Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-08
Howard Freeman, Golored Youth, Ac-
eused Of Attempted Criminal Assault.
ARRESTED and IN CUSTODY OF POLICE
He Enters Denial of the Charge
and Makes Explanation.
LITTLE GIRLS HIS VICTIMS

Howard Freeman, a colored boy sixteen
years old, who lives at No. S1S 4th street
northwest, is wanted by the police for an
alleged attempt to feloniously assault Irene
Jordan and Rena Sanger, little girls who
are not yet seven years old. The attempt
was made in an alley near the Second Bap-
fist Church (coloredD. which is Sd street
northwest between H and I streets.
Mere than three hours elapsed after the
alleged crime was committed before the
police were called upon to make an inves-
tisation, and then the boy had been fright
ened off by Mrs. Jordan, who had gone
with whip to his house to avenge the
wrong he had perpetrated.
G. w. Madara, a locksmith at No. AL G
street northwest and a painter named
Brown saw the colored boy in the alley
with the children, and they arrested him,
but let him go when they had ascertained
where he lived.
Irene Jordan is a daughter of Mr. Edward
l.. Jordan. president of the Retail Liquor
Dealers Association, who lives at No. 4o6
ii street northwest, while the other child S
father is Mr.. Raphael Sanger real estate
dealer. The little girls returned home to-
gether from school at about 1880 o'clock.
and when they had eaten their lunches
they vert our on the sidewalk and were
playing game of hide and seek when
the colored boy came along He STONED
and watched them for a few minutes, and
then walking over to them he said some
thing about playing games, and showed
them what appeared TO be an advertising
medal dangling frcm his coat
Suspected No Evil.
The little ones naturally enough wanted
him to give them this medal, and not sus
pecting the boy of evil intentions. thew
went along with him until they reached
the alley leading from Sd to 4th street and
between H and 1 streets. Then he took
them by The hand and led them from the
street, it is alleged, to a place where he
would he shielded from observation.
0eachihS an obscured point in the aIIey
me boy proceeded to dsarrange the gar
ments of the little Sanger child. but before
doing so he exhibited a knife and threaten
ed the girls with death should either of
them make an outcry. Although badly
frightened and nervous, one of the children
screamed when the boy made his demon
stratloh. her cries were heard by Mr.
Madara, and he and Mr. Brown soon had
the boy in custody
They went with him to Mr. Jordan's
mouse on Il street. The badly frightened
children accompanied them, and all the
way to the house the boy was plea ding
with his capters to release him, making
denlals of wrong intentions When the
residence OF Mr.. Jordan was reached there
was NOBODY at nome except the colored SER
want and she knew the boy His identity
having been established, and no policeman
being in view, he was released, and the
children went to their homes
Mrs. Jordan's Prompt Action.
Somebody communicated the facts to
Mrs. Jordan, who was at her husband
place of business on 9th street, and she
FASTENED home. She remained about the
house only long enough to ascertain the
iacts' and then she went to Freeman's
house with the whip, intending to take the
law in her own hands,
is Howard Freeman at homer" Mrs
Jordan asked his mother, who responded to
her call at the front door
Yes, indeed" responded the bows moth
er. Come here. Howard" she called,
Howard responded, and when Mrs Jor-
dan asked HIM if he was the boy who had
committed the assault upon her little
cauSntrr, his answer was in the negative
Come around to the house with me-"
Mrs: Jordan said: land if you are innocent
I'll let you co.
Let me go upstairs and get my hat
said Freeman, land then I'll go with you. -
Made His Escape.
Mrs. Jordan waited, but the boy did not
return. and when she found how she had
been tricked, she left the house.
1t was then about o'clock, and a tele-
phone message sent to headquarters
brought several officers to the Freeman
house Among them were Detective Boyd
and Precinct Detective Hartigan Mrs
Jordan was still in the vicinity OF the Free
man house with her whip when the officers
arrived. The boy had then had ample time
to get far away: bat the police went in
search of him. crowd of three or four
hundred men, women and children had as
sembled about the neighborhood of the
Freeman house.. and many of them were
indignant over the particulars obtained of
the offense.
The parents of both girls were highly in
censed over the affair. and both MIR. San
avrI Nv nrIn n%I ,~~v:-.
authorities several times. Mr. Jordan 8
request that Detective Boyd and Precinct
Detective Hartigan be detailed on the case
was granted, and these officers spent the
entire night in the search. Policemen Ro-
mer, Whitaker and Payne also assisted.
Freeman Arrested.
Freeman was arrested this morning on
the canal towpath just above Georgetown
and locked up at the seventh precinct
Later he was removed in the patrol wagon
to the sixth precinct. in which jurisdiction
the alleged crime was committed.
The arrest was made by Special Watch
man E.. C. Lucas, who is stationed at the
entrance to the AQueduct bridge.
About IL o'clock this forenoon a canal
beat captain appeared at the Waterman $
Office and notified Policeman Gus Brown
who is also stationed at the bridge that
Freeman was near his boat, and could be
easily captured. Officer Brown wears the
regulation uniform. and he did not care to
so up the towpath, this action would
surely attract attention, and draw a good
sized crowd, the result of which would I'M
deubtedly be to frighten the fugitive and
give him time to escape.
Special Officer Lucas was, therefore, sent
to make the arrest. and this he easily ac-
complished, being attired in citizens
clothes. The negro willingly accompanied
the officer. The arrest was made within a
lew hundred feet Of the storehouse of the
Independent Ice Conpany and no Irnoe
came down the path with his prisoner, Po-
lleemen Cox and Virgins of the sixth pre-
clhct. IN citizens clothes. met him and
wanted to take charge of the boy, but the
special officer refused to turn him over.
On the way down the towpath Freeman
talked with MI. Lucas but did not COM
init himself. He denied that he had at.
tempted to do anything wrong with the
children and claimed that they were fl l.
lowing him and wanted his badge The
badge in question was handed over to the
oihcer. and was small silver affair, with
the initials e. 8. c." engraved in the CEN
~ ho toy,