National Republican., 1880-03-01
Brutal and Revolving Outrage in
East Washington.
Arrest OF II Negro Charged with tho Crime
-Couvinclns Evidence Against Him
Facts Lending to IIls Arrest-Con-' q '
dition of His Young Victim
Indignation Among Cit
..) o. izens-Thrents, SC. - -
Tho Friday NJ ht Outrage.

Tho victim was Miss Lena Lcins, young
lady about twenty-five years Ol age, residing
with crnunt, on ID street. between Twelfth
and Thirteenth northeast. Friday evening,
about z o'clock, she left home to attend ser.
vice ut st. Joseph's (Cathoic) church, on Soc.
ond street, near northeast Passing down
D street near vacant lot, between Seventh
and Eighth streets, SHE was approached from
behind by negro man, who struck her ter
ribe blow on the right ear, knocking her
senselcss and nearly sovcrng the ear from her
head When she recovered she was in tho
lot, her shoes Off and the negro bonding over
her. lie volunteered to help her put on her
Shoes when she screamed and frightened him
away. Although suffering greatly from her
injuries, she managed to reach home, whore
she was put TO bed and n physician summoned.
Her laco aud head were terribly bruised, her
throat scratched and marked by the finger
prints of her assailant, aud her bodily injuries
were OF such character that hcr life was
.dospaired of for a time. Yesterday, however,
she was resting somewhat easier, although
completely prostratod She WAS unable TO
give any description Of her assailant other
than that he was q tall black man.
The crime was the absorbing topic of con-
.versation last Saturday and yesterday, aud
threats of lynching the perpetrator IT caught
were freely ymado. Tho entiro detective corps
and squads OF police were busily engaged
trouble in locating man whom thoy sus.
ipected. One man named Hamilton was ar
rested, but proved his innocence and was re-
leased. Yesterday morning. however, u col
orcd man named Tom Smotheis was arrested
upon information furnished Lieutenant Austin
of the Seventh precinct, by Mr.. Ferdinand
Bogia, OF the Government Printing Oilice
who resides near the scene of the outrage. lie
learned that Smothers was seen IN the neigh
bothood of the Greene statue Friday night
and answered the description of the man seen
by Mrs. Offenstein OH the vacant lot whore
tho outrage was committed. officer Prather
was detailed to mako the arrest, and accom-
panied Mr.. Bogia to SmOthers' house, on Elcv.
enth street, between G and H. northeast 1t
was about 0 O'Clock in the morning and Snoth-
ers was still in bed. He WAS told that he WAS
wanted ut the station-housc, aud in n few
minutes he was safely locked up. An eXaini-
nation of his hing was made Immediately
after he was brought in, resulting in the dis
covery of spots of blood on his undcrclothing
and skirt of his cont lie explained this by
statements which were subsequently, contra.
dicted by his wife and a physician, and also
by tho condition of his wifo, who will soon
become mother. He admitted that he was
on Capitol Hill on tho evening IN question,
although ho prOfessed to know nothing Of the
outrage. 1t WAS dccided to send for Mrs
Offcnstein to soe IL SHE could identify Smoth.
ers us the man she saw in the lot last Friday.
From her story it appears that she was walk.
ing down ID street toward Seventh about
o'clock last Friday evening. Passing tho
commons between Seventh aud Eight streets
she noticed a colored man advancing toward
her. He was very tall, had on light pants
and slouch hat. For some reason he turned
away without molesting her. She noticed
him particularly on account of his being SO
tall. Upon arriving at the station Smothers
f,,Nn l,, Alt h.,Gn Me
Ohcnstcin, who, without any hesitation, OK
claimed, That's the man." He was then
taken back to his cell where ho was inter
viewed by representative of The NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN yesterday.
Smothers is a repulsve-looking wretch,
about six feet -four inches high, very black,
wears ~ mustacho aud side whiskers and
weighs about 100 pounds. Ho vas in his
shirt sleeves, had on n pair oil light pants,
heavy shoes pretty muddy, and seemed will
ing to talk freely about himself He said he
| WIS flity.sx years old. was born and raised
near West River, Nd and came to this city
during the war. Lately he has been working
ON the Boundary street sewer. Last Friday
| he stopped work at IL o'clock In the morning
and went up on Capitol Hill. Hcstoppcd in
tho store 0! Mr.. Neurath corner OF Fourth
aud G streets northeast, aud talked to some
| friends They took several drinks. 1t WAS
| little after dark when lie got home, and hO
| STAYED in all night. lie denied any kuowl-
edge of the crime for which he had been ar
rested, and repeated his statement about the
blood on his clothing. The greatest ex.
citcment prevailed in tho neighborhood of the
outrage during the search, and squad oi
! gentlemen soventy.iive in number assisted the
| police and detectives.
! Mrs McArdlc whose house is within few
! feet of whore the crime was committed, no
/ ticed colored man dragging what sho sup
| posed was bag around tho corner Of hel
Il fence into the lot. Being alone in the house
she became frightened and locked up all the
| loYer doors aud went up stairs to her room
| where She remained, afraid to investigate The
matter any further.
a..s now sMornERs WAS ARRESTED,
The credit for detecting aud arrestnl
| SmOthrrs belongs 10 Mr.. f. f. Bogia, EN-.
Iployod ut tho Government Printing Otlico
| Mr.. Bogia lives on Tenth, between + nnd G
streets northeast, and has always been fore
most in helping tho police in this section o
tho city in fcneting out wrong'doors
| Cophas Jones, who is now serving term O
thirty years ut Albany for rape, owes his arres
largely to the efforts OF Mr. Bogin. Last Sutnr
| day night an indignation meeting of citizen:
| residing in that portion of the city was held
Mt f. g. BCt2's office, at which Mr.. BOgia wa!
present. lie was told that Mrs. OlsusLeir
had said she would know the man if she SAW
him again. NllnOuI any more huui no Wcll
to see Mrs. Onenstein, and her description o
the man tailed exactly with that Of Smothcrs
oven to his walowng gait Upon inquiry
Mr.. Bogia learned Smothors' whereabouts
but decided to defer his arrest until yesterday
morning. He communicated the result Of hi
Inquiries to the police, and yesterday morning
IN company with the officers and Duluber o
citizens, surrounded Smotbers' house aud ar
rested him.
THE INpIGNATIoN MEETING
AT tho indignation meeting last Snturda!
night, held at the coal Office OF Mr.. Bez ~
Organization was perfected by tho election
Of Mr. S. A, Pitts president and W. p, Seyil
secretary. The president stated the object o
/ tho meeting aud declared motions in oldei
Mr.. Byron suggested the resusothton of tn
vigilance or patrol committee folmed yea
ago, in order 10 secure not only necessary PIC
lection, but moro police. Mr., Kunou5e sail
this matter had better be laid over unit
tomorrow night, us il would not do to b
too hasty, A general discussion Of tho ljec
followed, layorng the establishment of tn
patrol, us it was necessary to take measures +
project lAeiI wives and daughters, Upou motto
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