Evening star., 1900-09-25
Lucy Hart Claims Five wen-Known
Men Assaulted Her.
PRINCE GEORGE SHERIFF IMPLICATED
Results of'investgation by States
Attorney Levin.
ALL PARTIES ARE WHITE

Appalling charges have been made to the
legal authorities of Prince Georges county.
Md. against Edward r. shea. the sheriff of
the county: William Shea. his brother; Leo
Smith. Tod" Fox and Herbert Butler by
Lucy Hart, the sixteen ycarold daughter
of Mr., and Mrs. Frank Hart. who reside
near Beltsville, Md. The girl claims that
she was criminalfy assaulted by all five of
the men last Sunday afternoon According
to her statement. made to States Attorney
William M. levin OF Prince Georges coun-
ty, she was sent by her mother Sunday af-
ternoon to take some flour to a neighbor.
and was accompanied by two little girls,
Annie and Effie Cunningham aged, re-
spectively, five and six years. On the way
hcme she stated that she stopped with her
companions to gather chinquapins about
quarter of a mile from her home, and al
legged that while thus occupied was ap-
preached by the men, all of whom she
knew, VINO made indecent proposals to her.
She further charged that upon refusing
their proposition the men seized her and
dragged her into the thick bushes nearby,
and in spite of her outcry, she alleged, she
was criminally assaulted by all five Of the
men. Her alleged assailants. she declared.
threatened to kill her If she told any one
what had occurred.
The girls mother stated that her daugh-
ter returned home Sunday in a hysterical
condition and informed her of the alleged
assaults.
States Attorney Investigates.
States Attorney Levin was informed
yesterday by Mr.. Hart of the girls state
ment and at once instituted rigid fnvesti-
cation. The little Cunningham girls said
Lucy and the men had left them and gone
into the bushes, but they didn't know what
happened there. The wife of Mr. Roger
Smith, a brother of one of the men impli-
Gated, stated that on Sunday afternoon the
five men were about her house, which Is
situated probably $50 yards from the scene
of the alleged assault and she had noticed
Lucy Hart and the little girls picking
flowers.
Close questioning of the alleged victim
by the states attorney secured an appar-
emily straight recital of the alleged occur
rences, and the condition of the clothing
she wore at the time, and of which Mr.
Levin took possession, tended to conhfm
her story.
medical examination by DR.. G. A.
Richardson of Hyattsville did not prove an
assault. but led to an impression that her
charges might have foundation
Warrants to BE Secured.
After competing his' investigation rester-
day the states attorney went to the county
seat, Marlboro, to secure warrants for the
arrest of the Sheas. Smith, Fox and Butler,
but owing to the absence of Judge Merrick
of the county circuit court he was unable
to do so. The warrants will be issued as
the judge returns, and special
officer will be appointed to serve, them. as
under the law where the sheriff IS subject
10 arrest such course is necessary.
The place where the alleged assault is
said to have occurred is in well settled
neighborhood about two and One-haH miles
east of Berwyn. Md. No one, apparently.
heard the girls outcry.s The alleged assaii-
ants are all well-knowr- young men and
belong to prominent families. Their friends
declare that their iiinoeence will be proven,
and that Miss Hart, If she rwas assaulted,
a alleged. must have been mist aiken in he
idenlity of The men. 4