Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-13
ON A SERIOUS CHARGE
Benz. q. Milliken Indicted for Housebreak-
ing and Attempted Assault
A Well-Known Young Man In a Bad
Scrape-He is Arrested and Then
Released-Still at Large.


gfard jury Thursday afternoon was one
against Benjamin Harrison Millken, charg
ing him with housebreaking and with in
tent to commit a felonious assault. Mill
ken has not yet been arrested under the
indictment, and Is now out of the city.
The Indictment Is a sequel to an incident
which occurred at the home of eX-Solicitor
General Samuel F. Phillips, 1917 Rhode
Island avenue. on the evening of the 4th of
this month. Milliken is about thirty years
Of age, a native Of Tennessee, and clerk to
the Senate committee appointed to inquire
into the Ford's Theater disaster. He had
been for some time frequent visitor at the
home of Judge Phillips, ard upon the even
ing in question called upon Miss Gertrude
Phillips. The young lady, 1t is understood,
noticed that her caller was not in that con-
dition which entitled him to be received,
and she therefore retired to her room. Mil
Eken then sent up his card to the young
lady, with the result that he was informed
bye the servant that she declined to see
him. The servant showed him to the door.
A Man In the Room.
Judge Phillips was aroused at about mid
night by cries coming from the floor above,
where Miss Gertrude and her sister, Nora,
occupied communicating rooms. Fastening
to the latter's room, the front one on the
third floor, he found both young ladies in
a state of great excitement The door be-
tween the rooms was locked, and the father
was informed by Miss Gertrude that She
had been awakened by a man attempting
to chloroform her. The man, she said, was
still in her room, she having escaped into
her sisters room.
By this time the servants and neighbors
had been aroused. Mr.. F. D. Mckinney,
Judge Phillips partner, soon appeared, re-
volver in hand, just in time to see Judge
Phillips burst open the door of the room.
H. oyNtv, fha anf
of shed in the rear, but stopped when
Mr.. McKenney covered him with the pistol
and commanded him to return to the room.
They discovered to their establishment that
the Intruder was Milliker. The young man
was turned over TO a policeman, who es-
corted him to the second precinct, and
locked him up charging him with house
breaking. Miliken was said to be greatly
under the influence of liquor, and his
friends believing that he is Irresponsible
induced Assistant District Attorney Null
lowney to order his release.
Milliken Left Town.
Since then. it is said he left the city for
the west, and it is claimed that his present
whereabouts are known only to his friends.
How he obtained an entrance to the house
is also unknown, although 1t is said that
he could easily have effected an entrance
through one of the side windows. A pocket
handkerchief and a broken vial, said to
have contained chloroform, were found the
next morning beneath the window of the
room occupied by Miss Gertrude. Milliken
city several years ago from Memphis,
Tenn, as correspondent for some southern
newspapers. Subsequently he was con-
nected with the Washington Post.
The Father Indignant.
It is known that when Judge Phillips
learned that Milliken had been released he
took every step to have him rearrested.
The next afternoon, accompanied by Mr..
McKenney, Judge Phillips called at the
district attorneys office. Mr.. Birney was
out of the city, and they saw Assistant
District Attorney Armes. They claimed
that Millken should have been vigorously
prosecuted instead Of being released Mr..
Armes went over to police headquarters
and gave directions that Milliken be re
arrested on sight.
Judge Phillips saw Mr.. Birney next day,
and Mr.. Mckinney presented to the district
attorney written statement OF the case.
Mr.. Brney laid the case before the grand
jury, and Judge Phillips and Mr.. Mcken-
ney were summoned before that body last
Monday.
Precautions for Secrecy.
1t was determined to observe the str!ctest
secrecy in the matter, in order to prevent
Milliken and his friends from obtaining the
slightest intimation that 1t was intended to
indict him. Therefore in summoning the
two witnesses the title OF the case was
made to read UNITED States vs.. John Doe"
To a Star reporter Judge Cole stated to-
day that just before the grand jury came
into court with the Indictment Thursday
afternoon Assistant District Attorney JET
fords came to him and requested that the
indictment be withheld from the public,
that the authorities might the more readily
capture him. Judge Cole directed his clerk
to lock 1t UP. and refrain from even enter
ing 1t on the court records. No bench war
rant was issued, for the reason that the
authorities had not yet learned OF Miiii-
ken's whereabouts.
Serious Ofenscs Charged.
The indictment contains two counts, the
first charging that AIilliken, about the hour
of Ii pm, on the 4th Of this month, did,
with force and arms, unlawfully break and
enter the house of Samuel F. Phillips, with
intent to violently and feloniously ravish
and carnally know one Gertrude Phillips,
against her will and without her consent;
and the second count alleges that Milnken,
about the same hour, unlawfully entered
the house. with intent to commit an as
sault upon the said Gertrude Phillips.
Mr.. MulIowney's Explanation.
In explanation Of Nilliken's release from