Evening star., 1902-01-14
Porter Believed to Know Something
Regarding Assault on Mrs. Dennis
STATEMENTS OF A GIRL GIVE 4 CLUE
He Makes a Denial and Repeats
His Former Story.
YOUNG WOMAN DETAINED

Detectives Hartigan, Weldon and Lacy
arrested Richard Cole yesterday afternoon
on suspicion in connection with the Dem
mis- assault mystery, and locked him up.
They also arrested a colored girl named
Claudia Lucas on a charge of theft. She
Is held at the house of detention really as
a witness in the other case. Her statements
to the detectives caused the arrest of Cole,
the colored porter, who was in the employ
Of Mrs. Dennis at the time she was as
saulted. Cole, the detectives learned, had
done considerable talking about the case,
and they took him into custody in the be-
lief that he could clear away the mystery.
He has so far failed to do so, however, and
the detectives will hold him until they can
further investigate his movements and
statements.
Claudia Lucas Is seventeen years old, al
though she looks to be much older. When
Detectives Weldon and Lacy found her yes
terday and escorted her to police head
quarters she was not aware that she was
under arrest. She understood she was
taken there merely to be questioned re-
garding her alleged interviews with Cole.
In Captain Boardman's office she talked
freely of alleged conversations she had with
the colored porter and declared he had
told her he could establish the identity OF
Mrs Dennis assailant. She said he told
her he had admitted a masked man to the
house the night before the assault was
committed. He told her he had agreed to
say nothing about the affair, according to
her statement, and gave as his reason for
keeping out of the case she stated that
it was white peoples business.
Denies the Statements.
Cole denied that he had made any such
statements, and he also denied that he
knew Claudia Lucas. Afterward he admit
ted he had met her at dance and said his
acquaintance with her dated back only
few weeks The girl alleged that she met
Cole on the street and discussed the as
sault case with him. 1t was during this
conversation that he is said to have made
the comments above detailed. Claudia said
he invited her to look at the house where
the assault was committed and he also eX
pressed willingness to give her informa-
ton concerning the man who wore the
mask.
Cole reached police headquarters about 5
o'clock In the afternoon, long time after
the arrest of the girl. He repeated the
story of his movements the night before
his employer was assaulted. His story
was the same as he related 1t to the police
before Mrs. Dennis was taken from her
home, No. I'LL K street northwest, to Gar
field Hospital Cole stated that he went
on an errand that night for Mrs. Dennis
returning early in the evening. That night
he remained at his home, No. 20 Defrees
SllcSt hoi ith"SSt. Inc ueSl le
went to work, as usual, and was Mortified
to learn what had happened.
Cole Aids in investigation.
During the several days following the
commission Of the crime Cole remained
about the house and assisted the detec-
tives in the investigation. To all appear
ances he was as deeply interested in the
case as was any relative or friend of the
wounded woman. He answered many in
quries made and attended to a large part
of his employers business. When the
dressmaking establishment was closed
Coles employment ceased. He returned
there when Mrs Merchant reopened the
establishment and has been employed there
ever since. So far as the people about
Mrs. Dennis house are informed, Cole en-
Joyed good reputation.
Praises Coles Character.
Mrs Dennis, during her conversation Sum-
day, spoke in the highest terms Of Cole, as
she did others who were employed by her.
DR.. Atkinson found the patient in splendid
condition today. He deemed 1t best, how
ever, to say nothing to her about the arrest
of Cole.
After leaving the sick room the physician
said the patient showed signs of improve
ment since yesterday. She Is not yet out
OF danger, he stated, but everything indi-
Gates her ultimate recovery. There were no
new developments in the case today, but
the officers expect they will be able to OBJ
tain something additional before tomorrow.