The Washington herald., 1908-02-22

In the person Of Charles Thomas. the
Washington police believe they have the
mana negro-who murdered william
Kirby, aged sixty years, in his humble
cottage at ss2 X street southwest early
Thursday morning.
The crime. one Of the most revolving in
the annals OF the local police. was a.
mystery. It bafHed the authorities in it's
strsngeness and the hand of the law was
laid upon men without ceremony.
The viciousness OF the murder was
shown in the manner in which It had
been committed. There was a self-evi-
dent determination on the part of the
assassin TO make sure of his effort. and
that his victim showed not have the
power TO reveal the identity OF the as
sailant.
The throat OF Kirby was cut and slash
ed. and death came speedily. In their
anxiety to get possession OF the man
who did the deed. the police arrested a
son Of the victim-without good and Just
cause. it seems. This prisoner was re-
leased when further Investigation had
been made.
The Prisoner il Young.
The suspected negro Is twenty-five
years old He was found at the Center
Market. IN a pocket was q blood-staIned
knife. and stains were found on his over
coat.
Although interrogated for more than
four hours. the prisoner maintains his
innocence.
Several other men were arrested. but
all were released except Thomas and VII
liam Green. who. it is said, was with
Thomas on the night Of the murder. The
negroes were in the same bar room with
Kirby. and left IL few minutes after
he departed. according 10 the police.
suspician is directed 70 several Others.
and the police ara on the lookout for
negro. Who is said to have bade threats
against Kirby at different times
Kirby died az Providence Hospital al
little after 10 o'clock yesterday morninR.
hospital authorities the police knew moth
ing Of the crime committed the night BE-
fore. The physician who attended him.
the hospital authorities. or the Misses
Kirby. his daughters. notified the police.
This fact has caused considerable IN
favorable comment, and an investigation
may be made.
Kirby was found lying in a pool OF
blood in the dining-room Of the first floor
Of his house at about I2:15 o'clock yester-
day morning By his two daughters. who
rushed downstairs upon hearing sounds
OF struggle and the fall Of a heavy
weight Their father lay IN the middle Of
the floor with hts throat cut in two
places
They Called for Help.
The Misses Kirby called assistance. and
their father was treated by DR.. r T.
Holden. A son was notified, and at
O'Clock Kirby was taken to the Pro7-
dence Hospital, where he died few
hours later.
Kirby was unable TO give an account
Of what had occurred. merely mumbIinE
that he had been attacked by biz man.
whether black OF white he did not di-
vulge.
When notified, the police questioned the
daughters. and Miss May Kirby said that
as she descended the stairs, after hearing
the struggle, she saw large white man
run out Of the back door. Acting on this
Information. a man was arrested, whose
clothing was stained with blood. and who
4
attacked him the night before. He proved
his innocence and was released. Later.
Patrick Kirby was arrested. He was soon
released.
Inquiry in the neighborhood developed
the fact that two negroes. one small and
the other about six feet. two inches tan,
had been in saloons near the Kirby home
between II and y o'clock the night Of the
murder The negroes had no money, and
created disturbances in several saloons
when they were refused drinks A gen
eraI lookout was ordered by the police.
and in the afternoon Thomas and Green
were arrested
The Men Under Arrest.
Both of the fen under arrest ADMIT
being in the neighborhood- They were
identified by the bartenders with whom
they had trouble. CT en-. the smaller
Of the two. says he left Thomas when
they went out Of Madden's saloon. and
the last he saw Of his friend he was
walking down X street in the direction
OF Kirbys home. Thomas denies all
knowledge OF the crime, and accounts
for the blood on his knife and coat BY
saying that he was involved in a quarrel
with several negroes in X street between
Sixth and Seventh streets earlier in tho
evening Investigation by the police fall
eG 10 substantlate his story, as the men
he said he had quarreled with denied
having seen him.
Thomas wore when arrested black
Overeoat, Identified as one Of eight stolen
from the FreedmeRs Hospital several
DAYS ego. Inquiry az Freedmen's Hospital
resulted in the finding OF the name or
Charles Thomas on the books The hos
pital authorities say he and Green were
sent there several days ago and were
released on the night the coats were
missed
Kirby was a stationary engineer en-
ployed al the East Capitol street car
barns. He lived with his daughters,
Misses May and Margaret Kirby.
At 10 o'clock Thursday night Kirby
Conffnued or Pare = CoIuus, a