The times., 1901-03-27
FINDS A MAN In Her HOME
Mrs. Mary Rush Has an Exciting
Time With an Intruder.
She Claims He is STranGer--Hc De-
mics It-Nystery Surrounds His
Identity-DccIarcs He is an ES-
poIiccman-yEoIent when Arrested


Mrs. Mary Rush, Of 1906 S Street north
west had an experience at her home
about $50 o'clock last night that she VIII
not soon forget. She returned after doing
an errand to find man. whom she claims
not to know, descending the stairs from
the second story. The man made an at
tempt to escape and when grappled with
by the woman struck at her several
times Mrs Rush pluckily clunS to the
intruders and was dragged by him to the
street. There several neighbors who had
been attracted by her screams came 10
the aid of Mrs. Rush The trouble had
reached alarming proportions when Po-
Iiceman Reith, of the Eighth precinct.
was attracted to the scene. He placed
the belligerent man under arrest
The identity of the man could not be
learned. He claims his name is Harry
G. Jerome and stated that he was an ex-
policeman. He declared that Mrs. Rush
knew him we'll and that he had not en-
tered her house for the purpose of rob
berry. as she claimed. Mrs. Rush claims
to know absolutely nothing of the man.
The police believe the name given by the
prisoner is fictitious. An investigation
will be made this morning.
The man was seen to enter the resi-
dence of Mrs. Rush shortly after o'clock
| by Mrs Holland, a neighbor Mrs. Rush,
! accompanied by her domestic, had left
| the house short time before. The man
went into the vestibule and. seeing the
| night key hanging upon a nail, used it tn
unlock the door. He then went up TO the
| second-story front room, where he first
ransacked an old-fashioned desk, after
! breaking the lock He then pulled open
washstand drawers. throwing the articles
contained therein on the floor.
Mrs Rush arrived home just a few min
! utes before the thief started downstairs
according TO her story. She was startled
upon her entrance by a strange man de-
/ scending the stairs from the second story.
As she and her servant were the only
persons living in the house she called out
10 the man and asked him what he was
doing. Receiving no response she began
to cry for help. BY this time the man had
jumped down the stairs, and he tried
| to pass her at the door she caught hold
Of his coat and called loudly for help. BY
| this time the neighborhood had been
| aroused, and several men residents rushed
J over TO the assistance of the IA
! tigued woman. The prisoner was pulling
/ the woman from the front door to the
gate and striking at her face tG
compel her to release her hold. Police
man Reith arrived just in time. The
| neighbors assisted Mrs. Rush TO heI
| home.
During the entire ride to the police sta
ton in the patrol wagon the policemen
were forced TO keep a sharp eye on their
prisoner, who at times became violent and
| attempted to jump. After he had spent
two hours in cell he became quiet and
recognized Detective Carl Flather who
! had been sent from headquarters to in
vestigate the matter To Flather the
prisoner stated that he was an ex-police-
I man, and to verify his statements told
| Of several fights in which he. as q police
man, had figured in Southwest Washing
! ton. To further impress the detective. the
! man exhibited what he claimed were
! marks of the pin of a police badge which
he said he wore for a number Of years in
( the Fourth precinct. No. ! police station
I and Police Headquarters were communi-
Gated with, as were also many OF the old
! men on the force, but no one. so far as
! could be learned last night. knew Of a
! former policeman named Jerome.
! An air of mystery surrounds the man
/ He is apparently about thirty years OF
| age and well dressed. He gave the name
! believed 10 be fictitious only after great
deal of questioning on the part OF De
/ teCtiVe Flather and Patrolman Lord OF
! the Eighth precinct. After giving the
! name the prisoner became violent aud in
sisted that he be allowed TO fight any
! policeman in the place. When searched
| in the station a handsome china match
! safe, which Mrs. Rush later identified as
her property, was found in his overcolt
| pocket.
| No marks of identification were disc ~.
| cred about the man. In one pocket II,
carried a manuscript, evidently written by
| himself, about priZelight in Maryland
giving the rounds and the result of the
battle.
The. prisoner was estrarueIv ratica-t
| about the affair. which resulted in his
| arrest. He would only say to the polio.
| that he was acquainted with Mrs. Rush
despite her statements TO the contrary