimed, he
was followed by Thomas.
Statement by Dying Man.
Martin Burk, bartender at Madden's,
vas the first person summoned to the
Kirby house. He says he conversed with