Evening star., 1934-06-01
YOUTH IS LINKED
IN TWO MURDERS
Fugitive From Training
School Being Brought Here
From Lexington, N. C.

The murder of A. Paul Rice and the
mysterious Fredericksburg, Va, Low
ers lane" assault-slaying were def
nitely linked today when it was learned
that youth being brought here from
Lexington, N. c.. on murder charges
was regarded by police as suspect in
both cases.
Although Washington police were
reluctant to discuss the Fredericks-
burg case, it was learned from an
authoritative source that the posi-
bility it was connected with the Rice
killing had looked mighty good" to
investigators from the very beginning
Youth Linked to Case.
The youth arrested in Lexington
Ralph W. Mize, 18-year-old fugitive
from the National Training School for
Boys-was first connected with the
Fredericksburg case when police traced
him to point within a few miles of
the Virginia city on May 20. the night
on which Milton J. Brown and his
fiancee, Miss Fannie Kurz, were
beaten, the latter fatally.
Mize was charged with the Rice
murder in a warrant issued by United
States Commissioner Needham c
Turnage and rushed to Lexington at
the request of Detective Sergt. John
w. Wise, who had been sent there to
question him. The youth decided he
would not fight extradition, and it was
expected he would be brought back
here before the end of the day.
Fugitive to Be Quizzed.
On his return to the Capital, It was
understood, Mize was to be held for
questioning by Justice Department
agents assigned to the Fredericksburg
case.
Rice, 35-year-old employe of the
Washington Terminal, evidently was
slugged by somebody who sneaked up
behind him as he took short cut
through a ravine near the Anacostia
golf course, after visiting the home
of friend on the night of May 10.
He was robbed of $18, which he had
won playing the numbers" accord
ing to Detective Sergt George E.
Darnall chief of the homicide squad.
Mize escaped from the Bladensburg
road institution the night of the at
tack on Rice. He had been sentenced
for violation of the Dyer act. which
prohibits transportation of stolen auto
mobiles out of the State in which they
are registered.
Abandons Car at La Plata.
The youth was traced to La Plata,
Md, where, it was said, he abandoned
a car stolen near the scene of the
assault on Rice, hired a boat and
crossed the Potomac River into Vir-
ginia. There, it was reported, he was
given a ''lift" to point near
Fredericksburg by Dahlgren store
keeper.
Because he was known to have been
near Fredericksburg the night that
Brown and his fiancee were beaten
into unconsciousness in a ravine be-
side ''lovers' lane" he was one of the
first suspects sought by Virginia au-
thorities IN connection with the case.
From Virginia, police said, Mize
continued to Lexington, making the
remainder of the trip in another
stolen machine.
Arrested for Robbery.
Mize was captured after a COM
panion, Paul Yountz, had been ar
rested at Winston Salem, N. c., and
returned to the training school. At
the time, he was charged with break
ing into Lexington filling station.
Later, however. a check-up disclosed
he was wanted here as a suspect in
the Rice killing.
Washington police explained their
reluctance to discuss the Fredericks-
burg angle of the case by explaining
the investigation there was being
handled entirely by the Department
of Justice. 1t was said, however.
that the Federal operatives assigned
to the lovers lane' case would be
given ample opportunity to question