Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-01
MURDER OF Il. w. REID
PROGRESS SLOW IN EFFORT TO
SOLVE THE MYSTERY.

Nearly ten days have elapsed since
Henry W. Reid. proprietor of a saloon at
North Capitol and F streets. was waylaid.
are as much at sea as regards the mys-
terry While they have believed all along
that the murder was committed by COL
ored men and that robbery was the mo-
tive, several are giving consideration to
two Italians seen in f street about the
time of the ragedy.
Well admit an oyster knife is not the
kind of weapon Italians ordinarily USE
one of the officers engaged in the nvesti-
cation remarked. Still, the Italians were
seen. and it is necessary to trace their
movements if possible
Another thing the detectives have been
unable to ascertain is the identity of a
black man who was in the saoon few
minutes before the place was closed Fri
Day night weak ago. Charles Phillips.
the colored porter. who was arrested the
day OF the crime, still declares he did not
see the man in question, although others
who were in the saloon remember he was
there. and say they saw Phillips standing
near him. The detectives are not satisfied
that Phillips has told all he knows in the
case. Justice Barnard today he'd him un-
DER 500 security as Il United States wit
ness. Bond was not given. and an order
was made committing Phillips to Jail.
Italians Seen by Policemen.
Policemen Mahaney and Scriven. who
were standing at New Jersey avenue and
+ street the morning the murder was
committed. but who saw nothing of the
assault, say they noticed two Italians on
the side of the street opposite that where
the body of Reid was found The Ital-
q ka1 NJ i
turned south into New Jersey avenue. 1t
is the belief of the police that the Italians
went to a building near the site of the
old station of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad An effort is being made today
to locate them and trace their movements
The failure of the detectives to locate the
colored man who was in the saloon as
stated, has given them cause for worry.
He may be one of the several persons
who are believed to have been implicated
In the crime. and the officers are ex-
tremely anxious to find him.
Attorney George F. Havell. who was
counsel for Reid. and who yesterday was
appointed administrator of his estate has
signified Willingness to assist the police
all he can. NJ. T. Burns and William j.
kolb. friends of the deceased, are also
taking an active interest in the investi-
cation. Mr.. Burns says he is willing to
pay 500 for the arrest and conviction of
the slayer of his friend, making the re-
wal u oiieieu tCldl
Detective Evans. who has been working
on the case from the outset, told Star
reporter this morning that there had been
nothing learned to indicate that Reid had
ever visited or associated with colored
women in the neighborhood of his saloon
Friends Resent Report.
Friends of the deceased resent the
statements that the latter had associated
with colored women. They say he al
ways moved in good society He was a
respected resident of Prince William
county Va, before he came to this city
several years ago. 1t has been argued
that the numerous wounds sustained by
Reid made it appear that the motive for
the crime was jealousy and not robbery.
The fact remains, however. that Reid
was robbed, and 1t is also recalled that
Louis Gozman, who was murdered and
robbed about the last of December 1902,
was hacked to pieces. His body was in
horrible condition when It was found
In his store on Gordon avenue northeast.
In that case there was never any con-
tention that jealousy actuated the crime,
and detectives declare they have nothing
i'll the case under investigation to warrant
such an assertion.
1t is stated by the police that letters
found among the effects OF the deceased
indicate that he had trouble of some kind
With Virginia neighbors about five years
ago. but that trouble, the police think.
has no bearing on the murder