The Washington times., 1901-12-11
SCENES AROUND THE HOUSE.
Morbid Crowds Gather in the street
Probing the Mystery.

Morbid Crowds Gather i'm the street
Probing the Mystery.
Yesterday and last night a morbid crowd
stood before the residence OF Mrs. Dennis.
1t was gathering such as haunted the
corridors of the Kennle-s following the
Ayres tragedy. In the night time people
stood along K Street. to the number of
several hundred. and gazed at the win
dows OF the dwelling where mystery
broods.
Many Morbid Sightsecrs.
From early morning. when reports OF
the crime circulated about the city.
through day filed with rumors. until
late last night thousands of persons
passed and repassed the dwelling. There
were even attempts to gain ntrance to
the dwelling. although few passed within
its portals. A yard borders the line OF
! the pavement, extending back TO the wall
OF the dwelling. Into this people crowded
! until the police from time to time drove
| them back
In this crowd all classes mingled. Men,
women and children waited to learn more
oil the assault. Detectives. policemen, and
| newspaper men swarmed about the scene,
or passed to and fro. as they were swayed
! by various rumors as to the origin and
| perpetrator Of the tragedy.
Detectives in Conference.
Within the dwelling was gathered a set
| OF men. whose calling led them to seek a
! solution of the murderous assault. De-
tectlves Helan, McNamee. Baur. Flather,
Muller. and Evans. Lieutenant Byrnes. OF
| No. precinct station. and Policeman
I Gibson and Livingston we're there. At in
teryals these men passed In or out. or up
! stairs.
The dwelling was gone over time and
again. Every piece of furniture. every
carpet or rug was inspected apparently
in a vain effort tn obtain a clue to the
crime. and the key to It's solution. Thus
the day passed.
Inside the House.
AS night came on the curtains were
drawn. In the front room Of the house
sat the little family party including Mrs.
Jane Z. Dennis. mother-in-la OF the
wounded woman; Miss Mary Doyle. who
occupies room on the third floor. and
others. All we're grfef-stricken. Mrs.
Dennis, an elderly WOMAN, bore traces OF
the agony she had suffered because of
the assault.
After nightfall a, relative arrived. a
woman, whose name could not be learned.
Only then did Mrs Dennis show the real
depth of feeling. the true nervous strain.
under which she iabor2d She almost
broke down. This is awful it Is dread
ful," is what she said.
NciEhbors Knew Nothing.
Or either side Of the Dennis residence
neighbors knew nothing OF the murLerous
assault. At 1115 X Street. to the east.
adjoining the home OF Mrs. Dennis. lives
J. D. Robinson. Mrs. Robinson was seen
last night.
L knew nothing Of the assault" she
said. until this morning after o'clock.
I was aroused before daylight this morn
ing. During the night had heard means
and groans. almost piteous in their in
tensity-
AT o'clock / got up. The wind was
blowing a gale outside. Still the groans
continued. On a clothes line in the rear
yard were some clothes. loft out over
night. and to seizure these was my object
in getting up 1 dressed. went down
stairs. and into the back yard.
Heard Gronns Distinctly.
There, also. heard distinctly the
groans On the night air the groans came
to me again. 1 then determined that
woman was moaning from pain.
Il returned within the house. really
thought little even then Of the moans II
occurred to me that some one was sicl,
next door. In the house OF Mrs Dennis
! thought that, as many persons slept In
the dwelling, somebody had cared TO- the
wants Of the patient. Thus the matter
passed out Of my mind until daylight
came"
Had Known Mrs. Dennis.
Mrs. Robinson said she had known Mrs
Dennis for several years. although not
very well. Mrs Dennis has always been
good. neighbor. quiet. and seemingly
highly respected by everybody in the vi
cnity," stated Mrs. Robinson
Adjoining the Dennis residence on the
west is the Inglesi1e, fashionable board
g-house, kept by Mrs. NJ T. Protzman
4 large number OF persons have apart
ments there. None of these boardc-s
seems to know anything about the crime |
OF yesterday morning.
This is what Mrs. Protzman says:
The first word Of the assault came to |
me early in the morning. II was about !
7 o'clock. Half an hour before | had |
arisen. dressed. and came downstairs.
out on the front portico of my house
have kept flowers for months. and these
I watered that mprEing. As l went out
on this porticO ! saw policeman go into
the house next door. Then / asked some
body what was the matter.
snw Mrs. Dennis often.
Il did not know Mrs. Dennis well at all.
/ had seen her quite frequently She was
4 comely woman, seemingly a home
body
Other neighbors 'aboni the Dennis home
declared they knew nothing at all about
the mysterious assault. One and all were
anxious for information Questions were
piled in every direction by everyone. Yet
nothing came of il all.
Up at Garfield Hospital. where Mrs
Dennis lay. sad sceae. was going on In
a room on the third floor physicians gath
cred about the patient Doctors of the
hospital STAFF were in almost constant at
tendance. SO was the nurse. who did not
leave the side Of the unfortunate woman
luring the long night hours.
Detectives ut the Hedside.
Detectives Hartigan and Horne. Of the
headquarters staff. remained over night |
# the hospital. At neon yesterday. fol-
owing the removal Of Mrs Dennis from
her home. HartigRn was detailed to guard ,
1er bedside. Later in the day Horne wa
sent to The hospital 1t was hoped tina
some statement might be secured from
he patient. during moment OF con
iciuUsnCss.
No such statement was made. as Mrs
Dennis did not regain consciousness for
my length of time. Only once and that
.arly In the afternoon. did she refer at
Ill to the assault upon her.
Even then she spoke incoherently so
hat a name she mentioned was all that
,ould be understood. II is even doubted