Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-10

FOR ATTEMPTED ASSAULT
Prompt Capture Of William Lucas, Accused
Of Heinous Offense.
Arrested by the Police ~ He Was
Making His Way Out OF
the City.

William Lucas, white man. aged about
| fifty years, was arrested this morning
shortly after o'clock. by Policeman Nc
Gill Grove of the seventh precinct, on the
Canal road, near Green Springs, and locked
up on a charge of attempted criminal as
sault on Bessie Gladmon, an eight-year-old
white child. the daughter of ]. H. Gladmon
of 931 H street southwest The prisoner
was walked to the station house and placed
| in cell, and the other stations notified of
his arrest.
The fugitive was seen in town this morn
| ing by number of people as early as 5
o'clock. He was making his way up the
,, road. evidently intent on taking a canal
boat and leaving the city. He managed
to avoid the police, the uniforms giving
him warning of their approach. Police
man Grove was detailed by Lieutenant
Sw1ndeiis to capture the man. The po-
hceman, who is a recent appointee dressed
himself in citizens clothes and started out
| TO look for his man. He found him on
the Canal road, just after he had emerged
from bar room, where he had refreshed
himself with a bottle Of beer. He was
talking with another man when the DO
ioeman approached him.
II want to see YOU" he said 20 Lucas.
nat for?' Intercepted the man, who
seemed to be measuring mis- chances of
dasning away.
Il want you to go down town with me;
you're wanted" was the reply.
Have you got warrant" asked Lucas
Warrant Not Needed.
The officer replied that he was wanted all
right, and that if he did not go he would
have to put the nippers on him and bring
him in. Lucas did not care to be hand
cuffed. SO he accompanied the policeman to
the station house. Strict watch was kept
by Grove, who was ready to intercept
Lucas in case he made an attempt to es-
cape, but no such effort was made
Shortly after he was placed in cell a
star reporter had a talk with him, when
he denied strenuously that he attempted 10
assault the girl.
with her,. said he, land no more than 1
would with any other little girl l was
playing with her the same as / would with
any other child, the same as l would with
10 cents worth of apples and waited until
she returned, and we started to eat them -
He denied that he tried to get the little
girl into his house.
MY wife was at home" said he land
why would l want to bring her in there? ?
We were sitting in the door, and l was
playing with the child, as usual l would
not have dreamed of committing an assault
IN that place. The front door was open
and every one on the street could see u.s.
Lucas also denied that the child was
crying, or even mad with him, and stated
that Mrs. Gladmon came over to where
they were and started to give him tongue
flashing.
Il went in the house shortly afterward
and went to Sleep continued he, land was
awakened by my wife, who told me that Mr..
Gladmon was down stairs and wanted to
see me. 1 dressed and went down, and he
commenced to quarrel. We lad some
" ords and he struck at me, the blow glanc-
ing from the side of my head. He then
vuyra bod IT,
ed to hit me with it, when his wife inter-
fered and prevented him.
Remained With His Cousin.
When asked where he spent last night.
Lucas replied at his cousins, on G street
between 23d and oath streets. In reply to
question Of why he did not remain at
his own home, he answered that he had
determined to leave the city. He said he
lad been working for the Independent Ice
Company. but had thrown up the job yes
terday on account of his wife. who was
always drinking. He went up the Canal
read this morning to see some of his old
friends en- the canal boats.
You know" he said to the reporter,
Il am an old boatman myself"
The police think Lucas only wanted 20
get on a boat and remain until he felt safe
enough from arrest and then leave.
The man is well known in Georgetown,
and for a number of years lived on Cherry
men in this section, at one time being en-
pioyed in the E. L. Dent iron works. He
also worked for Tenney, the flour manu-
facturer, and for H. p. Gilbert, the we'll
known contractor.
Later in the day Lucas stated that ne
did not know the police were after him, and
that he went down to the ice company this
morning and drew his pay. When search
ed at the station house only $1.06 was
found on him. He said that it was his
Intention to leave the city never to return,
and but for the prompt work of the police
he would have been able to have accom-
plished this. The police of the Georgetown
precinct feel quite elated over the quick
arrest.
Gladmon Furnishes Lucas.
Mr. Gladmon, the child's father, who is en-
ployed in the Corcoran Art Gallery, had
an unpleasant meeting with Lucas last
night. because of the charge made by Mrs
Gladmon that Lucas had acted improperly
toward then daughter Bessie. eight years
old. Lucas received severe punishment, it
is said.
The accused has been in the employ OF
the Independent Ice Company, as he states,
but yesterday gave up his JOB, he declares.
because of his domestic unhappiness. He
proceeded to visit bar rooms and indulge
in some liquor. 1t was about o'clock
when he returned home and seated himself
in front of the house. He had always been
on friendly terms with the children in the
them to snowballs, candy and cake.
Yesterday he sent little Bessie Gladmon
over to store to buy some apples, and
when she returned he detained her in front
of his house. 1t was still daylight when
Mrs. Gladmon looked out the window and
called Bessie. Just as she called her she
looked in front of the next door neighbours
house and saw her daughter on the mans
lap. The condition Of her clothing excited
her suspicion, and she called to the man:
''You dirty brute. what are you doing?'
II mean no HARM was the response of
Lucas.
He let the child go and she came in the
house crying, being afraid she was going
to be whipped. Two hours later Mr.. Glad
mon returned home, and when he learned
of what had happened he went on the
war path.
Knocked Him Down.
"Mr. Lucas. are you there?' he called
over the back fence. and the neighbor
walked to the fence to see what was want
ed. AS soon as he arrived there a blow