Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-17
Police Working on MickIe Muir.
der Mystery.
NO ROBBERY, POLICE SAY
Merchant Seen by Neighbors Just Be-
fore He Was Killed.
coLoRED BOY FINDS HIM DYING
Police Told Of Young Man Who Was
in Hurry to Catch Bal
timore Car.

Many vague clues are being invests
gated by the local police in an effort 10
bring TO justice the person who. last
night. murdered William III. Mickie. cigar
and newsdealer, 1t 1904 7th street north
west. using an ordinary monkey wrench.
The killing Is mystery the police hope
to solve, but which sorne of them think
Will prove similar to the murder several
years ago of Mrs Ada Gilbert Dennis IN
her home on street, in that the mur-
derer will never be known.
Coroner Neritt announced this after
noon that the inquest would probably bo
he'd Monday morning. The jury may
visit the scene of the murder ar a part
of it's inquiry.
Police officials. detectives and patrolme.i
searched high and low last night and
today In an effort to learn the identity
OF the murderer, but the clues followed
did not produce results.
Maj. Sylvester. who took an active hand
in the investigation. suggested that the
murder may have been committed by an
insane man or by some person who did
it for revenge. Billy Mickle, however,
was not known to have had an enemy IN
friends and usually had gathered about
him a number OF them. Not one OF the
friends was able TO suggest a possible
motive for the crime.
No Robbery Committed.
Following an all-night Investigation, the
police today announced robbery had not
been committed. They appreciated the
fact that the murderer may have intended
robbery and that he became uneasy and
left before he had time to get what cash
there was in the store.
MIS- Mfckle said this afternoon.
however. that she believed the motive
for her husbands murder was rob-
berry.
1T was Mr.. Mickle's custom to carry
a roll of one-dollar bills In his tron-
sers pocket" she said, with which no
made change for customers. This roll.
fastened with a rubber band, some
times looked large. but was almost
two-dollar bills. Some one may have
seen this roll and believed 1t a rich
haul do not believe that the thief
intended to murder my husband. but
merely to stun him and take the roll
Of bills
when I saw my husbands body
noticed that one Of his pockets seemed
to have been thrust open. II was the
pocket in which he usually carried
the bills. but there was no money in
the pocket. / think It must have been
stolen"
It was a few minutes before 6 o'clock
last night when Mickle left his home at
FOB Mount Vernon place. after eating
dinner. and returned TO his store. just
around the corner on 7th street. He had
been seen shortly before he went to his
dinner by Ralph Pines, son Of a neigh
boring tailor. the boy having gone to the
store to have five-dollar bill changed.
The Pines boy saw Mr.. Mickle again
shortly after his return. Mickle was then
in the room In the rear or bis store en-
gagged In gymnasium exercises. I'm which
he indulged to reduce his weight. Ralph
Pines saw him doing the stunts, and, he
says. there was another man in the room
with him but who that man was the
police have not aScertained.
Claude Randolph, colored. who stopped
In the store on his way home from work
to purchase a package 'of cigarettes.
found the victim OF the crime lying on
the moor In the little back room. When
the boy entered the store and saw no
body behind the counter he waited few
Then he leaned over show
case and was able to see Mickles form
on the floor.
Thinking the cigar dealer was vomiting.
Claude Randolph turned toward the door
TO summon assistance and met Harry-
who is employed as a plumbers helper
at 115 N street northwest. Lannon was
about to enter the store when the colored
boy met him. Just then an unidentified
white man appeared and said he would
an ambulance.
Takes News to Wife.
Miekle then was dying. He was an
conscious and unable TO speak. One OF
-, - <ar
the merchant and ran TO the house arc
told his wife. Mrs. Nickle could hardly
believe the boys story. 1t had been con-
less than an hour since her hus-
band had finished his dinner and left her
and their eleven-y ear-oid daughter. Helen.
She hurried to the store and was horri-
fed at the sight which met her gaze
Lying face downward was the uncor-
scious form of her husband. The back
Of his skull had been crushed with the
monkey wrench and his head was in n
nool of blood. Summoning all the courage
she had, Mrs. Mickle turned her hus-
bands body over and washed the blood
from his face. He was unable To show
any sign Of recognition. not having ut
after he was struck. He died while his
wife was caring for him.
DR. C. G. koones, the Mickle family
physician. was summoned He said that
life was extinct and there was notnins
that could be done. Mrs. Mickle made a
short investigs ton to ascertain If robbery
had been committed and returned home.
She is a manicurist. -
Detectives on Case.
Detectives Burlingame. Hewlett. Pratt.
cornwell and Bauer were detailed by In
spector Boardman to conduct the investi-
cation, Capt. Peck and Detective Fort
aey Of the second precinct also taking
part. Inspector Boardman visited the
,cene OF the murder and went over the
,ase with the detectives.
Robbery was the first motive suggested
~ the police. A thorough search or the
,tore. however, quickly convinced them
hat robbery had not been committed
rhe several accounts kept by Mickle We're
'ound in the store intact These were his
aurdry accounts. newspaper account and
cigar and tobacco money account AZ.
sregating S6S,25
Nickle's bank book contained four IS
,iIls. It is believed that he had intended
nai,ing a deposit In the Home Savings.
sanL This morning Wednesday he de-
,ositad go So In bank. while deposit
~ 600 was made Monday. In ADDITION TO
he money found In the store by the po-'
;c. i, l. stated, about $15 that was IN
lie cash drawer was turned over TO adrs
Nickle before the police TOOK charge OF
he store. -
photographed the scene OF the
s,.;yne and the wrench and paper wrapper
.hat had dropped from the instrument IN
"a. store T,he wrench had been In
wrapping which suggested that It bad