The Washington herald., 1911-11-18

discovery that the tip that the MUIR
derer had boarded a train for Baltimore
shortly after the crime was without
foundation. Maurice Gainey, who had
charge of the public comfort station at
Ninth and K streets, Just short dis
tance from the scene of the murder. told
Of having seen a man who entered the
station a few minutes after Mickle was
killed.
Left for Baltimore.
According to Gainey, the man entered
the station about $50 o'clock, washed his
hands, inquired when the next train left
for Baltimore, and departed, leaving a
collar in the washroom. Detectives OBJ
tanned a description of the man from
Gainey and examined trainmen running
between here and Baltimore, but no one
was found who recalled a passenger simi-
lar in appearance to the description.
Detectives last night called attention
to the similarity of the murder OF
Sickle to other murders committed in
Washington in the last few years. the
killing of Mickle bears striking resem-
blance to the murder of Ida Gilbert Den
mis-, a dressmaker. in K street northwest,
about eight years ago. She was beaten
into insensibility with a piano stool. Al
though she fingered for a week, and
tried to tell who killed her, she died
without revealing the name Of the muir
derer. No arrest was ever made.
The murder of Thomas Reed. saloon
keeper, at 600 North Capitol street, on
January 25 1905 went unpunished, and
although an arrest was made the mys-
terry of the crime was never solved.
Reed was stabbed to death, and Charles
Phillips, a waiter, was arrested, but at
a. 81. - aPnTfftnd DAtPHtlVeS
who worked on the Reed and Dennis
murders are investigating the killing Of
MickIe and they say the three crimes
are alike in many respects.
In Ralph Pines, son of a tailor, whose
store adjoins Mickle's cigar store, the
police placed much hope, as the boy told
story Thursday night of having seen
a man with a bundle in his hand in the
store with Mickle just a short time be-
fore the tobacconist was discovered dy-
ing. Ralph Pines was examined for
more than an hour yesterday at the
Second precinct station, closeted with
detectives, who questioned him without
frightening him. but the boy could not
divulge any valuable information.
Glanced at "Customer."
He had seen a man in the store, but
he did not remember whether the man
carried a bundle. He said he would not
recognize the man If he should see him
again, and could not give any descrip-
ton of him. except that he was white.
Ralph said he had been going to join
some companions when he passed Nick
les store and looked in at large clock
to learn the time. Mickle and the man
were talking when the boy glanced In,
but the lad only glanced at the supposed
customer.
The fact that Ralph Pines had been
quoted as saying he was certain the man
held a bundle in his hand impressed the
police, as the monkey wrench is believed
TO have been wrapped up and tied with
two pieces of string when the assailant
entered the store. The paper-brown.
new. and of unusual thickness, bound
with two pieces OF new string-was found
near the wrench on the floor of the rear
room where Mickle was killed.
1t was the new paper and string which
led the police to believe the wrench had
been purchased a short time before the
crime. Still adherlng to this belief they
are searching for the dealer who sold It.
Ralph Pines at first was regarded as a
valuable witness, as il was thought he
could identity the man who was in the
store Just previous to or at the time Of
the murder.