Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-18
Robert Murphy Killed
His Slayer surrenders-k iliing Result
ola Dispute Over Money.


nifty to the spot where Walter r.
Schultz was murder in March, 1909.
The victim was Robert Murphy, % years
old, son OF Mr.. Robert Murphy. who re-
sided on north Alfred street. His
confessed slayer is Michael A. Nolan,
an itinerant, who claims he acted IN
self-defensc. Nolan, who says he is
from Westminster, n. y, made no at
tempt to escape, and he and Matte
Allen, IS years old, OF Talcott, W..
Va; James Williams, 26 years old,
of Raleigh, n. c., and Frederick
Henicke, about 80 years old, the latter
having but one legged surrendered them
selves to the police.
Nolan talked freely when placed be-
hind the bars. According to his story,
which was corroborated i'll the main
by his companions, the men had two
cases of beer and two quarts OF whisky
which they had procured from a
saloon in the western section OF this
city, and were having good time in
field between the steam and electric
railway tracks, short distance west
| of this city on the Washing
ton, Alexandria and Mount Vernon
Railway, when Murphy became m
censed during dispute over the owner
ship of S., and left, after threatening
to kill the others. Murphy, the prison
ers say, returned i'll about half an
hour with double-barrel shotgun,
which he levcled at the group, but
instead of shooting, he suddenly lifted
the weapon and striking Nolan on the
head knocked him to the ground, No
Ian, it is alleged, was warned 10y Murphy
that his brains would be blown out
if he attempted to rise, and he obeycd
the warning until Williams tried 10
get the gun from Murphy, and a tussle
| followed.
In the meantime. Nolan says, he
jumped to his feet grasping his pocket
knife in his right hand, and. grabbing
the barrel of the gun with his left, made
IA slash at Murphy's throat, which
caused the blood TO squirt.
Murphy released his hold on the gun
and ran into the next field and, not
knowing that he had been fatally hurt,
the four men went to an electric
station, where they told what had hap
pencd, and asked if they might use the
telephone to inform the police. They
were told there was no telephone in the
station, and were advised to take the
next car for Alexandria, which they
did, Nolan paying the fares for the
quartctte and inquiring the nearest stop
to police headquarters.
In the meantime word had been sent
10y telephone to Lieutenant Smith at
| the station house that Il man S throat
had been cut near this city. The
lieutenant telcphoned to Chief Goods,
and Officer Young was ordered to the
scene. The ambulance OF the AleXan-
dria Hospital was about 10 be sent after
Murphy, but later the news came to
the police station that he was dead.
Dr. Moore, the coroner, was notified,
| and he directed that the body be taken
to w. Domaine 4 Sons undertaking
establishment, where an inquest was
held at . o'clock this afternoon,
At police headquarters Nolan and
his companions were closely questioned
by Commonwealth Attorney ). q.
Brent and Chief Goods.
Murphy was Il machinists' helper by
occupation, and had ecently been en-
ploycd at the repair shop maintained
by the Armour Company i'll the Poto-
mae railroad yards. Nolan says that
he is house decorator by trade, but
that he formerly was in the marine
corps and draws pension from the
government for partial disability. He
saws that he has visited Alexandria at
frequent intervals during the last twelve
years. He stated that he had known
Murphy several years, and met him
frequently during his visits to this city.
At the place where the cutting oc'
Cured the police found some bread,
onions and potatoes, aud the remains
of the beer and whisky, pair of
crutches, and hat.
The news of the killing OF young
Murphy spread over the city in short
space of time and i crowd soon gath
cred ut the station house, many pco-
pie hanging around that place until a
late hour.
! Justice Cation this morning, with the
concurrence of Mr.. s. c. Brent, com
monwealth 5 attorney, held Nolan and
his three companions, together with
Arthur Carter. who had also been ar
rested as a party to the killing, for the
action Of the Alexandria county au-
thoritics, the killing having occurred
outside of the city limits The prisoners
viii be taken to the county Jail after
the inquest shall have been held this
afternoon.
The jury. which was composed of
Mcssrs. j. H. Trimyer, j. B. Fitzger-
aid, Conrad Johnson, James B. Martin,
Thomas Chauncey and r. +. Knox,
met at the appointed hour.
After viewing the body Henlke, Will
liams, Allen and Bernard Carter, who
composed the party who were with
Nolan aud Murphy were examined.
They all told substantially the same
story which was TO the effect that Car
ter had said he lost S., ana that Muir
ply, being the nearest man to him,
had been suspected Of having the
money.
Murphy took off his clothes and in
sisted on being searched. He later left
his companions abruptly and returned