Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-27
The National Hotel Outrage.
MAJOR CURTIS AS A WITNESS IN HIS Owr
BEHALF.

f. H. Curtis. alias Richardson, alias Hough.
ton. charged with having, on the 9th of March
1s7, committed a rape on the person of Miss
Ella Tydings, an orphan girl of Baltimore, in q
room at the National hotel, in this city. was
continued after our report elOsed-Messrs
Cook and COrkhill for defence: District Attor.
nty Wells for the government.
The defendant Curtis, alias Ray, alias Rich
arGson, allaS HOugtOn) continued his teSiimO
ny. III which he stated that, while he was in
Baltimore in March, 1877, he received a letter
In his mail addressed to Major Curtis, read
mg:-"l should like to 60 into the country
and ! think | would suit am young wo,
man" 1t made no reference to any advertise.
ment; it referred to Mrs. Miller's house as her
residence; he went to the house OF Mrs. Miller
at five O'Clock, and Mr.. Miller opened the door,
and witness soon afterwards saw Ella and Mrs.
| Miss Tydings was left alone with him; he said
he put in no advertisement, but wanted girl.
Ella said. .'DOn't say nothing in regard to that
tired of being there. Mrs Johnson then came
up and witness pretended he was the adverti.
ser; Ella had before said to him to never mind
in and she would go with him. He then de.
Scrl6ed arranging to meet her on the next day
at 1he depot, accompanying her on the train.
ana dalihing ane TRIP SAID he knew nothing of
gested that they should go to hotel and re gis-
ter as man and wife. (Other conversation was
detailed TO the effect that she solicited his com
pany; that there was no outrage committed,
and that she told him She had been ruined by
a streetcar cOnductor) Next morning after
the night at the National Hotel she asked him
ii he would not get her new dress, and wit
ness said he would; he told her that he was
gong TO New York; She said, You must take
me to New York;, witness said, That is i'm
pOSslble;' she said, You must take me- and
soon after She and witness went to the depot /;
they missed one train and took another: when
they arrived at Baltimore she insisted on go
ing TO New YORK. and he told her she must get
herself a new dress, and gave her $40 to get
one, and promised to wait at the depot until
she came back, but did not do so, but went on
to New York and afterwards to New Orleans
where he was arrested. He related that his
alias Richardson was taken because he had
by mistake been introduced by that name. He
4th Massachusetts cavalry, and lost his arm in
the second battle of Malvern Hill under the
name OF John II. valette; lost his arm in
September, 1864.
On cross examination, he said he was born
in Louisiana and lived there years: his
father was named Ray, his mothers maiden
city, then to Cambridge, Mass, until he en-
listed. In New York and Massachusetts he
was known as Edward Ray. Enlisted as J. I'll.
salett t took sh that name because he had run
1862 went to New York: Passed by the name
OF Aalette until 1866. Then retOOk the name
OF Ray Had passed by the name of Curtis
New York for taking diamond ring. Went
alter leaving New York, to Jacksonville, Fla,
under the name of Ray. Went then to Milton
Kansas City, Mo. Was superintendent of the
Kansas City Coal Company. Went then to
Memphis, Tenn; bought and sold cotton.
Then went to California; clerked there. Re
manned on the Pacific till 1873. Then went TO
New York in 1874, and remained in New York
until 1916: On the Sd of March, 1877, was in
MIR. Wells here read the affidavit of Curtis
to the effect that he expected to prove that he
was IN New Orleans; and added, Then you
expected to prove lie by those mem"
witness q Ia
prove he was in New Orleans about that time
MIR: Wells then read the affidavit of the ac
cused to the effect that he had never been
Known as f. II. Curtis, or as Richardson, or as
Without concluding the cross-examination
the court adjourned.
FOURTH DAY.
Inc crOSSeXaminatiOn of the prisoner CurtiS
not having been concluded yesterday, and an
impression prevailing that there would be
some developments to-day there was a large
crowd present on the opening of the court
The prisoner resumed the stand and said
ire letter from Miss TydingS was addressed
to Major Curtis OF E. II. Curtis on the outside
enve,ope, put on the inside to Country Mer-
chant" The note contained the residence
and was IN lady's handwriting. When he
answered the letter it was for the purpose OF
haYlng connections with the girl
The crOsS-eXaminatiOn of Curtis was Sis
pended TO enable DR.. Bliss to testify and he
described the arm, the nerves being enlarged
ana an the muscles wasted about one half, and
IL.
half OF that of sound man.
witness was not allowed to give his opinion
as 10 whether the prisoner could have com
mltted the act.
CURTIS RESUMED THE STAND.
and said that he was not under indie tment in
New YORK as to the larceny of diamonds
from woman named Roberts. Left the
National Hotel without paying hi bill because
when he left in the morning he intended to
come back.
1.-The reporters notes were read showing
ha an1 70
leans py way OF CharlestoWn, and Curtis said
orleans by waXOf Key West.
Re direct WITNESS intended to have Stated
that he went to New Orleans by way of Chi
cagO.
James Brent, waiter at the National Hotel
testlned that he went to the rooms TO get the
dlsheS after their meal, and it appeared as if
both had eaten.
Henry Thomas, waiter at the National Ho
!el, Iec9lected taking an order for the rooms
rylng supper to them, as also two bottles of
aie10ne before and the other after supper
ms closed the testimony for the defence.
with the exception OF the Waterman, and with
the understanding that he could be examined
with
REBUTTING TESTIMONY.
Miss Conger,. daughter of Representative
Conger, of Michigan, testified that they occu-
Dled me hotel rooms in question in '76 and rs
could not keep the door closed, EXCEPT by
keeping something against it.
MIS-. James Baker testified that Mr. Con-
gers family occupied the rooms i'm question
and did not remember that there was anV
fastening on the door.
IL. III. Wells, Jr., testified that he was pre-
sent in the National Hotel on the 9th OF March.
and Mccoy, the carpenter, said he placed the
Don ON the door, but did not know when he
put it on.
Mr.; Watkins, of Baltimore, was called and
asked as TO the character of Miss Tydings for
chastity prior TO March 23d, 1877 and said il was
good. On cr0SS-eXaminatiOn witness said he
raised Miss Tydings, who left his house i'm
February, 1876.
Thomas Whistler testified that Ella Tydincs'
reputation was good prior to this occurrence.
Ida Blunt, cOlOred, testified to the same eff
feet.
Mr. Oliver j. Miller was recalled, and testi-
fed that Curtis had no private interview in his
house. His reputation previous was good On
crOSS-eXaminatiOn witness said he did not see
Curtis when he first came.
Mrs. Miller testified that she went to the
door when Curtis called, and after calling Ella
left her husband there
For the defence, Barney Connolly, night
Waterman at the National Hotel, was called,
and testhed that he was continually walking
that night, and heard no cry or scream could
nave heard any loud cutlery; it was usually
very quiet there except the snoring of the
guests. On crOSS-examinatiOn witness said
there were three floors on the avenue front
and four on the 9th street, and if a person was
talking on the avenue floor and he was at the
q " m nf boJ hat