The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-12
ASSAILANF STILL UNKNOWN
Theory That a Woman Committed the
Crime Strengthened.
< STREET RESIDENCE MEASURED.
No Material Change in the Condi-
ton Of the Injured Dressmaker.
Friends Denied Privilege of
Seeing Her.

Another day VIII UIdobtedIy pass into
history without any l:ght being thrown
on the murderous assault made upon Mrs.
Ada Gilbert Dennis at her home on K
Street northwest, while she was asleep
last Tuesday morning. This is a Ger
tainty so far as a further statement from
the victim herself is concerned. as her
condition today remained practically IN
changed, in that she was unable to inteIIi-
gently answer any question put to her.
Dr. Atkinson, accompanied by Detee-
tives Horne and Hartigan. visited the hos
pitaI at II o'clock This morning After
leaving the bedside Of the injured woman
Dr. Atkinson reported that she was no
better and no worse He would not hold
out any hope for her recovery
Friends at the Hospital.
Judge " B Fleming, accompanied by
Silas Merchant and wife, were at the hos
pitaI when DR.. Atkinson arrived, and
asked to see the patient. Their request
however, was denied, as the doctor
thought that the injured womans condi-
ton was such that an interview with
friends, OF even TO realize their pres
enee, might produce unfevorable symp-
toms. and this he wished to avoid
Mrs Merchants Aid Sought
Mrs, Merchant, it is believed, can learn
more from Mrs Dennis as 70 the person
who made the assault than anyone else,
as the unfortunate woman made conf
dante Of her to very great extent As
soon as her condition viii admit Of IT,
Mrs. Merchant viii be called upon to
question the patient on the points which
it is hoped viii establish a clue to the
crime
Richard Cole, the colored butler at the
Dennis, residence, also called al the hos
pitaI during the morning He eonhded to
Detective McNamee that he had heard
from woman named Ryan. who vas for
merly employed by Mrs Dennis as a do
nestle, that Mrs Dennis was dead. He
cid not remain at the hospital until the
doctor and detectives came down. but de-
parted without learning the condition Of
Mrs Dennis
Relieved 10 Be Womnn's Work
The theory that the marde-ous assault
was committed by a woman Is strength
ened by the PROBABILITY that II the top
OF The piano stool, which Is believed 10
nave been the weapon used. had been
welded BY a man, the skull OF the IN
fortunate dressmaker would have been
crusied- Everything tends TO point TO
the fact that tie blows struck were gIanc-
iag ones, and were evidently dealt by the
assaiIanJ in The dark Tais idea Is
strengthened by a deep dent in the TOD
OF the piano stool, which corresponds TO
one found on the side OF the bed tnat Mrs.
Dennis was lying upon when discovered
j rational staemenJ from the victim. IN
which It is expected she VIII name her as
sailaut, is the brightest hep -he police
nave Of being aBle-So solve the mystery
connected with Ene crime There IS 4
question as 10 whether her statement that
her assaisanJ was woman was rational
o. simply a remark made during her raw
L.
How the AsSaiIaut Entered.
The police have practically satisfied
themselves thaR there was no person IN
the room when airs Dennis retired, and
that entrance was effected later il some
manner. The arrangement OF the win
dows and doors IA the house had been
altered when the. police arrived, and
h. g,.-,5.7-,,zr,r
handled them there Is some uncertainty
now as 10 whether OF not there were not
other means OF securing entrance into
the room than through the window which
was found open. This phase Of the mat
ter is being Investigated.
Major sylvester and Captain Boardman
were rather disappoinl ed that Judge
Fleming was not able to shed light on the
case Il had been thought that ne would
know OF some person who had at some
time had trouble with the injured woman
and that this might furnish a clue on
which to work Judge Fleming offered the
officers every assistance in his power, but
appeared to be as much in the dark re-
garding any possible motive for The crime
as we're the others.
Measurements at the Residence.
Today measurements we-a taken at tae
Dennis residence, and diagram of the
scene of the assault carefully prepared,
under the direction Of several detectives
Another thorough search OF the house will
be made by the detectives before the po-
lice finally retire from the premises and
surrender them undisturbed 70 their oc-
cupants-
The young man named Hfrd, who for
time occupied room on the third floor
OF the house. and for whom the officers
were looking because of a misunderstand-
ing that it was reported he had with Mrs
Dennis, was located last night on YER
mont Avenue northwest.
Some adverse comment has been in
dulged in because OF the fact that the
Bonine jurors we're permitted to visit
the X Street residence last night while
out for the evening walk. They stepped
in front of the residence and remained
there for several minutes.