Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-03
CLUES HARD TO GET.
THE POLICE DILIGENTLY AT WORK,
GUT MAKING LITTLE HEADWAY.
The Little Girl Getting Along Very Well
She sticks 20 Her Original Statement
Many Theories Advanced.

The continued and active investigations
Of the police in the case OF Bessie Pulling.
the littlo girl who was the victim Of an as
sauit last Wednesday evening in Morton's
old flower garden, have brought to light
no evidence that cen unravcl the seeming
ly-imponctrable mystery;
Three policemen-O Officers Tyler. Ma
rian, and Gibson-have been indefatigable
in their efforts TO find the person who
committed the crime, but all their efforts
have benin vain. No time or trouble has
been spared by these men in their en-
deavors TO bring to justice the bold author
OF the cruel deed, and they have watched
with untiring vigilance for the guilty man.
TOO TxcJrED TO TALK.
DR.. Frenklin, the physician who has been
attending Bessie reported that she was
getting along very nicely yestorday-at
least. as well rs could be expected under
the circumstances. She still suffers con-
siderable pain and caunOt speak Of the ter
rble affair without becoming greatly ex-
cited.
Dr. Franklin. IN couversaticn with a
Dispq'ct reporter last night, said that he
smoke 20 the little girl yesterday regarding
her assRllaut. has sho became SO much eX-
cited that ho deemed il best 70 pursue bis
inquiries no further for the present. Ho
is firmly convinced, however, that the
statement of the child, which has been
published, is entirely truthful, and her
condition, he says, plainly shows that she
was very roughly handled. OF tins there
Is no GOubt.
ABUNDANCE or THEORIEs.
The theories that have been advanced
l. tIrFV, Iortf
there are hardly any substantial grounds
for any of these, and tic matter may be
argued from almost any standpoint without
evidence Of a conclusive nature to confirm
them. Yesterday many were OF the opinion
that If negro committed the offence ne
lived in or was we'll acquainted with the
| neighbOrhood in which the child lived.
These who hold 70 this theory assert that
the police perhaps have not had exactly
truthful accounts from those who profess
to have hccn in the vicinity where the
offence was committed.
MAY HAVE nETN A TRln.
While the statements Of Bessie are such
| as 10 almost make il positive fact that a
negro committed the deed, it is thought
! by many that II her terror she may have
| mistaken her Hssailant. A white tramp,
whose movements we're suspicious, was
seen in the neighbOThOOd the early part OF
last week, but has disappeared since, the
assault was made. Whether he took HIM
self of from fear Of being arrested rs Bes-
| sio's as5alant or because he really was
guilty is q matter which no one can tell.
Awell-drcsscd man has also been hang
! ing around the eastern end of the city and
Offering insults to ladies and children.
| Last Tuesday evening he lnsulted several,
and II - thought possible that for some
reason he may have dr1fted over to the
ND nuInDug
crime which has SO excited the indignation
| Of inc people Of this city,.
All of these theories however, ere the
merest suppositlons. Of which almost every
mind is prolific. and something OF q more
| tangible nature viii be necessary before
| any direct clue can be obtained.
THE POLICE ENERGETIC But PUZZLED.
CAPTAIN Hulce was seen by a Dispatch
| reporter last night and asked If the Inyestl-
| tions OF tho police has AZ yet lifted the
veil of mystery which overhangs the case.
| He said that he did not care TO express
! himself freeiv regarding the matter, but
assured the ewsp0per-Inan that the police
were doing everything they could. We
are not working on the supposl-
ton" said the Captain, that Bessie's
assailant was q negro, but ere also watch
| in out for white men. People Would nc
astOn,shed il they knew what we had done
and now uUl TlLE INC Nut-lS u AIy lhCli
haze been. They are ont III the county to-
night making inquiries about & certain
person, and to-day they have been IN Man
chester. The police OF the other districts
are also helping us, as are also the Man
chester authorities.
Captain, do you believe that the state
ments OF BurWell Smith, the colored shoe
maker, who says he saw Bessie with her as
eailaut on the night oi the assault, are cor
,c.+ - a-iraG q inc rg1gDrtar
~ see no reason why they. should be
! doubted" =" was the reply. " IL ls true that
/ be has frequently been lnteuOgated, and
| if he has made somewhat contradictory
| statements it is only natural for an unedu-
Gated man. He is said to be very reliable
1uan and have had several persons to re-
commend him TO me-"
WHAT PUZZLES TIE CAPTAIN.
The thing which evidently puzzles Cap
! tain Huee the most IN Msresearches IS the
| locality in which the crime was commit
| ted. lie cannot understand, he says, how
apv one, whether q white man or negro
would have had the tomerlty and audaclty
| 10 have thought tor a moment Of commit
| ting such q crime at such place and at
such an hour.
MANY people" added he "aro of the
| opinion that the man after selZing the grl
| carried her way down in the empty lot,
| but such is not tho case. The offence was
| committed onlya ewfeet from the street
| in fact, only the small board fence
separated them from It.
These matters not only puzzle Captain
Hulce, who has given the case ms utmost
attention, but every one else who thinks
| tbe matter over. Some believe that the
| close proximity of the scene of the crime
| 10 Bcssies home clearly indicates that the
man who assaulted her was Il stranger IN
| the neighborhOOd and did not know where
che lived. while others. on the contrary,
argue that her assaiant knew his where
abouts well.
Will QUESTION UER CLOSELY.
Captain Hulce. in speaking of Bessie
Pulling, said that when the little girl fully
RECEIVERS he intends 70 question her rs
closely as possible concerning her assall-
ant. For the present, however, he would
forepo his right TO do tins, as he knew the
child became greatly excited III discussing
.he matter. Captain Hulce has both white
and colored men looking ont for new de-
yelopmeuts, and they are on constant
Yesterday another colored man, who had
the misfortune 10 be wearing a cap, was
taken before Bessie for Identification, but
she said ne was not her assailant. No
other arrests have been made, but last
night the three special policemen were
hunting for another suspect who lived out
side the city. At midnight. however, no
further arrests had been made.
CERTIFIED TO THE GRAND JURY
clary--Other Offenders.