Evening star., 1901-12-18
Mrs. Dennis Reported to Have Re-
covered From Stupor.
QUESTIONED FOR OVER HALF An HOUR
Makes No Disclosures Which Will
Justify an Arrest.
IN WING NDI r o N

sinking spell about o'clock this morning
and DIR. Atkinson was summoned to the
hospital long before the regular hour for
holding the consultation. Drs. ]. Ford
Thompson and A. B. Hooe reached the hos
pital shortly before II o'clock and found
the patient practically in a dying condition.
saline solution was infused and Mrs.
Dennis was soon restored to consciousness.
She was perfectly rational, and for more
than half an hour the physicians discussed
with her the question of the assault. When
her condition was such that she was read
lily able to understand what was said to her
and give sensible responses the doctors
summoned Detective Edward Horne to the
room. and he heard what she had to say.
WHO struck you with the piano stool?"
of the important questions asked
the supposed dying woman, and her an
swer was: Il don't remember" Another
time she responded: Il don't know"
Mrs. Dennis explained to those about her
that the doors to the double parlor which
she occupied were unlocked the night De-
fore she was assaulted. One more OF
her roomers visited her that night to settle
the question of room rent. Her answers to
questions were in a tone indicating that
she readily understood the whole situation.
She said when she retired that night she
left the drop light burning.
While many questions were Propounded
and some were repeated, the patient, it is
stated said nothing which would justify the
detectives in making an arrest
The Omcers Confer.
The consultation and work of the physi
clans today occupied much more time
than usual, and when the doctors had left
the hospital Detective Horne hurried to po-
lice headquarters and reported what had
occurred to Captain Boardman. Major
Sylvester was sent for, and after he had
Id - $1a
hospital the detective and Captain Board
man left the office together.
At the hospital last night the patient
seemed to rest well, but about the break
condition. Her pulse gradually grew
weaker. and when DR.. Atkinson learned of
it he telephoned Captain Boardman that
the end was not far off. Detectives Horne,
McNamee and Hartigan were at the hos
pital early in the morning and two Of
them remained after the departure of De-
tective Horne.
They had an idea that the patient might
recall the scene enacted in her room and
could throw some light on the affair Every
physician who visited the sick room told
the same story of the patients relapse. She
rallied after the infusion of the saline solu-
ton, as already stated. and when the doc
tors left her bedside she was fully conscious
of her surroundings, although she probably
did not realize that her life was hanging
by so slender a thread.
AS early as t..SO o CLOCK lnlS morning MISS
Kate Boyle who is probably Mrs. Dennis
most intimate friend, called at the hospital
to inquire about her. She stated that she
had felt uneasy about the case this morn
ing and fearing her friend was worse had
hurried to the hospital before going to work
Her fears, she was told, were well founded.
Mrs. Kate Dunn, sister Of Mrs. Dennis call
ed about II 30 clock. and remained at the
hospital an hour or more.
Speaking of the case after the consulta-
ton had been held. one of the doctors
SAID they were not certain about the ex-
tent of the fracture Of the woman's skull.
1t may be that there is a severe fracture
about the base of the skull. but the extent
of such a fracture will not be known pre-
Cedlng her death.
New Phase of the Case.
The statements of Mrs. Dennis made this
morning develops an entirely new phase OF
the case. Her statement that the parlor
doors were unlocked when she retired may
explain how her assailant entered her
apartments. Early in the night, as hereto
fore stated. the vestibule door was found
unlocked by the colored porter. Richard
Cole, and 1t was unusual condition that
he mentioned it. He had been sent on an
errand by his employer, and 1t was possibly
nearly o'clock when he returned with an
answer. When he left the house, he says,
he closed the door. How 1t was opened by
the woman's assailant has not yet appeared.
1t is apparent however. that after enter
Ing the room the individual who committed
the deadly assault locked the door and then
left by way of the window.
Nothing has yet developed to Indicate to
the minds of the detectives that Mrs Den
MIS- assailant entered the house in any
manner other than by the door. How the
vestibule door was opened, If at all. the de-
tectives do not know. 1t may develop that
the intruder entered the house early In
the evening. possibly before o'clock, and
until everybody had retired and then went
to the sleeping room of Mrs Dennis by
passing through the front parlor, locking
the door behind him. While the informa-
tion obtained from the patient this morn
ing does not clear away the mystery sur
rounding the assault, 1t gives the detectives
some information which will possibly be of
great assistance to them. 1t may result in
the detectives obtaining a clue which will
lead to an arrest, although this afternoon
such an event was not anticipated.
Latest Report of Patients Condition.
Shortly before 3 o'clock this afternoon
the attendants at the hospital stated that
the patient was a trife weaker than she
was at noon, when the attending physi-
clans left the hospital. 1t was stated that
she may live twenty-fouf hours, but the
last hope of recovery has departed.
The latest symptoms indicate a fracture
of the skull much more serious than it was
Arrangements have been made to have a
representative of the District attorneys Of
flee see Mrs. Dennis this afternoon and, If
possible, obtain her ante-mortem state
ment. At 3 o'clock her condition was such
that the physicians believed she would be
able to make such a statement unless the
visit should be unduly delayed.
Presley's Name Eliminated.
The name of Samuel c. Presley, who
committed suicide. has been eliminated
from the case. His body was taken to his
former home in Louisiana this morning by
his brother. Henry Presley, the brother
of the dead man, took an active interest in
the investigation which followed the sui
eide, and rendered the police invaluable as
sistance. From the time he learned that
the police were investigating his brothers
past until the time of the departure of the
train this morning he insisted that his
brother could not have committed such
crime. He knew the latter had played the
stock market until his brain was affected,
and he knew that he was in the habit of
imbibing liquor rather freely at times.
Even while he was drinking he was not
quarrelsome, he said, and was not of such
disposition that he would likely cause
trouble. Certainly. his brother thought, he
would not be guilty of murderous assault
such as that committed upon Mrs. Dennis.