Evening star., 1901-12-11

and the doctors saw every indication that
she had more than held her own. Major
Sylvester said this morning that he rad
hopes Of clearing away the mystery In tho
near future-possibly by tonight. He had
remained at headquarters last night until
a late hour in consultation with Captain
Boardman, and they heard the statements
of number Of persons, including some
of those who occupy rooms I'm the house.
Mr.. Smith Winchell, Mr.. John Gross. Mr..
Charles Thomas and the colored porter,
Richard Cole, were examined. Cole was
able to give the officers a little additional
information about the surroundings and
other matters relating to the case, but the
others were unable to throw any light on
the case Mr. Thomas, the painter, eN-
planned the presence of a blood-stained
shirt in his room He had met with
accident week or more ago and his head
was cut. 1t was in this way that the gar
ment was stained. Or. Atkinson dressed
the injury for him.
Keeping the Patient Quiet.
The physicians at the hospital are keeping
the patient as quiet as possible, and If her
condition shows a continued Improvement,
it is believed she will be able tomorrow to
give the detectives some Information which
will be of great assistance to them in their
investigation of the case. Thus far people
not connected with the department have re-
Trained from sending in their versions or mo
affair and suggesting possible ciews. as Is
usually done in cases which have I'm them
the elements of mystery. Members OF the
detective force have suggested a number or
theories. but this morning they had not
found a motive for the crime. In the IN
yestigation of the case the detectives rea-
lie that the certainty of the motive would
be of great benefit, and when they are as
sured of a reason for the commission Of
the crime the matter of apprehendlng the
guilty one will be made easier.
While friends of the victiminsist that rob-
berry was the motive, the detectives fail TO
fl hon n1h~
some of Mrs Dennis friends that the as
sault was committed about clock in the
morning, shortly before Mr.. John A. Gross
Of the Associated Press returned home
from his Office duties. They believe the
crime was committed by a man and that he
was frightened off by Mr.. Gross when he
opened the front door. In this connection
it may be stated, the time the assault was
committed is not known. The report or
the surgeons who were first called to the
house shows that the injuries might have
have been inflicted early as o'clock.
This was indicated by the condition of the
blood stains.
1t is thought that the affair could not
have occurred after the appearance OF MI.
Gross, for Miss Doyle. who first heard the
groans uttered by Mrs. Dennis, was awake
after Mr. Gross returned and would in all
probability have been attracted by the
noise which must necessarily have been
made when such blows were delivered. She
heard no such noise and the condition OF
the blood, it is believed, settles the ques-
tion of the assault having been committed
previous to O'Clock.
Piano Stool Locked Up.
The piano STOOL believed by Capt. Board
man and some of the detectives to have
been the weapon used, is locked In a safe
at police headquarters. and nobody will be
permitted to handle it. as it is the intention
Of the officials to keep it in the condition in
which it was found. Such an instrument.
the doctors say, could have inflicted the
wounds received by Mrs. Dennis. Because
of the small quantity of blood on the stool
seat some OF the detectives are inclined TO
believe 1t was not the implement used by
the assailant. Why he Cor she) should have
carried the stool seat to the front of the
piano in the front parlor so far from where
the assault had been committed the officers
are unable TO understand. 1t was found on
the floor in about the position 1t would prob
ably be in the event of having fallen from
the base of the stool. This was very near
the window through which escape from the
house was made.
1t Is stated that people In the house ad-
joining that of Mrs Dennis. house No 1115.
heard q noise yesterday morning and be-
lieved It had been made by a cat knocking