Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-17
SECURE FROM NOTORIETY
Charles Riley Sent to Jail for Attempting a
Murder
struck HIS Sweetheart With n Piece
of WOod-Believed to BE Seek.
ing Notoriety.

Charles c. Riley, a young man who is
known in police circles because of his de-
sire to do detective work. and also for the
reason that he has figured as prisoner, at
tempted to kill Miss Blanche Graves in
front of the Central Union Mission last
night. and now he 10 booked for a Jail
sentence. He had been paying attentions
to the young woman, but last night she
| was with another young man. and Riley
used Stat from a tree box on her head.
but, fortunately for her. the piece Of wood
struck against a thick bunch of hair and
did not seriously injure her. Miss Graves,
who Is nineteen years old, lives on 9th
| street northeast. and although she has been
going with Riley, her mother objected and
had given him notice not to come to the
house. Riley attended the mission last
| night, as usual and when he entered the
| room where services are held he discov-
cred the object of his affection seated be-
side another young man. Then he went
outside and looked for a weapon. Failing
to get pistol or sharp instrument, he pro-
cured the Stat from a tree box and waited
near the door to do his murderous work
When Miss Blanche came out and started
toward home he welded the Stat with such
erect that his former sweetheart fell to the
pavement.
Riley started to run and the crowd pur-
sued him. But instead of endeavoring to
get away he ran into police headquarters,
where he had been many times before, and
cried, I've killed my sweetheart"
Sergeant Perry, Detective Boyd and OFF,
Ger Burns were in The office at the time and
Sergeant Perry expressed the belief that
Riley was insane.
mo, amt crazy" said the young man,
who was made prisoner on suspicion.
She told me If ! ever caught her with
another man that / might kill her. and
took her at her word"
Then he reasoned that he would get an
eight years sentence and would actually
serve five wears.
He was locked up and the young woman
sent home.
When turned over to Policeman Sullivan
Riley repeated his story and said he was
only sorry he had not killed her SO he
would hang for 1t.
In the Police Court.
This morning when he reached the Police
Court he fell to the floor and pretended
that he had fit, but a doctor who hap
pened to be in court said he had made a
poor attempt at feigning.
When the case was called Riley said
he did not care how the case was tried
Miss Graves went on the stand and told
Judge Miller that she had known Riley
for about eight months. He had met her
at the store where she is employed and
summer he threatened to kill her If he
caught her with another man. At that
time she told him she was going TO the
theater or down the river with another
friend, and that was why he said he would
Kill her. He told her then that he had a
pistol.
Two young men were called and they
gave evidence concerning the assault One
of them said he had a conversation with
Riley early in the evening, when he said
that If he (Riley) did not go home with
Miss Graves the other young man would
not.
Remarkable Story.
Riley then took the stand in his own be-
half and told a remarkable story.
I've been going with her on the sly" he
said to the court Il couldn't go to the
house and so we met at the mission"
did you hit her last night?' the court
interrupted.
YES SIR" he responded "She told me to
do it and / did it. Last summer she told
me if l ever met her with another Teller l
should kill her. She said then that she was
going out with man and l was to hide
behind the boxes at the paint store at 9th
and II streets northeast and when she came
along she said for me to shoot her and then
kill myself"
where's your pistol now?" the judge
My sister-in-law's father has it," he re-
sponded, but he won't give 1T to me-"
Miss Graves was recalled and Judge Mil |
Ter asked her what she thought of Riley |
and she replied, Il don't think much"
But" explained the court, what do you
think of his mental condition.
Il think he knows what he is about
She said that what Riley had said about |
the killing was falsehood.
Riley's Mind.
Judge Miller then spoke of Riley's career |
in police circles, and several officers told |
of his connection with thefts.
Detective Weldon told the court that he |
thought Riley's mind unsound, and said he |
had come to him several times lately and |
told of a big robbery that was to occur.
Detective Rhodes thought his mind sound |
enough. but he also thought ii ran in a |
criminal direction.
When Detective Proctor was called he |
told of Riley's frequent visits to the mis- !
sion, and said he had occasion to eject him |
from the mission only a few nights ago.
Several policemen gave the prisoner a bad |
reputation, and Precinct Detective Helan |
told of his arrest and Imprisonment for |
stealing cigars about four months ago.
That's right" the prisoner added, land |
Miss Blanche and girl named Miss Sallie |
came to see me almost every day when /
was in jail
Don't you think it is a case of jealousy?"
Miss Graves was asked.
1T looks like it, she answered.
Policeman Sullivan said that Riley liked |
notoriety and was anxious to see what the |
morning papers had published about him.
''Pll send him away for awhile where he |
will not get notoriety" said Judge Miller
yand where he will not read the papers.
You will have to go to jail for eleven |
months and twenty-nine days"
Thank you," said the prisoner, and then |