The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-21
JACK THE SLASHER.
Burglary that Is Attended with
Vandalism Is Alarming
Washington.
Even the Green Room mt the White
House Entered and De.poile,l
by the Thief.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2O.-The vandalism
OF mysterious miscreant who has been
designated as Jack the Slasher" is be.
coming more bold and outrageous. For
many weeks past there has been series
OF robberies Of mysterious and pecu.
liar kind in Washington. The burglar
or burglars have stolen but few things
but have at each visit destroyed con-
siderable amount Of furniture, slashipp
pianos and chairs and cutting up table
linen and clothing. Every effort to trace
the criminal or criminals has failed. Last
night he or they entered the house of
Samuel johnson, 427 Seventh street.
The family was out at the time Mrs.
johnson returned home late in the even
ing and no sooner had she gone into the
dining room than the whole neighbor-
hood was startled by her cries. People
in the immediate vicinity ran into the
house. and found the poor woman lying
on the floor in the dining room, suffer-
ing from violent attack of Mysteries
chairs. curtains, portiers. table linen and
other cloth materials had been slashed
into shreds and thrown on the floor in
heap. That was only the beginning of
tho outrage. In the kitchen the scene
at first glance represented chaos. In
the middle Of the floor the family larder
had been emptied. The Sunday meats
groceries. etc. were in a heap. Over the
mass the vandals had thrown at random
huge quantities of lard and butter. and
then to make the ruin more complete.
picked up gallon can OF oil. and thor
oughl. saturated the mass The condi-
ton of Mrs. johnson tonight is quite
serious.
Without any thought of burglars. but
solely for the protection of the president
the White House has been guarded by
special detectives and policemen, in adj
dition to the regular watchmen. and
every precaution has been taken to pre-
vent any unauthorized person from en-
tering the building. The east room has
alone been open to visitors. None have |
been permitted to enter there who took
ed suspicious. and those who have been |
permitted to examine the room have |
been IN charge Of watchmen. All other
portions of the house have been kept |
closed to visitors except on special occa-
sions.
Notwithstanding all these precautions
it has been demonstrated that the house
may be entered without the knowledge
of the guardians. II has been discoy.
cred that some person or persons. pos
sibly a crank. had entered the green
room, where visitors are not allowed ex
.ept with a guard in attendance. and
slashetl the furniture with knife
Great slashes in the form OF cross
have been cut into the beautiful satin
upholstery, and other acts Of vandalism
nave been committed upon the furni-
'ure. Whether this was wanton vandal-
sm with no other object in view. or
whether it was done by some crank as a
warming or threat against the president
8 not known
The supposition is that the cutting OF
rosses in the furniture is intended as
hreat. such rs the senders Of blood
hirsty anonymous letters convey by
ross bones and skulls. Whatever may
Ne the motive. the fact that an entrance
ould be made to the building and this
ct OF vandalism committed and the
ulprit escape without being discovered,
las served to frighten the presidents