Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-16
The Mysterious Slasher Commits
Another Characteristic Deed.
CUTTING CLOTHING into SHREDS
Mr. Prescott the Latest Victim
and His Loss Heavy.
is HLOROF FORM USED?


again." was the remark of policeman to a
Star reporter this morning. He hasn't
been in our precinct yet he added but
when he comes you bet, We'll burn him.
1t is true that the vandal burglar has not
yet visited all the precincts, but the entire
city is one precinct for the detectives, and
as stated in yesterdays Star, they are as
mystified as ever. They have worked hard
to effect his capture, and some of them have
about concluded that the man is a ghost.
Clues and tips have been obtained, but
like the Chicago Haymarket affair, they
have exploded.
The fact of the officers going out in citi-
zens' clothes has not frightened the daring
robber. for at an early hour this morning
he paid visit to the residence of Mr. John
Prescott on Brightwood avenue, only a
short distance from Whitney avenue Mr.
Prescott occupies the large house on the
west side Of the road known as the Baker
mansion. 1t Is large frame structure sit
uated some distance back from the road
and there are no houses adjoining it, Mr..
Prescott.who Is an electrician at the United
States naval observatory had been to the
theater with his wife last night, and when
he returned home he saw that everything
about the house was securely fastened and
then retired. Following his usual CUSTOM
he left a slighted lantern in the hallway
secured the front door and went to bed
With his wife and child he occupies the
back parlor on the ground floor, in rear of
which Is the dining room. Beside his bed
was his alarm clock set to awaken him at
a. m He gets up at this hour to look
after the dairy business of a friend.
The clock went off usual this morning
and Mr.. Prescott got out of bed. 1t was
the work of moment to find that his I'M
derclothing had been removed. He had put
them on the chair just before retiring. The
lighted lantern in the hall had
also taken wings. Mr.. Prescott be-
came satisfied that there had been
burglar In the house. and when he
lighted lamp he discovered to his sorrow
that not only burglar had been there, but
that the unwelcome visitor was no one
other than the ''slasher."
Devastation Rampant.
table were fragments CT what had been
articles of wearing apparel
Both the front and the rear door were
wide open, as was the window opening into
the dining room from the side porch This
was held up with a piece of barrel stave
The burglar had entered through the win
dow. The Stats of the shutter had been cut
and the window raised. 1t was not neces-
sary to even cut the glass. for there was no
fastening on II, and all that had to be done
was raise 1t.
After getting in the dining room the burg
lar went through the hallway and opened
the front door that he might have no
trouble to escape in event of his arousing
the inmates.
visit to the bed chamber was made and
In there Mr.. Prescotts clothing was found
This consisted of his underclothing trou-
sers. coat and vest and an overcoat. These
he removed to the dining room, where the
weeks wash had been left over night On
the bureau in the bed room the burglar
found Mr.. Prescotts silver watch, which he
appropriated. This together with a pair of
trousers, he carried away from the premises
Nothing else was missing. Fortunately for
MI. Prescott he left one pair of trousers
that had been hung in a closet and In the
pockets Of which Mr.. Prescott had left
about $50. On the bureau near the watch
there were other pieces of jeweiry, but they
were not touched.
Scissors and Knives.
In the dining room was a new pair of
scissors that had been used only few
times and they were evidently used by the
intruders. 1t is evident that there were two
members OF the party, for many of the gar
ments destroyed showed the use of scissors.
while others had been cut with knife An
overcoat pair of trousers and numerous
articles of underwear belonging to the
children as well as to the older persons fell
to the floor in small pieces under the vii
lain's knife. Even the tablecloth, rugs and
small pictures on the wall belonging to the
children were destroyed or disfigured
Having done all the damage they could in
this room the vandals went in the kitchen,
where they repeated the cutting operations
On the table in this room the cook had
left large pan of dough for hot rolls for
breakfast and this they upset on the stove
and left the pair of scissors in the fire.
Such was the condition of affairs when a
thorough examination had been made The
upper part of the house was not disturbed
AS already stated, Mr.. Prescott responded
to the alarm clock call at 3 o clock and the
burglars. he thinks, had not been gone more
than ten minutes at the most for the dough
that had been left on the stove had cooked
stove.
He soon notified the police of the affair
and gave description of the pair of trous-
ers and watch that had been taken
This is the second appearance of the
"slasher in that section of the county
1t has only been about three weeks since
he visited Takoma Park and did what dam
age he could. Since then, however, as pub
lished in The Star at the times, he has an
peared in many other sections
Who He IL.
At police headquarters today nothing new
was to be learned regarding the mysterious
burglars. 1t is still believed that two per-
could be ascertained nothing has been
learned that will in any way throw light
on the affair
What puzzles the officers is the fact that
bed rooms are not neglected and the burg
lars enter them and leave without even
disturbing the occupants of the beds.
He appears and disappears like a ghost"
was the remark of an officer.
Il wonder If chloroform is usedo" queried
another.
So far as the victims know no chloro-
form has been used, and 1t is hardly posi-
BILE that 1t could have been applied with
out some Of the victims being made sick.
The officers have been given strict orders
to be on the lookout for the burglar and
apprehend him IL possible In event Of
his being apprehended on the streets 1t is
thought that he will resist arrest and some
one will get hurt. AS stated yesterday, 1t
is the opinion of a majority of the off,
GERS that the .slasher' is an old and
hardened criminal with an accomplish and
that both are perhaps heavily armed.
Tuesday night about 1920 o'clock the par
lor of the Fat Mems Club was visited by
some unknown person, whose act in cut
ting a carpet badly resembles the conduct
of these who are giving the police so much
trouble just now. The rooms of the club
are in Hockemeyer's building on 9Th street
and the members Of the club were holding
their regular weekly meeting. 1t is stated
that two men had been seen about the
building, whose mysterious conduct had
attracted attention, but no one witnessed