The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-29

professional OF other assistance is also
unexplained. If she were found. prob
ably she could throw light upon the
mystery that enshrouds Miss Clayville's
death
Murder of Mrs. Dennis.
The foul murder of Mrs Ada Gilbert
Dennis, one of the most brutal, bestial.
and cowardly that disgrace the criminal
annals Of the city. is another Washing
ton tragedy that remains unsolved-
Suspicion has been directed hither and
yon. theories without number have been
offered and discarded. but the mystery
remains.
1t was on the morning of December
10. 1901. that washington awoke 20 the
knowledge OF the preparation Of this
atrocious crime. Through the medium
of The Times the story was early on the
streets and the house at 11l7 X Street
northwest became the mecca of a Curl
ous crowd. absorbed in morbid interest.
The woman was not dead, but she lay
unconscious, beaten almost beyond rec
ignition and at deaths very portal.
Mrs. Dennis was dressmaker. one OF
who enjoyed an extensive patronage
from Washington's inner circle. She
had been a woman of considerable beau
~, OF which she retained decided traces.
She attended well TO her business. which
was prospecting largely. and so far as
anyone knew was without an enemy in
the world.
At O'Clock on the fatefuI morning
ond-story apartment in the Dennis resi-
dence. heard groans and means coming
up the radiator She listened and after
time distinguished the voice of Mrs.
Dennis.
Mary said the voice. family and
broISenly; Mary. come to me-"
Miss Doyle made her way TO the door
OF Mrs. Dennis room. the rear room on
the first floor The door was locked as
was that of the front room: from inside
came the groans and pitiful little sob
bling cries that had first attracted Miss
Doyle's attention. With the assistance
Of Smith winchell. n carpenter, the door
was broken in and a CHASTITY sight re-
vealed.
Murderer's Brutal Work.
Mrs. Dennis lay on her side in bed.
where evidently she had been attacked
while she slept. She was bathed in
blood. The assault had been committed
WITH some blunt instrument and the
womans features were battered beyond
recognition. One ear had been almost
torn from her head.
There were no signs OF a struggle, and
it is very probable Mrs. Dennis was not
aware of the presence of this murderer
until after the first blow at least had
been inflicted An open window at the
front Of the house indicated .he probable
direction Of the murderer's escape.
Mrs. Dennis was removed TO the Gar
field Hospital where she fingered for
many weeks. dying without ever having
regaifted consciousness. Before her re-
movai TO the hospital she had said, in
answer TO a question. that she knew
her assailant. but whether from weak
ness or unwillingness she never disclosed
It. II at any time she was mentally
capable Of revealing the secret. she seal
ed her lips resolutely and carried It 70
her grave.
The top Of the piano stool in the front
room had been unscrewed. and 1t was
surmised IL was this impromptu weapon
with which the death blows had been
inflicted. This was a surmise merely.
however, and the facts never served
to establish its correctness beyond dis
pute. 1t may have been the murderer
took this method of disarming suspicion
and that he carried the zctua, weapon
away with him In his flight.
Theft Not the Motive.
That theft was not the animating mo-
tive of the crime was abundantly evil
dent. Some hundreds OF dollars in
money was in the room at the time.
but this was not disturbed and no
search for It had been made. There
had been no attempt 10 rifle the draw
ers OF the tables and other furniture.
and everything indicated the prompt
disappearance Of the midnight assail-
ant as soon as his purpose was accom-
plished. That purpose was murder.
During the long weeks that Mrs. Den
mis- fingered at the point OF death the
local detective department made every
possible effort to ascertain the motive
for the crime and to discover and ar
rest the murderer. The newspapers car
ried the usual daily announcements that
Important clues had been discovered
and arrests were likely to be made al
any moment" They never were. though.
Major Sylvester has his own theory
OF The criminal and the motive and man.
ner OF the crime. but this he refuses
either TO reveal or discuss. When the
subject is preached the major retires
into his shell and refuses 10 have any
thing 20 say. His opinion is almost as
mysterious as the crime itself.
Countless efforts have been made to
evolve from the evidence at hand the