Evening star., 1901-12-10

between G and H streets. Her husband,
Walter Dennis, an actor, died about five
years ago. and his mother has since kept
house for the daughter-in-law. On the
first floor of the house where the crime
was committed are four rooms. The dou-
bic parlors are occupied by Mrs. Dennis,
the rear one as her sleeping apartment.
In this room several articles Of furni-
ture including a combination bookcase and
writing desk. which stands in the northeast
corner of the room. only short distance
from the bed. The drawer of this piece of
furniture was found open this morning, and
in it, within reach of the occupant of the
bed. a loaded revolver. This weapon
Mrs. Dennis usually kept beneath her pill
low, but why it was not in bed last night
is not known. BloOdstains between this
piece of furniture and the bed make it ap-
pear as if Mrs Dennis had leaned in that
direction and made a feeble effort to get the
weapon. Only a few days ago she
warned to be careful. it is stated. by one
of her employees. who feared burglar
would visit the house and get her money.
This warning was given because Mrs Den
mis- usually had a large sum of money in
her room. How her assailant managed to
get in the room the police are unable to
state. for the doors leading to the double
parlors We're locked and the keys Were on
the inside
It is possible that the fastening over the
front window had not been made secure,
which would have made the rooms easy of
access from narrow porch which extends
easily reached from~the steps leading ~ to
the front door.
Heard the GrOans
Miss Mary Doyle. who occupies room on
the third floor. two floors above, and direct
ly over the sleeping room Of Mrs. Dennis,
the first person to hear any unusual
noise. The groans of the injured woman
We're heard by her because of the heating
pipes connecting the rooms She went down
a,A -aI Nv Gp,ith ban bn
cupied the room on the second floor directly
over the in which the crime was COM
mtted. Charles Thomas painter, who oc
cupies the room with Contractor Winchell,
was also aroused
Going TO the hall on the first floor Miss
Doyle knocked on Mrs. Dennis door. No
response was received, and several times
the occupant of fhe room was called
Finally Miss Doyle called: Ada, don't
you know me?"
rs that you, Mary?' came the feeble re-
sponse from the room.
Mr. WincheH then broke open the door
and the room was in total darkness, with
through the light shades and front parlor
from the street, which was very little.
When the gas was lighted the horrible
condition of Mrs. Dennis was seen Drs.
Atkinson and Hooe were hastily summon
ed and on account of the number and ex-
tent of the injuries 1t took them some time
to do the surgical work which was so
necessary. Mrs. Dennis does not hear well,
and for this reason it Is thought she was
unaware of the approach of her assaiIant
until the first blow had been received.
In the House.
Mrs Dennis, the mother-in-law was
asleep in rear room on the first floor,
while other rooms through the house were
occupied by Mr.. Reuben Haywood. Mr..
John Gross and Mr.. Hurd. Mr.. Gross, who
is an Associated Press reporter, reached
home about five minutes past o'clock this
morning and went TO his room He no.
ticed nothing unusual about the condition
of things, nor did he hear any suspicious
noises.
In order to- go upstairs he had to pass
within four or five feet of the door of
Mrs. Dennis room. Miss Doyle was awake
when Mr.. Gross reached the house. She
heard him ascend the steps and go to his
room. From then until she heard the
grOanS about an hour later no noise at
tracted her attention. She believes that
the assault must have been committed prior
to the time that Mr.. Gross reached the
house. Mrs. Dennis had been in the habit
of retiring early. usually between s and 0
O'Clock She was kept busy during the day
experimenting the work of about two dozen
dressmakers, and after dinner. she usually
house, man and woman, go away when
their days work is finished. and during the
early hours of sthe night Mrs. Dennis
usually responded TO the ringing of the door
bell Frequently ladies for whom she did
work would call. but it is said that she
seldom had any male friends call during
the evenings So far as others in the house
know. nobody called after o'clock last
night, and it Is believed that Mrs Dennis
retired before o'clock.
An Operation.
AT the hospital an operation was per-
formed by DR.. j. Ford Thompson, assisted
by Drs- Reichelder and Davis of the hos
pital staff and Drs. Atkinson and Hooe,
who had attended the patient earlier in the
day. The patient was on the operating
in hnu of no
numerous injuries which required attention
When the operation was finished the ply
stctans gave out the statement that while
the operation was successful they could not
say that the woman's chances for recovery
were anything but. SLIM. The operation
showed that the diagnosis of the doctors
early In the day was correct.
There was a fracture of the skull and
particles of the bone had Iacerated the
brain tissues. There was also slight
oozing of the brain substance. The sur
geons found several cuts about the head
and lacerated wound of the left thumb
The fracture of the left jaw was bad one.
and there were also lacerated wounds of
the face and behind the left ear When
DIR. Atkinson reached the house this morn
Ing he found the woman vomiting blood
Beside the bed on the carpet there was a
large pool OF blood. DR.. j. Ford Thomp-
son was told Of these conditions before the
operation was performed.
Detective Hartigan was detailed to re-
main AT the hospital and watch the patient,
In hopes that during lucid moments she
might tell something of assistance to the
detectives In the matter of apprehendng
the woman's assailants. When the opera-
ffon had been finished the patient was sent
TO ward in charge of Miss Maynard one
OF the hospital nurses The doctors stated
that under no circumstances would they
permit the officers or others to see or inter-
view the patient during the next twenty
four hours unless the latter asks for them
and volunteers statement
Gathering Clues.
Maj Sylvester conferred with Can't.
Boardman several times during the day
and this afternoon he told a Star reporter
that he felt satisfied that the guilty person
viii be caught. Information was received
at headquarters from Detective Hartigan
that Mrs. Dennis had mentioned the name
of q man. although she did not say that he
had committed the deed Shortly after the
hospital was reached the patient said some