Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-23
THE ACT OF A BRUTE
An Alleged Criminal Assault Upon
Little Dora Ak.
THE POLICE At WORK ON TIE Case
Banedine Di Nunzio, an Italian,
Accused of the Crime.
L III E NJ AN DIS APP "a r S
rHE POLICE At WORK ON TIE Case
THE MAN DIS APPEARS

One week ago last Saturday little Dora
AK, eight years old, daughter OF hard
working Italian laborer named John AK,
living at No. 2o51 It'll street, short dis
t:Ece above Florida avenue, wss criminally
assaulted, It is charged, and Banedine Di
Nunzio is now wanted by the police AL
though the assault occurred nearly two
weeks ago, it was not until last night that
the police of the eighth precinct learned of
II.
Lieut.. Kenny at once notified headquar-
tiers, and detailed two officers to work on
the case. Lieut.. Swindells. received the
message at headquarters, and sent out a
general alarm TO all the precincts, notify
Ing the officers to arrest the man charged
with the offense. This morning Inspector
Mattingly called the attention of the de-
tectives to the case, and impressed upon
them the Importance Of capturing the al
legged perpetrator of the brutal crime.
While all the detectives were put at work
or the case. Detective Helan was specially
detailed to make the investigation.
Policeman Howard of the eighth pre-
ciLct happened to overhear a conversation
between two Italians last night, and he
understood enough of it to know that a
serious offense had been charged against
one of their countrymen. This caused
him to make inquiry, and in a few
minutes he learned the whole story. With
him was Policeman kimmell, and together
they went to the house.
John AK. who works for the Crawford
Paving Company, and is the father of the
child, is classed as an Industrious and
honest man. His home is in one of several
sn all houses in the frame row on 7th street
extended near Pomeroy street, and in this
humble home he provides for his family
as well as his means will allow. He has
several children, and they speak English
Gs well as Italian.
In the house Di Nunzio and his better
half have rooms, the wife being niece of
Mrs. AK. Di Nunzio is a maker and re-
pairer of mandOlinS, and usually had rs
much work as he could do. while ct night
he frequently played the stringed instru-
mental balls and parties.
The Child's Story.
According to the statements of the AK
family and the little child, Di Nunzio was
alone in his room on the Saturday men
toned, and Dora was the only member of
her family who was in the house. 1t was
about 10 o'clock in the morning. Dora says,
when the musician called to her:
Dora. bring me glass of water
The little child, who is unusually bright
for her age, tripped upstairs with the
" alter, not thinking for a moment that
there was Ill treatment in store for her.
Who's down stairs?" Dora says he
asked her. and when she told him there
was nobody, he proceeded to assault her.
Dora says she resisted as well as she
could, and wanted to scream, but was
afraid 10 make an outcry, for Di Nunzio
told her IL she made any noise he would
kill her. Her sufferings were described as
frightful.
When she was released Di Nunzio warn
ed her of the consequences should she say
anything about what had happened. She
said nothing to her mother. She went to
school as usual and continued to go all the
week. and managed to get her lessons.
Dora was sick Saturday morning. and
her mother investigated, being greatly
shocked at the disclosures.
Denies the Accusation.
Dora told her story of the alleged assault
for the first time. Mrs. AK was greatly en-
ragged when she heard the child's state
ment, and proceeded to Di Nunzio's room
and there accused him of having COM
mitted the crime. He denied the charge
made against him by Dora, but the mother
believed her child, and a lively war of
words followed. Mrs. AK left to her hus-
band the duty Of avenging the wrong.
Although the musician had been thus ac-
cused, and there had been stormy time
in the house, he remained about the prem
ises until night. and when the child's father
entered the house he walked away.
And it's a good thing for him that he
left when he did," the girls brother re-
marked to a Star reporter this morning,
for If he had remained there would have
been trouble
AS soon as the chiids father got in the
house he heard the story of the assault.
Instead Of raising hue and cry, however.
he went in a quiet way and searched for
the man whom, 1t is charged, had SO
frightfully mistreated his child. He went
through the Italian settlement in the
camp" and then visited places down the
city where Italians are found, but nothing
was seen Of the missing man.
The Search Kept Up.
This investigation was continued all day
Sunday, but without results, and Monday
the father of the victim went to the Police
Court to get a warrant. He could not
speak plain enough to make himself I'M
derstood, and, as there was no Interpreter
in the neighborhood, he did not succeed in
getting the coveted warrant From the
court he went to call on John Marinelli
the saloon keeper, and explained to him
what had happened. He also explained
that he had been unable to get a warrant,
and Marineih wrote the names Of the par
ties on a slip of paper for him, and also
gave him a note explaining the affair. In
stead Of returning to the court he called on
Justice E. NJ. Hewlett, and obtained from
accused.
Was without Experience.
AK had not had any police or court ex-
perience, and when the justice gave him
the warrant he kept It in his pocket in
stead of handing it over to the police. and
started out to play detective. His idea
was that when he came across Di Nunzio
he could call a policeman and have him
arrested, but he played IL no better luck
than have the pursuers of Dorsey Foultz,
and the delay In calling tine case to the
attention Of the police gave the fugitive
ample time to get away. Had it not been
that the policeman overheard the CONVEX
sation mentioned the police would probably
not know Of the case now.
This delay In the case may be the means
of causing change in the system of Civ
ing out warrants. Justices issue war
rants for 50 cents and hand them over to
the persons whospay for them. In this
| way delays frequently occur, and the police