Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-27
CONFESSION A HOAX
u. H. Martini Admits Knowing
Nothing of MickIe Crime.
SANITY WILL BE PR0BED
Breaks Down at Mention of Mother.
Says He Is ]. J. McGunnigle.
PROVIDENCE, R. l., HIS HOME
Police Trying to Verify Statement
Of Identity-BrainA Affected by
Accident as Child.
SANITY WILL BE PR0BED


John III. Martin. who surrendered TO the
Baltimore police Yesterday and confessed
that he had killed William II. Mickle in
this city last month. failed to present
proofs of his guilt, and the police quickly
sized him up as a man with j weak
brain. He was sent to the Washington
Asylum Hospital today for treatment and
observation.
Before being sent to the hospital to-
day the prisoner-pa;ient was questioned
in the Office of Sanitary Officer Sroufe
at police headquarters. He was disposed
to remain mute, but when the sanitary
officer spoke of his. aged mother tears
coursed down his cheeks and he con-
scented to give the desired information.
My real name is James j. McGun-
nigle," he stated, and my home is In
Providence, r. !. OF course, / know
nothing about the murder of Mickle.
McGunnigle stated that when lie was
a boy he was struck on the head with a
hammer while at work, and that in
March, 1892, he was sent to the State
Hospital for the Insane at Howard, r. /.
He said he escaped from the institution
and that later, in December, 1910, he
was released from there on writ Of
habeaS corpus.
when ] came here in September, he
stated, my head got funny"
The police will communicate with the
Rhode Island authorities to have them
advise relatives Of the man Of his
whereabouts.
Admits He Is Not Counterfeiter.
Martin, as he gave his name yesterday.
is not a stranger at the washington
Asylum Hospital. He was there from
September - until October 1S, having
been arrested on suspicion that he was
insane. Wylie Rodgers was the name
he gave at the time Of his arrest in Sep
TENDER, but when he reached the hospital
he changed it to John Mcdonald.
His story at that time was that he
was the tool Of a band of counter
letters, and that they made him shove
the queer for them. He claimed he was
from Texas. He admitted yesterday that
he had had no connection with counter
feiters. and that he merely told the story
in order to get sent to place where he
would. have rest and food.
Adhered to Tale Yesterday.
On his way from Baltimore in custody
of Detective Baur yesterday afternoon
the man had to be closely questioned in
order to get any information from him.
He was not inclined to be laxative. At
police headquarters the prisoner was
questioned by Inspector Boardman being
turned over to Capt. Peck later. the cap
tain being in command of the precinct in
which the murder Of the tobacconist was
committed
Martin related the story Of the Mickle
murder, claimed he was acquainted with
James III. Smith, the suspect, and that
he had confessed the crime in order to
relieve his friend in Jail of being sus-
pected of the crime. He still adheres to
his statement that he told the police of
his guilt because a Baltimore priest ad
vised him to do SO.
Martins description of the Mickle store
made it apparent to the police that he
knew nothing Of the place. The room
in which he said he killed the merchant,
he stated, is on the left side of the store.
In Baltimore he stated that he obtained
the wrench with which he committed
the crime in Woodward's lumber yard,
but after reaching this city he said he
took it from William Anderson's wood
yard, although he did not know where it
was located.
Il worked for ANDERSON three days"
Was the wrench wrapped in paper
when you went to the store?" Detec-
tive Baur asked him.
ut was" was his response.
What kind Of paper"
Brown"
He said he removed the paper from