Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
BATTLES THE POLICE
INVESTIGATION OF REID MUIR
DER LACKING IN RESULTS.

IN connection with the recent murQer OF
Henry W. Reid. the saloonkeeper. moth
! ing definite has been accomplished by
the police investigation. Mai. Sylvester
and Inspector Boardman have been be-
hind the detectives assigned to the case
and the latter are under instructions. to
pay no attention to other cases for the
time being. Five detectives are devoting
their entire time TO the Reid mystery.
They are Messrs. Evans. Vernillion. Null
len. Cornwall and O'Dea. Detective Arm
strong and officers of the sixth precinct
are also assisting in the investigation.
Earnest efforts We're made by the police
to find a motive for the crime other than
robbery but they were unsuccessful. 1t
was suggested that Reid may have been
murdered for revenge or because of jeal-
ousy. Reid was robbed of his watch and
pocketbook. Persons who take human
life because of jealousy or for revenge.
the detectives Say. do not usually stop
to rob their victims
The investigation yesterday of the
movements of the two Italians who were
seen in F street the morning of the trag-
edy did not result in the detectives bring
Ing to light anything of value in their
efforts to solve the mystery. They are
still of the opinion that the oyster knife
was welded by colored man.
OIucI OuSOlVeO Eases.
The killing and robbing of Reid present
an interesting mystery for the police to
endeaEor to solve In some respects
the case is similar to that of the grocer,
Louis CoZman. who was murdered in his
store on Gordon avenue the !Oth of De-
cember 1902, and store robbed and it is
as mysterious were the cases of Mrs.
Ada Gilbert Dennis and Mrs Kate Jor-
dan. the latter colored, who were muir
dered the same year. Mrs. Dennis was
murdered the 22d of October. being at
tackled and beaten while in bed al her
home. I'LL X street Her house was en-
tered late at night or early in the morn
Ing. either through a window that had
been left unlocked or by means of a du-
plicata key to an inner door. A piano
stool appeared to have been the weapon
used, the woman's head showing the In
of great strength. On a table in her
sleeping apartment, which was on the
first floor. was found roll of green
backs and other valuab!es that had not
been touched. 1t could not be said that
robbery was the motive in that case.
unless it was that the robber was fright
ened off before he had a chance to get
her money. but such thing not
regarded as being probable. While some
doubt existed as to the manner in which
house it was apparent that he Or she
left through the front window. which
opened on balcony. and escaped by
jumping from the balcony to the parking
Nothing definite was ever learned about
the identity of the murderer of Mrs. Den
mis-, and the police do not know whether
the slayer was a man or woman. Not
long after the murder was committed the
occupant of room in the house adjoin-
ing that in which Mrs Dennis was MUIR
Cprel committed Sl1icide mr.
was made to show that he was the
slayer of Mrs. Dennis. but it did not
result in fastening the crime on him.
In the case of Mrs. Kate Jordan. she
was attacked in her home in Hillsdale
the night after Christmas. She had been
to store about a square from her home
and was attacked by an intruder when
she returned home. The struggle in
which she engaged was a desperate one.
the bloodstains showing the fight was
continued through more than one room.
man was observed about her house that
night. and he was seen to leave there
just after the crime Wa committed. The
police did not know of the killing in time
to prevent the murderer from crossing
the AnacoStia bridge and escaping, how
ever. and the detectives were forced to
abandon the Investigation.
Next was the killing of the grocer. Louis
Gosman was prosperous merchant. and
although his store was not a big one 1t
was admitted that his daily receipts were
greater than those of some of the more
prosperous appearing merchants. The
struggle in which he engaged was a Sc
we're one, but the horribly mutisted
body bore evidence that the victim lived
only short while after the struggle was
begun.
The murder of Shoemaker Hall several
years ago was also recorded as a mys-
terry the police were unable to solve
There was nothing mysterious about the
Dorsey Foultz affair. however. the only
thing approaching a mystery in it being
how the murderer SO successfully eluded
tho police