The Washington herald., 1911-11-25

ordeal had been sufficient to eliminate
the DASH
Although detectives have abandoned
hope of proving that Smith Is Kitty"
Holmes who murdered Policeman Cess
vein in Baltimore in1906, and OF revealing
Smith to be John Kabusta, the notorious
Chicago murderer, who has been at large
four years. they are confident OF showing
that Smith Is the murdered Of William
Mickle.
Smith has not been charged with the
Mickle killing, and is held only for as
sault with intent to kill Morris Bennett.
But the statement by Charles Davis, coll
ored, former coachman for ex-senator
Mason, OF Illinois, that Smith was in
Mickle's cigar store with a package In
his hand just a few minutes before the
killing is, the police say. such damaging
evidence against the accused that he has
but slight chance Of eluding charge
of numbering the tobacconist
Smiths Trunk Sought.
One new witness, whose information is
expected to aid the police much in fix
ing the Mickle murder on Smith, was
found last night by Inspector George
Dawson. This witness, Harry Taylor. a
chauffeur looked at Smith and declared
he was at Union Station Sunday night
inquiring how to have a trunk hauled.
Taylor said he was sitting in his ma
chine in front OF the station when Smith
approached.
According to Taylor, Smith said: II
have trunk at my house in D street,
and want 1t hauled to the station. Who
shall see about it?' Smith was d.
rected. Taylor says, and disappeared.
Taylor recalls the number of the house
mentioned by Smith, but the number is
being withheld by the police in the hope
they can find Smiths trunk at the ad-
dress. II this trunk can be found, letters,
papers, and other articles which may be
of inestimable value in tracing Smiths
past will probably be found.
Willard Wilson Stout, erstwhile pal"
of James Smith, was arraigned in the
Police Court yesterday morning. Stout
was arrested in Newport News and re-
moved to Washington on the charge of
stealing a revolver from William Ander-
son, proprietor of a woodward at Second
and N street southwest. who allowed
Smith and Stout to sleep in the Office
of the yard when Stout was employed
there. Stout when located in Newport
News divulged information which great
ly strengthened the theory of the police
that Smith murdered Mickle.
Stout Valuable witness.
According to the police, the revolver
stolen from William Anderson was found
in possession of Stout when he was ar
rested, and as a monkey wrench, believed
TO be the same tool with which MickIe
was killed. was stolen at the time :he
revolver was taken, the police believe
Stout is a valuable witness against Smith.
Detention of Stout on the charge of theft
was chiefly for the purpose of gaining
an opportunity to examine Stout
Though closely questioned by Chief of
Detectives Boardman and Assistant
United States Attorney Given, Stout, so
far as had been learned, has not revealed
any important testimony against his for
mer pal" except the information given
before his arrest in Newport News. When
he revealed Smiths relations with Mrs
frankie c. Davis and enabled the police
to locate the woman who, after her ar
rest, declared she met Smith by appoint
ment at Seventh street and New York
avenue. within block of the cigar store,
between and o'clock the night Mickle
was killed.
Stout was arraigned before Judge Pugh
on a charge Of theft, and the hearing was
postponed until Wednesday. Before
Stout is given a hearing the police will
have ample opportunity to learn what
he knows of Smith and his connection
with the Staying of Mickle. Mrs
Frankie c. Davis says Smith was in the
vicinity of the scene Of the Mickle muir
der about the time the crime was COM
mitted. Charles Davis, the colored
coachman, says Smith was in the store
just prior to the murder, and yesterday
witness was found who declares Smith
was in the vicinity of the shop previous
to the crime.
He is Harry Hoffman, a barber, in
Seventh street, near Mickle's store. who
declares he shaved James Smith one
night just previous to the murder. Hon.
man recognized Smith by a photograph
in The Washington Herald. The police
hope to prove through Hoffman that
Smith was hanging around" the neigh
borhood in order to get the LAY of the
land" before attacking Mickle.
Cleans Bits of Story.
Ina little white bedchamber in Cas-
ualtS Hospital lies Morris Bennett, while
Detective Berman from time to time
CLEANS tangled bits Of his story of the
assault.
- When Bennett wants anything he makes
known his desire by means of a code of
signs, which Detective Berman has
learned to read. First, the injured man
moves his arm slowly over his breast,
and then the detective names a list of
articles which he might want.
he naQ q nara time last night, now
ever, in catching Bennet's meaning. He
named over many things. Water? Broth?
Nurse? And each time Bennett slowly
shook his head. He was growing little
weary, when at last Berman said,
wife?" and then a radiant smile lit his
face, and he nodded as vigorously as he
could. His wife was allowed to enter
the room, and when she approached near
enough to his bed for him to see her, he
slowly stretched out his arms to her.
Later Berman worked on the solution
to the mystery, and by the signal code
has sifted his information down to mar
row limits. Bennett, by signs. has told
Berman that one man committed the
deed, and that he was white man.
Berman told Bennett to hold up as many
fingers as would represent the number
of men who assaulted him. He held up
one Then the detective told him to hold
I'D one finger II II was white mali. and
two q he was a colored man. Bennett
feebly attended one finger.
Then Berman told Bennett to nod his
head when he named the man who so
nearly ended his life. He called the
names of many people connected with
the crime, and finally said: Was 1t Jim
Smith, and Bennett nodded Yes" In
spite of his enfeebled condition, Bennett
is in his right mind, and fully under
stands the questions put to him.
Bennett Much Improved.
His condition was reported much i'm
proved by the hospital physicians last
night, but he is still in critical condi-
ton. By special orders of Maj. Sylvester