Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-03
AN EXCITING SCENE.
A Woman Drops From a Third-story
Window.

warrant having been issued for the arrest
OF Mrs Mary Bowler, an aged lady, who re-
| sided at Lawrence's boarding house, 1908 G
street, on q charge Of thru .tening her brother
in-law, Michael B. Scanlon, against whom she
| had pronounced enmity, the document was
placed in Lieut.. Amiss' hands and he detailed
two officers to make the arrest. Mr.. Lawrence,
| the proprietor of the boarding house, did not
wish a scene there and requested the officers to
arrest the woman outside the house. For over
two hours Tuesday night the policemen waited
patiently for her, but they were disappointed
Yesterday morning their watch outside the
house was resumed. but Mrs Bowler STAYED in
her room. A report of the situation was made
to Lieut.. Amiss of how the case stood and he
detailed Scrgt. Montgomery and Policeman
Lawler to get the woman.
BARRIcADED IN HER ROOM.
When the officers reappeared at the house
Mrs. Bowler was seen at the window. Quickly
ascending the stairs to the third story Sergeant
Montgomery raped Justify on her door and
demanded admittance. But Mrs Bowler an
ticlpated their arrival and had formed a barri-
cade with taoies. chairs and other things. and
challenged the approach of the blue-coats with
a threat OF death to the first man who crossed
the threshold of her door. Putting their
shoulders against the door the policemen forced
IT open and were about to rush in and arrest
the woman when solid sheet of fame inter-
cepted them.
PLOTTING WITH FIRE.
Mrs. Bowler had thrown a lighted can of
gasoline at the attacking force Rushing in the
room Sergeant Montgomery caught the woman,
who was a mass of flames, and attempted to
tear the burning clothes from her, but the thin
fabric gave way and she made for the open
window. Thinking she had jumped out Sergt
Montgomery fought his way through the flames
down stairs. As he reached the doorway he
noticed the collecting crowd casting furtive
Chances at the upper windows. and turning to
learn the cause was
FILLED DY A FALLING BODY.
Mrs. Bowler, unable to cling longer TO the
shutter where she had taken refuge when the
officers entered her room, let go her hold and
fell upon the shoulders of the sergeant Willing
hands lifted the moaning woman from the
pavement and carried her to a neighbor's across
the way: Sergeant Montgomery in the mean
time had turned Ill an alarm for the fire engines
and telephoned for the patrol. The fire engines
soon arrived and, headed by Assistant Chief
Belt. the force made short work OF the fire.
Mrs. Bowler In the meantime was resting COM
fortably under the kind treatment Of friends
and after little was transferred to the
emergency hospital. Aside from slight
scorching her injuries did not amount to any
thing. Last night deputy marshall served
summons on the injured woman and she will
shortly be examined by jury as to her sanity.
The damage by the fire will not exceed SO.
AN ACCOUNT OF EYE WITNESSES.
The above is the story as related by the po-
hcemen who were present. The accounts of
ladies who reside in the house differ somewhat.
They say that the officers could have arrested
Mrs. Bowler on the street if they had exercised
little discretion and watchfulness, and have
avoided all the trouble. They deny. emphati-
caly, that the house was set On fire by Mrs
Bowler. but state that the fire was caused di-
rectly by the policemen who attempted to force
an entrance. Mrs. Bowler piled everything
she could seize against the door when she real
lied who were at the door. Among them
was little oil stove, on which she
was heating ha:iron. When the officers
thrust open the door the stove was knocked
over and the FIRE was started Mrs. Bowlers
can Of oil was not touched, they say, and she
made no attack upon the officers, but in her
desperation rushed to the window and leaped
out (and did not hang to the window SLID.
She fell on the pavement and was lying there
when the officers returned down stairs. The
landlady was very thankful for the prompt re-
Spouse OF the fire department. but both she
and others who live in the house were anxious
that Mrs. Bowlsr's actions should not appear
worse than they were.