The Washington herald., 1908-01-27
SEARCH FOR A CLEU
Mystery of the Reid Murder
Is Not Solved.
FIVE MORE ARRESTS ARE MADE
Negroes Taken Into Custody, but
PoIice Are Unable tO Fasten Crime
Upon Them-importHnt Information
Obtained Yesterday May Aid in
Bringing the AssaiIants to Justice.

7
At late hour last night the police had
discovered no clew TO the murder of
Henry ". Reid.
! However. they made two arrests and
put the prisoners through the sweating
process.
Reid was mysteriously stabbed to death
/ Saturday morning He was proprietor OF
saloon al GOO North Capitol street north.
west
TWO Negroes Arrested.
! The negroes arrested yesterday were
John Smith. twenty-four years old, of q
Madison street, and Mercer Johnson,
twenty-nine years old. of $50 Third street
northwest. Emma Jasper. Of q F street,
who was arrested Saturday afternoon
was yesterday released. At present the
police have eight persons in custody pend
ing investigation of the murder Of Reid
and the alleged robbery Of Francis Self
of % 2 street northwest
/ What is considered the most important
/ bit OF information since the investiga-
ton was started was given the detec-
tiyes yesterday by Fenwick Mooreland
an electrician employed at the Govern
ment Printing Ofice, who says he passed
Reids saloon Friday night a short time
/ before the closing hour.
! Mooreland says he noticed two negroes
standing near the curb conversing in low
tones They appeared 10 be watching
some one in the saloon.
Hears Strange Remark.
He says he heard one OF the negroes
say: Hes in there now"
Mooreland paid no further attention to
/ the men. He was allowed TO look at the
prisoners under arrest at the Sixth pre-
cinct station. Although not positive,
MooreIand thought stump Washington,
of Al Fenton place might be one Of the
men he saw at the saloon
The police believe that they have iden-
tilted the two men alleged TO have robbed
Self in front Of his house about half an
hour before Reid was killed
Self yesterday pointed out Frederick
Philips, OF 3S Massachusetts avenue, ard
Thomas Poindexter. OF 81 Census place,
as his lssailants. Both men deny the ac-
cusatioa, and claim they can show they
were not in the neighborhood at the time
Of the robbery.
Visit 40 Houses.
Everything that might have a bearing
on the murder is being investigated by
the detectives. Inquiry az a number OF
houses said to have been visited by some
Of the negroes under arrest resulted in
the arrest Of John Smith. Of q Madison
street and Mercer Jackson. Of $50 Third
street
In talking 20 the occupants OF the
/ houses. the detectives learned that both
men had visited the places between /.
and o'clock Saturday morning, and that
/ while there one OF them made Il re-
mark about a cutting affair"
! Central Office detectives. detectives
from the Sixth precinct. an6 policemen
| in citizens clothes were diligently at
work yesterday, They believe that with
/ In a short time the mystery will be
cleared.
Several facts concerning the position
/ in which Reid's body was discovered still
occupy the attention Of the detectives
/ When the murdered man was found his
/ right hand was showed deep down in his
/ trousers pocket. His eyeglasses and hat
were found II the snow on the top Of the
embankment thirty feet away The de-
I tectives say that reasons for these posi-
tons could be assigned provided they
/ knew the man before being murdered was
| in a sober condition.
Two Rewards offered.
An additional reward Of Sl0O for the
murderer of Reid was announced last
night This is offered by the Federation
Of Liquor Dealers Of this city. of which
Reid was formerly a member. On Sat
urday the police announced a reward OF
500, so that at present the total amount
is 5000.
An inquest over the body will be held
at II o'clock this morning at the morgue.
The hearing will be Of a preliminary ma
ture. however, and no verdict will be rem
dered by the jury other than that OF de-
Gliding whether or not the case is one of
murder. The body will then be turned
over 10 a local undertaken and prepared
for burial
An uncle Of the former saloonkesper
came 10 this city yesterday. and will
take charge Of all arrangements. Il is
probable the body will be taken 10 Ma
nassas for lnterment
Among the witnesses who will testify
at the inquest will be Policemen Mahanev
and Scriven, Of the Sixth precinct, who
were the first 70 reach the body; Mrs.
Octavia Bell, colored, Of q F street. and
Frank Upperman, driver of d hack. who
passed in F street a few minutes after
the murder was committed.