The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-07

1sSSssAAcu - me OTlSEnHI -'JuciA-'
The detectives have been unable to
make any progress in unyeiIing the
mystery surrounding the destruction of
furniture, bric-a-braC. and draperies in
the house of-Judsou I. Gull. ia Second
Street southeast, yesterday morning. No
additional repoTts were made to the police
this morning Of any further depredations
by the ''siasher." bat the police fear that
the vand&I or Yandals will be heard from
again soon.
Early in October. 1898, the police and de-
tectives were puzzled by a series Of dep
relations similar to the case at MI Cun's
residence The first victim was President
N L. Young. of the National Baseball
League. His residence was entered dur
ing the absence Of the family and the fur
niture and costly bric-a-brac destroyed
The walls and pictures were besmeared
with mud, while chairs. lounges. and car
pets were slaShed with q keen knife. The
police were unable to find a motive for
such an outrage The announcement of
this piece Of vandalism brought to mind
the depredationS that had shortly before
been committed near the city in Maryland
and Virginia, and at Fort Myer, and a
striking similarity was noticed in the
methods of the miscreants- Following
close upon the Young ease reports came in
from the suburbs from persons whose fur
niture and carpets had suffered at the
hands of a -slasher-" Extra policemen
were employed and double patrols were
put on every beat. More men were de-
tailed in plain clothes and close watch
was kept for the mysterious YandaI or
yandals.
The "'slashIng' not only continued. but
anonymous notes, signed Jack. the
Slasher,' were left at houses in various
sections Of the city. giving warning of
visit The police waged active warfare
on tramps and Migrants. with the hope
that the '-SIaSher'' might be in their
ranks, but when The city had been cleared
of these Objectionable characters reports
OF ruined furniture and smashed bric-a-
brac continued to come in
Major Sylvester Superintendent Of PO-
lice. then Chief Clerk OF the Police De-
partment. in his book, the 'Districc of
Columbia Police" has this to say re-
All kinds Of Suggestions were freely
given lIe authorities. The CisyeTness in
effecting. the stealth Of the ro5Der or
robbers, prompted one writer to suggest
that IN educated monkey was at work,
and that the man who owned him should
be looked for Another writer suggested
the use of biOOdhOuEdS 70 trace the in
truder- Every clue was followed to its
liuiIU. brJt no proof WAS found upon which
to convict any % the many bad charac-
ters who were unprecedented
the excitement prompted women to
change watch and sit up all night with
gas burning to scare of the ~slasher."
Burglar alarms. police whistles. revDlv-
erS, ShOtgUns, dogs. and traps were
adopted by the alarmed public for use
against the mysterious party The van |
dal or VandalS carried away no property |
in these raids which made his or their /
identity difficult unless caught in the act.
Those injured had not served on jurieS |
or ut any time made enemies who could |
so seek revenge This only GeepeueG the /
puzzle.
Three boys were among twenty or |
II irty arrested on suspicion. They were |
On their persons were found two sharp |
knives. one OF them besmeared with /
putty. as If used about the sash OF q win |
dow. The knives were scratched as If !
they had been sCraped against glass or /
other brittle substance Another odd in /
strurnent made from Il steel corset stay, /
sharpened on a grindst0ne like the knife |
fefEg of 4 shoe. was among their eI-
fects-
after the.yzSere sent to jail for carry Try,
which had for six weeks dist-UDez the |
community suddenly ceased ~<Ierc Hhey
ended"
John Taylor. the original Jack the I
SIasher'' who operated SO extensively in |
this city several years ago and against
whom the police say they could have
made about nifty cases. was only tried on
eight charges but on these he was SEN
fenced 70 about thirty years IN the Al
naug- peniteRtiary. After serving several |
his removal 10 an insane asylum where
he died