The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-01
SUSPECTED OF ASSAULT
A Negro Positively Identified by
Miss Katie Draeger.
The Man Located by the Police After
Long Senrch-Thc Young Woman
Grentry AEitated nj the Sight of
the Prisoner-Bis Alleged Offence.

The police of the Ninth precinct made
what they believe to be an important cap
ture last night in the person of George
f. Lyles, an elderly colOred man. who
was arrested by Policeman Herbert. of
the Fourth precinct and later turned over
to Bicycle Policeman Quail of the Ninth
precinct Lyles is held upon a serious
charge, it being alleged that he twice
made assaults upon Katie Draeger, a
young girl residing in the northeast sec
ton of the city.
Miss Draeger gave the police ac-
curate description of her assailant
Policeman Herbert arrested Lyles. who
fitted the description just as he was
about to enter his home on Second Street
southwest, shortly after 10 o'clock last
night.
In order that there might be no mis-
take made Lieutenant Daley, of the Ninth
precinct, sent for Miss Draeger to come to
the station to identify the suspected man.
She was seated in the lieutenant's Office
and Lyles, escorted by Policemen Quail
and Morris, was brought into the room.
At the sight of the man the girl turned
deathly pale and she fell to the floor I'M
conscious. Lyles was taken back to the
cell room, and a messenger despatched
for a doctor, but before his arrival
Patrolman Larrick, by the application of
cold water, revived the unconscious girl.
Thinking that perhaps the young woman
had not been given a good look at the
suspect, Lieutenant Daley ordered that
Lyles be once more brought in, Miss
Draeger declaring in the meantime that
she must have another look at him.
Trembling like a leaf, the accused man
hi en1
victim, who, after looking at him,
turned to the lieutenah. and informed
him that Lyles was the man who made
the assault upon her.
Lyles was then locked up, while Police
men Quail and Morris went to his broth
er's home, corner of Second Street and
Maryland Avenue northeast, where they
recovered clothes which Miss Draeger de-
scribed as being the ones worn by him
upon the nights on which the assaults
were committed. A revolver was also
found among his effects, with every
chamber loaded. Lyles will not be taken
to court until further investigation into
the matter has been made by the police.
Lyles IL Is said, has always borne an
excellent reputation so far as the police
have been able TO learn, he having been
employed as a janitor in a building on
the corner of Eighth and II Streets north
west for several years. He denies en-
phatically knowing the girl, although she
states that upon her way to work she
has frequently passed him upon the streets
and that upon a couple of occasions af-
ter the alleged assaults took place he fol-
lowed her home.
The crime for which the man is arrested
is n revolving one, it being alleged by
Miss Draeger that while she was upon
her way home one night during the month
of February Lyles attacked her near Fiji
tenth and II Streets northeast and draw
ing a revolver knocked her TO the ground,
saying at the same time that he would
shoot her If she made an cutlery. When
the girl recovered her senses her assail-
ant had gone. Covered with blood. she
made her way to her home and friends
Immediately notified the police. Lookouts
were sent TO the various stations de-
scribing the girls assailant, and although
as many as twenty colored men have
been locked up at the Ninth precinct sta
ton Miss Draeger was unable to identify
any of them as her assailant.
The second attempt to assault her, it
is said, occurred some time during the
month of March, near the corner of Ninth |
Street and Massachusetts Avenue
northeast, but the negro's plans
were frustrated by the appearance |
of letter carrier. who ran to
the girls assistance. Since that time, |
Miss Draeger stated last night, she had |
frequently seen her assailant on Maryland |
Avenue northeast, but she police were un-
successful In their efforts to apprehend |
him until last night.