The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-27
NEW MYSTERY
IN REID CASE,
NOT ROBBERY
excused until there are further deve
Opments in the case.
Continued from First Page)
peteetives, Clues FruitIess.

Detectives Clues Fruitless.
Late last night the detectives had run
down every clue they had obtained in
connection with the Reid murder case.
Their continued efforts for foTty-eight
hours had availed them nothing, and to-
day they started out again with the
hope of obtaining some information that
would shed the first light on the
mystery.
Although Reds watch and chain are
missing. and 1t is supposed they We're
taken from his body by the nhurderers,
there is nothing to indicate that rob-
berry was the motive for the crime The
manner in which Reds head. ace. and
wrists were mutiiated and slasaed with
the oyster knife found near his body
indicates, the police say, that the per-
sons who attacked him were bent on
murder. one OF the men VINO has Deeh
working Oh me case said this morning:
1--WE have not learned thing that
viii help US IN clearing up the mytersy.
Everybody in the neighD0rhoOd mas Deen
questioned again and again, but they
can tell US nothing that Will even give
US a working basis. SO IaF as II Is
possible TO learn Reid had no enemies.
no one who held a grudge against MIN
that would inCite murder
The robbery theory is discredited by
the fact that a dollar bill ana some
change was found in one OF Reid 5
pockets. The oyster knife which was
on the ground a short distance from the
body is in the possession or the ponce
of the Sixth precinct Every eftort IS
being made TO trace the ownership or
/ the weapon, but there Is little hope that
anything will be accomplished along
this line.
Fenwick AIoreIand, an employee OF the
/ Government Printing ONCE, told the de-
tective5 yesterday that he saw two
negroes lettering in front Of Reds sd-
| ICON, 600 North Capitol street, late Fri
Say night
Watched Reid Inside.
one Of the men was pointing at the
window. and as Reid passed them the
/ negro said:
He's in there now; that's him"
/ It is these men who the detectives
think committed the murder. Before
/ Moreland diyulged this information the
police had stated that the crime bore
! every evidence of the work Of two col
/ cred men. Moreland's statement cor
/ roborates them in this theory. More
/ land says the men were rough looking,
and were evidently waiting for some
/ one TO come out OF the place
! He furnished the police with brief
: description of the men and says he can
probably Identity them The men. how
I ever, did not arouse his suspicious as
I no supposed. they were waiting Tor one
/ OF the colored men drinking at the bar,
| and he paid no special attention 10
/ them.
MoreIand called at the Sixth precinct
/ police station yesterday and looked over
1 the eight negroes held on suspicion OF
{ completely in the murder. He does not
/ think any OF the prisoners are the men
I he saw in front Of the saloon.
May Release Suspects.
After the inquest today three OF the
suspects viii probably be released. They
( are stump washington, John Smith, and
/ Mercer Jackson. washington and Sam
ueI Ianghorn were the two negroes ar
rested for alleged completely in the
.hcId-up Of Francis Self, an aged pen
/ sioner, who was robbed Of 50 IN front
of his home. % f street northwest Self
was attacked by the negroes about an
hour before Reds body was found al
the foot Of the embankment IN NrOni
Of q F street
! The detectives learned yesterday that
! Washington smith and Jackson were
! at the Capital City Pleasure Club, a ne
gro organization on lower Pennsylvania
avenue shortly after u o'clock Friday
1 night. Several COlOTed men who were
IN the club at the time said the three
men came together about five minutes
after midnight. The attack on Reid oc-
Cured after they had entered the club
The three men have also satisfied the
police that they We're in another part OF
the city shortly before going 10 the
f-Clu0.