Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-06
Another Young Girl in a Dangerous
Condition.
POLICE MAKE NO REPORT
Indications Point to an Attempted
Rape.
PHYSICIANS STATEMENT

happeHeu III NOrlneaSt W aShlngtOl last
night, and although the affair created the
most intense excitement and attracted
large crowd. the police of the ninth pre-
cinct are paying very little, if any, atten-
ton to it.
The victim of what appears to have been
a dastardly attempt at rape is Fannie
Chappell, thirteen years old, daughter of
Mr. Charles Chappell. who is one of the
best known citizens of Northeast Wash
iEston. He lives at No. S26 7th street, and
it was in the yard in rear of his home that
his pretty little daughter came near dying
last night. She was in a critical condition
all night, and while somewhat improved
today, she is by no means out of danger
All night long she was delirious, and to-
day she was not only in an extremely ner-
Vous state, but she had one spasm after
another until she was SO weak that the at
tending physician. DR.. G. c. Burton, could
not make the eXamina ton necessary to tell
to what extent she had been injured.
1t was about 10 o'clock when the most
heartrendng screams of the child attracted
attention, and in few seconds there was
a big and excited crowd of people in and
about the yard
Miss Edith Chappell and a neighbor, Mrs.
Myers. were first to reach the little girl.
and they found her in a sad plight. She
was screaming murder and police and
giving evidence of extreme excitement
The condition of her clothing aroused the
suspicious of her rescuers. They naturally
thought there had been a repetition of the
Carr case, but without waiting for the
crowd to the child's condition they hur-
ried her into the house and soon had DR..
Burton at her side.
Clothing Torn to Shreds.
Fannie was found in the corner of the
yard, near the back gate, her clothing hav-
ihg been literally torn in shreds.
Don't let him kill me-" she shriekcd.
He'll get me-
His Own Daughter.
When the affair happened the child's
father was H street only a short dis
tance from the house looking for mis-
daughter. He was conversing with DIR.
Burton at the time, and heard the child's
screams, but did not imagine for an in
slant that his child was the sufferer who
was endeavoring to attract assistance.
Following along with the others who We're
hastening to learn the cause of the out
cry the father soon learned that His child
was the victim. Both the father and doc
tor worked on the sufferer for several
hours and finally succeeded in restoring her
to consciousness. She was conscious only
at intervals, however, and when asked how
she managed to get in the condition IN
which she was found she became hyster-
1cal. So serious was her condition that it
was feared she would die. Her condition
improved SO much that the doctor was able
to give the mother and father some en-
couragement before he left the patients
bedside. Because of her exhausted condi-
tion the doctor was unable to make much
OF an examination, but hoped he would be
able to do SO this morning. He found how
ever, that she could not stand an eXamina-
tion this morning, and he was forced to
wait for further Improvement In her
condltlon before ne can attempt it.
The Girls Story.
According to Fannie's statement to her
father she went out yesterday afternoon
10 visit girl friend on H street. and later
in the day she went out near Kendall
Green blackberrying with several COM
ranions. The father of one of the girls
accompanied them. Fannie said that when
down, and she remained on the streets with
her companions before she started home
She remembers having gone through the
Lack alley and entered the gate, but says
she does not know what happened after
ward. The child is rather large for her
age, and has great many girl companions
IN the neighborhood. 1t is stated that
when she left home she said she was 60
ing to visit little girl named Carrick, and
her mother told her to return in time for
dinner. But instead of returning she ac-
cepted the invitation to go biackberrying
and spent pleasant afternoon i'll the coun-
try.
DIR. Burton, who attended her, could not
tell the exact injuries received by Fannie
hut he is satisfied that at least an attempt
vas made to outrage her. A few scratches
on her face and the torn condition of her
garments indicated to the doctors mind
that there had been desperate. struggle
The condition of the child was such as to
lead the doctor to the belief that can
tharides poisoning had been administered
This poison comes in both liquid and pow
dered FORM and is a dangerous drug to be
handled by any one other than medical
man. Because of the symptoms of poison
the doctor has concluded to have portion
of the contents of her stomach analysed
by the District chemist. This will be done
for the purpose of securing testimony in
the event of apprehension of the culprit.
1t is stated that young man wearing
bicycle costume and white shoes was seen
to run from the alley by several persons
attracted there by the screams of the girl
So far as could be ascertained, no one in
the crowd went in pursuit of this young
man, but all seemed curious to find out the
damage that had been done. Among those
who responded was Policeman Gleason Of
the ninth precinct, and he left the neigh
borhood after making few inquiries con-
cerning the injury to the victim. Later in
the night the officer made report of the
affair to his superior officer, and subse-
quently asked that the report be with
drawn. To a Star reporter the officer stated
that he thought there was not much in the
case. So far as he had been able to ascer-
tain, the little girl had remained away
from home later than usual, and was afraid
of being corrected by her parents when
she returned. For this reason, he said, he
was told that she had started to enter by
way of the back gate, and had taken off
her clothing and gone to bed in the back
yard. The report he made at the station
house, he said, had been Cancelled, and
that the affair would not be reported to
headquarters. If, however, he ascertains
that a crime has been committed, he will
make an investigation and do what he can
to capture the guilty party.
No Report Made.
The affair created considerable excite
ment in the neighborhood last night, and
early this morning many neighbors called
at the home Of the Chappells to inquire
about the condition of the child. Dr. Bur-
ton said this afternoon that he thought the
victim was out of danger. although on &C.
count of her extremely nervous condition,
there may yet be change for the worse
1t was his idea that the matter should be
reported to headquarters without delay
and the best detectives ON the force ss-
signed to the case. The assault, happen
ing. as 1t did. On the premises Of the vic-
tim. and she an innocent child, calls for
the prompt investigation and bringing to