The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-10
The Injured WOInaL
Unable to Talk.
NO HOPE TOR HER RECOVERY
Police Using Every Effort
to Solve Mystery
VICTIM At GARFIELD HOSPITAL.
Attacked While Asleep at Her
Home on K Street-Weapon
Used Believed to Have Been
Top Of a Piano Stool.

Used Believed to Have Been
Top Of a Piano Stool
Profound rlystery surrounds a murder
Gus assault made at an early hour this
morning upon Mrs. Ada Gilbert Dennis,
one Of the most fashionable dressmakers
Of the city. Mrs. Dennis was beaten al
most TO death by some unknown person
CT persons while asleep in he'd at her
home. 1117 K Street northwest, presum-
ably somewhere in the neighborhood Of :
O'Clock.
It is thought that she had no opportu-
nifty TO see her assailant. but, from her
rambling remarks during several semi
conscious periods since the assault, it is
believed that if she recoyers sufficiently to
talk she VIII be able to throw some light
upon the case
Detective Hartigan and Assistant Dis
trict Attorney semmes tried to secure
some statement from her today. but with
cut result
The Probable Weapon Used.
It is believed that the weapon used by
/ Mrs Dennis assaiIant was the top Of q
/ piano stool. which had been unscrtwed,
and was found on the floor near the win
dow through which the perpetra5or Of the
crime made his escape.
Mrs Dennis skull was badly fractured.
l IT1- gaF+ ION Tg- F--,..---a ror-
| ear terribly Iacerated and nearly torn Of:
there was q number of Isseerated wounds
/ back of the left ear and an equal number
/ OF similar ones on the left cheek. Dr. J.
! Ford Thompson, who performed an oper-
alton upon the Unfortunate woman later
at the Garfield Hospital. where she was
removed, stated that the condition OF the
fracture above the eye indicates an unfa-
vorabIe prognos.s, although Mrs Dennis
had a remote chance for recovery.
Many Detectives ut work.
Almost the entire detective force of the
| city are at work uDon the case Their
labOrs are being directed BY Captain
8earduan. who was upcn the scene early
lis own plans are under the immediate
direction Of Major Sylvester. who Is Civ
ing his undivided attention to the as
sauIt- Tie District Attorneys Office is
/ also we'll represented IN the investigation.
| Captain Bingham. Mr.. Semmes. Ralph
Given and q stenogrepher are taking part
Motive for the Crime.
The idea of burglary as the motive is
/ eliminated by the fact that a box con
/ tanning $7.67 in change and a r.cketbook
/ with nearly SlG0 remained urlifsturbed
| upon table rear the bed. a handsome
diamond ring Epon her finger was also
/ undisturbed as were a number Of other
] pieces of jewelry that could have been
/ removed The attack was nest brutal
and has every evidence OF having been
premeditated and done in cold blood
Mrs. Dennis is about forty-fve years Of
age, Of handsome figure and pleasant fea-
! lures, and one of the leading modistes of
/ the National Capital She is the widow
Of a once prominent actor, Walter Dennis,
who died about nine years ago.
Mrs Dennis was found about ; o'clock
this morning. She has shown signs of
! consciousness but once since, and then
! quickly relapsed into a comatose eondi-
tion. in which she has since remained
She evidenced signs Of returning intelli-
genee for but moment, and was unable
/ to communicate with those about her.
Recognized the Physician.
Once she regained consciousness for a
moment Just before she was being re-
moved to the hospital and When DR. At
kinson asked her if she knew him she
nodded assent. In response to d question
as to who assaulted she she replied:
Never mind"
Mrs. Dennis has for the past three years
/ occupied the house on x Street. It was
formerly the residence of Mr. Clark, the
coal merchant. She has rented out por-
ti7n of the house to roomers while the
rest of the premises has been used by her
in the conduct of a dressmaking establish
ment. Mrs. Dennis at present employs
twenty-six seamstresses.
Detectives in the Dark.
The detectives are absolutely in the
dark as 10 the object Of the assault upon
the woman. It was not known among her
friends and aequa intances that she had
an enemy in the world, though she had
been heard to remark that she feared that
someone would cnter her home and do
her bodily harm
Mrs. Dennis reserved for her Own use
what had been intended for the two par
lors The front one is used as a parIor
and fitting room, and the back parlor she
| occupied as her own bedroom. In this
she slept alone On the front of the
house ard extending across the two par
Ior windows is a balcony, which is about
eight feet above the ground. This bal
ccny may also be easily reached by the
front stairway. the top landing of which
is on level with the balcony and re-
moved from it by little over foot.
Last night zIrs. Dennis seemed in her
usual frame of mind and retired at her
accustomed hour
At 4.05 o'clock this morning news
paper reporter who rooms in the house
entered and went to his room He de-
teeted nothing unusual about the prem
ises and retired for the night.
Mrs. Mary Doyle, who has room on
the third floor OF the house. directly over
the one occupied by Mrs. Dennis, heard
noise coming apparently from the regis
ter in the room, about o'clock. At first