The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-31
/
YEARS AGO
ADMIT TED
Prisoner in California Tells OF
Crime That Baffled WASH
ington Police. .

The famous Mickle murder mys-
terry, which has baffled the local
police since the night OF Novemr
Der ts, 1911. u believed to have
Been cleared up BY The alleged
confession of James c. Norton, q
surveyor, Of Boston. Mass, ar
rested in Pasadena, Calf.
Claim He Confessed.
According to a dispatch received
by Inspector Clifford l.. Grant, chiet
OF detectives. from Chief OF Police
Charles H. Kelley, of the California
town, Norton says he struck WIZ
liam H. Mickle. proprietor OF cigar
store at 1904 Seventh street north.
west, with a piece OF gas pipe ana
left him for dead.
Mickle was found dead when the
detectives arrived at the store foi.
lowing the receipt OF information OF
the murderous assault. A blood
stained monkey wrench, wrapped In
by the sleuths.
Mickle was about to close his store
for the night when the murderer en-
been felled with some heavy instru-
ment, the place was robbed.
Two small boys said they saw q
man leave the store about the time
the murder was committed, but they
could not give a description Of the
man. Since that time the murder
of Mickle has remained a mystery.
Arrested h West.
Norton was arrested several days
ago in Pasadena on the charge Of
burglary. While being questioned
as to his operations in the West. he
is alleged to have broke down com
pletely and to have confessed to the
murder here and several robberies
in the East.
ut was in 1910 or 1911 that
entered the store Of Bill or George
Mickle," he Is alleged to have con-
fessed, land while he was about to
close hts store for the night.
struck him over the head with a
piece Of gas pipe. I don't know
whether I killed him or not"
Dealer Found Dead.
When found, Mickle. who was
about forty-five years old, was dead
m a corner of the small store. Evi-
dertly the murderer had attempted
to hide tho body, in order that he
might get a good start before the
discovery Of the crime. Mickle,
with his wife, lived on Mt. Yer
non place northwest, between Sew
enth and Eighth streets.
At the time of the crime, agents
Of the Department Of Justice Joined
the local police in the, search for
the murderer, but they were with
out a clue.
Escaped Unnoticed.
So quietly did the murderer COM
nit the diabolical act, that hewas not
noticed by the hundreds of pedestri.
ans who were passing on Seventh
street, which was ablaze with lights.
Only the two small boys saw him
leave the store. but his movements
did not arouse their suspicious and
he went on his way. With his skull
caved In, Mickle sank to the floor
without making an outcry or q
groan. Not block away q police
man was patrolling his beat. While
the man lay dying on the floor the
slayer took s400 in bills from his
pocket. A gold watch and chain
and the contents of the cash register,
In which there was about $40. were
left undisturbed.
Shortly after the murder Claude
Randolph, colored boy, entered the
store to purchase cigarettes. There
was no response TO his knocks and
he peered over the counter. In the
corner behind the counter he saw
the prone form of Mickle, his head
lying in a pool OF blood. Horrified
by the gruesome discovery, the
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