The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-14
MRS. DENNIS
Is IMPROVING.
Physicians Report Her Is
Decidedly Better.
REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS 1T TINES
All the Detectives ct Work On the
Case-Fear that She May Not
Make q Statsment-Re-
ceiver for Business.

The police have fresh hopes today. as
the result OF statement made by DR..
Atkinson, the physician of Mrs Ada Gil
bert Dennis, the unfortunate woman, who
vas brutally and rnysteriousiy assaulted
in her room on K Street last Tuesday
morning
The statement made by Dr.. Atkinson
was to the effect that Mrs. Dennis oondi-
ttOn today showed q marked Improvement
over that Of yesterday. and that at Pc
RODS she regained consciousness.
That she viii live unless the unexpected
happens is foregone conclusion.
Receiver Appointed
On motion Of Mrs Dennis relatives
Justice Bradley today appointed Anna S
Merchant receiver, TO take charge OF her
business and other property until further
disposition can be made OF it.
Although she is still deIiFious at times,
DR.. Atkinson appeared TO be favorabIy in
pressed with the remarkable change II
his PATIENTS condition this morning as did
his colleagues. Drs- j Ford Thompson and
Re:cheIderfer
The physicians held their usual II
O'Clock consultation at Garfield Hospital,
after which the bandaees about Mrs Den
MS badly battered head were removed
and new ones substituted.
decided Change for the Better.0
Dr. J. Fore Thompson IN discussing
Mrs. Dennis condition, sad:
There IS a decided change for the bet
ter this morning Yesterday ne thought
| was her hest day, but We ROW see signs
Of a gradual Improvement Her wounds,
While OF a decidedly serious nature, are
slowly healing
Dr. Atkinson appeared TO be n the best
| OF spirits and discussed the case with De-
| tectivez Hartigan and Horne for some
time When asked whether OF not she had
| regaiEed consciousness he replied she Tas
| conscious at Intervals and vas constantly
crying fer water vixen Il that state, and
| also fer scrne ere 70 "eut of the band
| ages
All the Detectives a work.
With the exception Of Detective
| Trumbo, who left this city yesterday
morning in pursuit Of Thomas Morse, the
alleged slayer OF Haskins, all Of Captain
| Boardman's men are devoting their en-
| tire attention and energies 10 the Dennis
mystery.
/ Captain Boardman vas in high spirits
when seen by a Times reporter this mor7-
ing He expressed himself as being
greatly pleased with the improved condi-
ton of Mrs. Dennis,
''You may say said he. ii answer to
| question. that we are still engaged in
| working upon the case and are redoubIing
our Efforts Every clue, and even q num-
| Der Of theories, will be run out by Us.
We Will leave no stone UntuEned-
VIII She Make Statement.
The question which is now being dis
cussed is whether Mrs. Dennis, altar she
has recovered, VIII make statement It
may be possible that she will refuse to
make public the name Of her assaila1t-
The most important work being done By
the police today is the effort 20 clear up
the mystery Of the coat found in sewer
at the corner OF Thirteenth and n Streets
northwest
Yesterday Detective FIathar succeeded
in ha-ing the coat identified by q mer-
chant IN this city as one Of q large stocB
which he had purchased and later sold
to a stranger.
Reasons for the Receiverskip.
Mrs. Merchant, who was today appoint
ed receiver Of the estate of Mrs Dennis
is authorized by the court to take CON-
pIete charge Of the property Of the lat
ter at I1I7 K Street, and conduct the
business OF the injured woman. The ap-
pointment was made on the petition OF
Catherine Dunn, sister, and George
Johns, : brother OF Mrs. Dennis.
It IS stated in the petition that Mrs
Dennis was murderousIy assaulted at he1
home on December 10. and that she j.
now at the Garfield Hospital in criti,
, cal condition. Il is also stated that Mrs
: Dennis is a widow without children.
The petitioners further state that Mrs
Dennis has three brothers, Peter, Jacob
and William Johns. and Z sister. Mrs
Mary Kettoman. whose places of resi-
dence are unknown
It is further stated that there is abou
81 900 worth of Iewelry belonging to Mrs
| Dennis now IN the hands of the police
and that she has money on deposit il
the Bank Of washington. in this city
! and also other valuable property o.
, deposit with the Washington Safe De
$ posit Company The value of this prop
: arty, it is said, is unknown to the peti
TONERS
! When the petition was presented t
. Justice Bradley By Arthur a Birney
rorre-entsng AErs Narchant and Nj