Evening star., 1901-12-10

morning assisted in placing the sick wo-
man on the stretcher and carrying her out
to the ambulance. Several agonizing cries
indicated that the victim was conscious.
and DR.. Atkinson leaning over the patient
inquired
Mrs. Dennis, did somebody hurt your
Yes, somebody" she answered.
who was it?
Never mind" responded the woman,
whose head was covered with bandages
She was then placed in the ambulance
and driven off to the hospital.
Police Investigation.
1t was about O'Clock this morning when
Sergeant Carter received information of
the affair at police headquarters, and De-
tective T.. B. McNamee was sent to the
scene of the assault. Policemen Living
stone and Gibson of the second precinct
had been there earlier inNthe morning.
When Captain Boardman reached head
quarters he Immediately sent several other
detectives to the house, among them De-
tectives Hartigan, Horne and Miller. The
captain also went to the house and took
a hand personally in the investigation.
Members of the household had been in
the room and relatives of the injured wo-
man had been assisting in the care of her.
Articles of furniture in the room had been
moved about, and the place presented an
appearance entirely different from the sit
uation at the time the ghastly discovery
was made. After the woman had been
taken away the police departments pho
tographer took several photographs of the
room and surroundings to assist In the IN
vestigation and to be used at the trial in
event the efforts of the detectives are
crowned with success. The photographs
of the room at the time Mrs. Dennis was
found and also the front window on the
first floor through which the woman's as
sailant is alleged to have escaped.
The detectives are satisfied that the seat
of the piano stool was the weapon used,
for it was smeared with blood to such an
extent that they believe it had come in con-
tact with the woman several times after
the first blow was delivered. 1t must have
been welded with considerable force, for
the victim seemingly, hardly made an out
somebody in the house would no doubt have
heard it. for her groans were heard by a
roomer on the third floor, as well as by
people in the adjoining house. About the
time the assault is supposed to have been
committed Policeman Livingston and a
private watchman, who were two squares
away, heard what they thought was the
voice of woman screaming. They stopped
and listened. but the sound was not re-
peated. 1t Is not their belief that this
noise was made by Mrs. Dennis, but some
of the officers expressed the belief that an
other woman may have been involved in the
affair in some way, and that she screamed
because of fright. Very little attention was
paid to this incident, however. The piano
st ool was found in the front parlor near the
window and directly in front of the piano.
On the lid of the piano was what appeared
to be the bloody imprint OF a hand, and this
imprint may play an important part in the
tragedy The window in the east. the one
through which Mrs. Denniss assailant is
supposed to have gone when leaving the
house. was open and growing plant in the
window sill had been knocked out. The
piano was near this parlor window, as was
the stool, the weapon supposed to have been
used.
Was I'm Bed.
IT is the general belief that Mrs Dennis
was attacked while asleep, and that the
first blow on her head rendered her uncon-
scious. She was dressed only In her Sleep
ing garments and was in bed under cover
when found. 1t is believed that the effect
of the first blow was such that an outcry
on the part of the victim was impossible
Certainly there was no struggle, and the
condition of the bed and surroundings indi-
Gated that an attempt at a more henious
crime had not been made.
Victim Well KNOWN.
Mrs. Dennis is about forty-seven years
old and is probably one of the best known
women In business circles In this city. A
number OF years ago she was employed In
the dressmaking establishment of Mrs.
washington, on Pennsylvania avenue near
18th street. Later she went in business for
herself. and up to about three years ago .
she was located on 18th street northwest