Evening star., 1901-12-12
Garments Found in Sewer Near
Home of Mrs. Dennis.
AN OVERCOLf and WOMAK'S APRON
An Examination Being Made by
the District Chemist.
THE PATIENTS CONDITION

to be no nearer prison bars than he or she
was an hour after the victim was found IN
her room, bathed in her own blood. There
is absolutely no clue upon which the DE-
tectives may pursue an investigation ca
cept the finding of two garments IN u
sewer-a mans overcoat and a womans
apron in sewer at the corner OF 18th and
n streets northwest-which may or may
not develop into a clue. Some blood
stains have been found outside the house.
two Of them being on the floor of the bal
ccny at the X street house. and number Of
them were also found on the sidewalk on
11th street just around the corner from the
scene of the tragedy. The two stains on
the balcony the detectives are certain came
from the room In which the crime was COM
mitted. but the only thing demonstrated by
them is that Mrs. Dennis assailant prob
ably stepped over the rail and descended
! the steps instead of dropping to the parking
from the balcony.
The finding of the overcoat and apron
In the sewer the detectives regard as the
hrst Important link in case which has
proved to be complete mystery. Shortly
after the horrible affair was discovered the
suggestion was made that the catch
basins in the neighborhood be searched. 1t
was thought that a weapon might possibly
be found in one of them.
Had the woman's assailant carried away
with him a bloodstained instrument, IL was
argued, that instrument would probably
have found its way to one Of the catch
basins, In the expectation that the mud
and water would efface the blood spots.
Yesterday systematic search Of the basins
was begun, and this afternoon the two gar
ments were found in the basin at the corner
mentioned.
Garments Being Examined.
The members Of the sewer department who
found the garments beat the mud and water
from them and turned them over to the
inspector. Afterward they were placed in
the care of Detective Miller, who carried
them to police headquarters.
Capt Boardman looked over the coat and
then sent it to Prof. Hird, the health de-
partment chemist, with the request that he
examine 1t for blood stains. In one pocket
of the coat was found piece of brown
paper This was removed by one of the
members of the sewer cleaning brigade, and
IT is stated there was nothing in writing
on it
The coat is made of dark material with a
gray stripe through it. and a velvet collar.
1t has a conspicuous plaid lining and cuffs
which are turned back from the ends of the
sleeves. The strap on which may have been
the name of the maker was missing. 1t is
thought the garment was not a custom
made affair, and the general appearance
was that of a storm coat. There are many
stains about the front Of the coat and on
the sleeves, but only a chemical test Will
prove II they are blood stains.
Prof. Hird dried the coat by steam, in or
der that he might make the tests soon
as possible. After the garment had been
washed and dried piece OF chewing gum
was found in one of the feece-lined pock-
cts. The gum had been chewed and evi-
IDENTIFY put in the pocket for use a second
time.
Probably Two Persons Involved.
Should the coat prove to be of Importance
in the case it may develop that a man and
woman both were connected with the affair.
1t is recalled that Policeman Livingston
and a special policeman heard a woman
scream about o'clock in the morning.
They were about a square from where the
coat was found today when they heard the
outcry.
After the one scream all was quiet and
nothing more thought of the affair
until after Mrs. Dennis was found beaten
almost to death. 1t is thought by some Of
the officers that the coat was thrown into
the basin by a man and that a woman
may possibly have been with him. She
may have protested against what he was
doing, and while making her protest she
gave an involuntary scream. The apron
was found when a second search of the
sewer was made.
On the pavement at the east side of 11th
street between 1 and X streets many stains
were found, but the detectives do not be-
lieve these have any connection with the
crime
A boy has been found who says he saw q
man leaving the house of Mrs. Dennis about
IL o'clock Monday night, and the mans
presence on the steps attracted his atten-
ton. This boy is William Lansdale, who
lives at 1919 / street. He saw the detec-
tives last night and told them Of the incl
dent. The boy had attended one of the
theaters. and on his way home he got on
the car at 11th and X streets, neglecting to
get off at the / street crossing. From
where he left the car he walked west on
K street to the corner Of 18th street, and
the man he saw coming from the house Of
Mrs. Dennis he thinks was on about the
third step and was moving in the direction
of the street. He gave the detectives a
description of the man. This description
the officers are guarding, and IT will prob
ably not be made public until a more COM
plete investigation is made
Judge w. B. Flemming, formerly OF
Louisville, KY, once chief Of the law
and contract division Of the supervis-
ing architects office in the treasury,
terday afternoon. He has been a friend
Of Mrs. Dennis for several years, hav-
ing occupied apartments in her house
from time to time. 1t is stated that he
had attended to some Of her business af-
fairs for her. Early Tuesday morning.
shortly after Mrs. Dennis was found IN 50
Judge Flemming that she had been muir
derously assaulted. Major Sylvester and
friends Of the wounded woman were anx-
ious that he should come here and par
ticipate in the investigation.
Conference Held.
1t was believed that he could give the
names Of some OF the more intimate friends
Of Mrs. Dennis, and might perhaps give the
name Of some person who had a grievance
against her. Detectives Hartigan and
Horne met Judge Flemming at the Balti-
more and Ohio depot and later he conferred
with Major Sylvester and Captain Board
man at the house OF friend of Mrs. Dem
mis-. The judge had no knowledge of any
one who could be regarded as an enemy OF
Mrs. Dennis. nor could he say anything
about her acquaintances which would give
the officers the slightest clue.
Assistant District Attorney Tageart. who
figured 80 prominently in the investigation
OF the Kenmore Hotel tragedy, Ia taking
the same active interest In the case now
under investigation. He was at the house
last night looking over the ground with
Detectives Helan, Trumbo. Weldon. Browne
and Tyser. and 1t was long after midnight
when he departed for home. It is mem
toned as an incident that while he was in
n houae the twelve men who