Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-07
Result of the Inquest in Case
of Mrs. Dennis.
EVIDENCE SUBMITTED
WITNESSES RELATE SUBSTANCE
OF CONVERSATIONS WITH COLE.
Accused Man Emphatically Denies he
Committed the Murderous Assault
is Sent to Jail.

in holding Richard Cole for the numerous
assault There was but one spectator in
the sitting room at the sixth precinct sta
ton this morning when the coroner's jury
met to resume the hearing. The witnesses
who were examined two weeks ago told or
how Mrs. Dennis was found in her room at
I'LL K street the morning of December 10,
beaten almost to death.
Witnesses also. told at that time of her
treatment at the hospital, and the state
ments she made there, but nothing was
said at the hearing which would assist the
jurors in reaching a conclusion.
Detective Hartigan returned from Gin
cinnati last night without having accom-
plshed anything, and was at the inquest
today with Detective Horne to give testi-
mony. Attorney Bingham of District At
torney Gould's office conducted the inquiry
on behalf of the government Attorney
James F. Scaggs, representing the tamlly
of Samuel Presley, was also in attendance.
Presley committed suicide shortly after
the assault on Mrs. Dennis was commit
ted and an effort was made to connect him
with the case under investigation. Rela-
tfves came all the way here from Louisiana
to defend the name Of the man who ended
his life, and there was no showing made
that ne participated in the assault on Mrs.
Dennis
At the session today 1t was apparent from
the start that an effort would be made to
fasten the crime upon Richard Cole. 1t was
because of Coles illness that the hearing
was not concluded two weeks ago Today
Richard Cole and Julius G. Van Brake,
colored, were important witnesses in the
case.
Detectives Horne and Hartigan also gave
important testimony, relating to their In
vestigation of the case during the ten
months Mrs Dennis was a patient In the
hospital. The jurors took an active part
in the examination, and reached conclu-
sion after the several witnesses had been
The jurors at the conclusion Of the hear
ing today decided to hold Richard Cole re-
sponsble for Mrs. Dennis death, and he
was held for the action of the grand jury.
Later in the afternoon he was committed
to jail
Taking of Testimony Begun.
The first witness called was a young col
ored women named Lucy Robinson. whose
address was given as 102 L street north
west.
do you remember where you were the
night of December last?'
Il was either at home or in neighbours
house" was her answer.
DO you know Richard Cole|
Yes, sir"
Did he call on you the night mentioned?'
mo, sir"
Did you entertain any company that
night?'
Il did not
Witness said she had known Richard Cole
for about five years, but that he had never
been in the habit of calling on her She
remembered nothing of a conversation she
had with Cole about the 10th of last De-
cember, the day Mrs Dennis received her
fatal injury. Witness had visited the home
of the Coles on Defrees street. but she had
not heard the case of Mrs. Dennis discussed
there. Richard Cole had never said any
! .l.;.. y a. ~ ~ID,,f
o'clock the night prior to the morning the
assault was committed
Witness said she did not visit dancing
school that night, and Cole could not have
| accompanied her home. She did not see
| George Burns that night, neither did she
| see Miss Chinn.
| Mamie Chinn, also colored. was next
| sworn. Her home is at 115 Pierce street
| northwest. The witness stated to the jury
| that she visited a dancing school at 18th
| and r streets the night of December o.
reaching there about o'clock. Two girl
| friends went with her. She left the dance
| about II o. clock and went home with sew
| eral friends, including Richard Cole. Wit
ness said she had known Richard Cole not
! quite a year. but he had not been in the
| habit of visiting her. Richard Cole accom-
! panied her home from the dance. 1t was
probably 10 o'clock when she arrived home
| Did Richard Cole pay any more attention
to you that night than he did to the
| others?''
| ne uiu not. Silt dIS"tieu, tACtpl lit
| he went home with me-
| After that night she did not see Cole for
more than a month. Then she saw him or
| a bicycle on 7th street. Later she saw hin
| one night at the dancing school. He never
said anything to her about the assault or
| Mrs. Dennis
Also Acquainted With Cole.
| A young colored man named George Bond
| who lives at 81 Defrees street, near the
| ID ri rola Inf tba i,,rJ
that he had known Richard Cole for about
| five years. The night of December g. hi
| said he attended the dancing school where
| he saw Mamie Chinn, Carrie Burgess anC
| others. Richard Cole was also there. Cole
| he said. always dressed well The day
| after the assault was committed he said
Cole was In the store where he (witness
was working, and he Cole expressed sur
| prise over the attempted murder. The nigh
| of the dance witness and Cole saw three
| girls home and witness afterward walked
with Cole to Defrees street. Richard Cole
he stated, usually attended the dancing
| school every Monday night. Witness called
on Cole when he was SICK but merely spok,
to him.
Did you ever hear Cole say who h,
thought assaulted Mrs. Dennis?''
No. sir. ] heard him say he had no idet
who did it.
Richard Coles Testimony.
Richard Cole. the colored porter who wa!
employed by Mrs. Dennis at the time the
assault upon her was committed appeared
as a witness. He stated that he lives a
! No 20 Defrees street. He was weak ant
his general condition showed that he haC
undergone a serious sick spell.
How old are your he was asked.
Twenty years"
How did you happen to go to work 70
Mrs. Dennis.
He answered that he had visited Thoma
Chick, who was employed by Mrs. Den
MS, while the latter at Mrs. Dennis
house and played cards with him. Whel
Chick left the place he was to have beel
succeeded by Tom Pryor bat the latte
had other employment, and witness wa
given the position.
Cole explained that he received 81
week and his board. He had no regula
hours for leaving, as ne sometimes wa
sent out late in the evening to delive
Z dresses The night prior to the mornin
the assault was committed he left Mrs
Dennis house about TBS o'clock, gon
home and changing his clothes prepare
tory to attending the dancing school
his statement shortly after the assault wa
committed, he explained. he made mis-
take In mentioning the name of Luc
, Robinson as being one of the party O
r friends at the dance.
Witness said he arrived home from tn
dance about IL 25 o'clock and retired short
E ! ly after he entered the house. He re
} manned in bed until about 6 o'clock tn