Evening star., 1952-08-08
Staying in Alley
Here Is Solved;
Youth Seized
Arlington Man Beaten
Badly and Stabbed;
Was Marine Clerk

Police arrested a 17-year-old
youth today in a lightning fast
stroke of detective work which
they said solved the murder of a
Marine Corps clerk few hours
earlier.
Details of the crime were to be
announced at press conference
this afternoon.
The youth, who admitted COM
mitting the brutal crime alone,
was wearing shoes taken from the
victim, Ralph T. Blake, 46, of 3519
Columbia Pike. Arlington, Va. He
also was carrying the victims
wrist watch and ring.
Arrest Follows Tip.
Police said the youth, who Is
white, was arrested after they re.
ceived tip that a group of juve-
niles had been elected from a
Ninth street tavern last night.
Juvenile authorities investigated
and the arrest followed.
The body of the badly beaten
and Staoped man was found at
2 am. in a bleak. rain-soaked
alley in the rear of GIT D street
NV. Mike Manthos, a painting
contractor, living at the address.
nearly stepped on the body as he
left for work.
The body was lying fat on its
back. blood covering the smashed
in face and chest. The Uttered
alley gave evidence of a terrific
struggle.
After an autopsy by Deputy
Coroner Christopher j. Murphy
it was revealed that the victim
has been stabbed IA times, Z times
in the front of the chest and 7 in
the back. One blow pierced the
heart and was responsible for
death.
Fractures of Skull.
There also was large fracture
Iof the left side Of the skull, caus-
ing a massive hemorrhage of the
right side. Another fracture was
discovered in the center OF the
forehead. The left cheekbone was
broken.
There were two cuts over the
right eye, one over the left eye.
another on the left shin and two
behind the right ear.
Although Mr.. Blake was en-
ployed by the Marine Corps.
mystery was injected in the case
when several persons at a restau-
rant at Eighth and K streets NV,
identified the man from pictures as
part-time counterman. They
said he worked there nights.
Other persons said they had seen
a man they believed to be Mr..
Blake in Ninth street taverns from
9 pm. to midnight last night.
Empty Wallet Near Body.
From trail of blood, it ap-
peared Mr.. Blake had been as
saulted in the alley, about IL feet
away and dragged against tho
porch.
At the point where the struggle
apparently began there was a large
blood spot and a bloody cigar. A
trail of blood led to the porch
near the body. Beside the porch
near the body was another blood
spot. a small caliber expended
cartridge and an open, empty
wallet.
More blood had dripped from
the porch railing near the mans
head, where he might have been
slammed against the railing. On
the ground. broken into several
pieces were Mr.. Blake's false teeth.
His sun glasses were found in a
case on the porch, beside still
another bloodstain.
Empty liquor bottles and broken
glass cluttered the ground. Other
bottles were jammed into a row
of trash cans and on a window
ledge was a row of seven empty
wine bottles, whisky bottle and
a beer can. Police said the place
was frequented by "Sneaky Pete"
drinkers.
Was Employed as Clerk.
An identification card showed
Mr.. Blake was employed as an
addressograph clerk at Marine
Corps headquarters. Naval Annex,
Arlington. He had worked since
last April % in the allotment
division, disbursing branch of the
Supply Department.
Although it was raining through
out the night. Mr.. Blake was not
wearing a raincoat. The well.
dressed body was only slightly wet.
MIR. Manthos, brother of Frank
Manthos. the former Districs
police vice squad ace, told police
of disturbance in the alley about
midnight.
He was awakened by his mother.
Mrs. Antonia Manthos, who shares
Ia second floor apartment with
him. Mrs. Manthos told of hear
ing shouting and scuffling below
the window. but it soon abated.
The incident recalled to Mr..
ManthoS another night about a
month ago when he heard sounds
|of violence in the alley. He saw
three white youths from about IA
to 16 years. beating a man. He
called police and shouted at the