Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-03
AN OUTRAGEOUS ASSAULT
Plan to Entrap Member of the Salvation
go. Army.
Enticed to Room by a Plausible
Story Concerning a Dying
Man.

Lieutenant May Storrs of the Singing
Brigade, attached to the Philadelphia head
quarters of the Salvation Army which has
been holding services at various churches
here for two weeks past, and Miss Mamie
Riley, a member of the auxiliary of the
Salvation Army, living in this city, were
grossly insulted, and an attempt was made
to assault the former I'm a house on L
street between 9th and 10th streets north
west. Sunday night last, by three men,
whose names are at present not known.
Half an hour or SO previous to the oc-
currence the attention of one of the SOL
dierS belonging to the local corps was at
tracted by the actions of q man in the
audlence, who seemed to be reckoning to
some one on the stage at the meeting then
In progress, and the salvationist went
down from the platform to where the man
was and asked him what was wanted
Il do not want you,'' was the reply 81
want to See that little lieutenant at the
same time pointing to Miss Storrs The
SaiNatlonlst returned to the platform and
tod Miss Storrs that il was she the man
wanted 10 speak TO. The young lady at
once left her place on the platform and as
she approached the man the latter handed
her card, on which was written: There
is man sick and supposed to be dying at
T. street tgivnS the number of the housed,
and he wants you to come and sing and
pray with him.
Miss Stcrrs Immediately said that she
would go on mission of that kind, and,
promising the man to come as speedily as
possible TO the place designated started 10
get her wraps, the man meanwhile Ieay-
ing the hall, $50 Pennsylvania avenue north
west, where the meeting was still going on
Just as she was about to leave the build
ing Mss Storrs met Miss Mamie Riley, and
told her what had TRANSFERRED
Il do not 'hink, said Miss Riley that
II Is safe for you to go alone into that
helghborhood at night, and l will accom-
pany you
Miss Storrs accepted Miss Riley's COM
pany with feelings of gratefulness. and the
Two young ladies departed on what they
supposed was mission to comfort a dying
man.
Arrived at the house designated on the
c. rd, Miss Storrs raped, and the door was
promptly opened by rough and uncouth-
looking man. The girls were somewhat
surprised that they were not admitted by
woman, or at least that they did not see
any female about, and though they were
also startled at the turn affairs seemed Ia
he taking. did not betray any symptoms of
uneaSiness.
Go risht upstairs" said the man, who
at the same time accompanied them
pom reaching the second floor the man
ushertd Miss Storrs and Miss Riley into n
room Where there were two men sitting
ana third man lying IN bed, appa rem tly
sick
by this time the girls were almost lit
orally frightened to death, hut said othing
10 give the men reason to believe that they
feared any harm appeared about to befall
them.
one of the men placed two chairs at the
foot of the bed. and asked the ladies to sit
down. This they declined TO DO, stating
that they would stand. Miss Storrs offered
fcfyeht prayer for the recovery of the
supposed sick man, or, if the will of Proyi-
dence were otherwise, he might die saved
and at its conclusion the girls were about
to leave the room when one of the men
said. addressing Miss Storrs, but without
having had any consultation with the man
IN the bed, who was supposed to be the
most interested, He wants you to sing Ia
him" e ~
Miss Storrs sang one verse of ..Just nc !
Am Without One Plea, But That Thy
Blood " as Shed For Me- and was abour
TO begin the chorus when the man sprang
up IN p.d 10 sitting posture and at
tempted to seize her.
Miss Storrs and Miss Riley now saw the
object of the men, which was evidently
TO perpetl ate horrible crime to Miss
Storrs out from which they had been pre-
vented perhaps alone by the presence of
Miss Riley, even after they had inveisled
Miss Stofrs into the net they had laid for
the poor girl.
Fortunately The door of the room had
no dead latch upon ii and the girls were
thus enabled to make their escape With
out delay from the den. circumstances
likewise favored them in getting ONT into
the street. and once outside they started
TO run. or did they slacken their pace
until they reached the Salvation Army
headquarters, on Pennsylvania avenue near
10th street northwest
Although the names of the scoundrels
are not as yet known. cIews have been
furnished parties who intend to have the
Offenders arrested if possible and to prose
cute them to the full extent of the law.
ana IL Is believed their capture will be
quickly effected.