Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-11
SANITY QUESTIONED
TWO WOMEN HELD AT HOUSE OF
DETENTION.
Peculiar Actions and Refusal to Admit
Persons to Their Room Cause
Of Suspicion.

Two women, one of them more than sixty
years old and the other about twenty years
younger. are held at the house of detention
and will be examined by the police sur
geons in order that their sanity may be
passed upon. 1t Is understood the examina-
ton will take place late this afternoon or
tomorrow morning. The case is a peculiar
one. The women were arrested by Detect
ives Parham and OBrien and Precinct De-
tective Mullen last night only after con-
siderable difficulty. Their names they posi-
lively refused to give, but the officers OBJ
tanned information which leads them to be-
lieve that the elderly woman is Martha
Cicotte Burroughs and that the younger
one is named Martha Wilson. The latter.
it is said. is a niece Of the former.
About 8 o'clock last night the three de-
tectives visited the Anderson. at John Mar
shall place and c street, to make the arrest.
The couple occupied q small hall room In
the boarding house, and the furniture con-
sisted Of only a single bed, two chairs,
they had done their cooking during the
time they occupied the room. According to
the information furnished the police. the
women had not been out Of the room since
Friday, and had refused to open the door
for anybody Not even the chambermaid
was able to gain access to the room. Re-
peated knocks on the door brought no re-
Spouse, and the police were finally appealed
to for assistance.
Door Forced Open
These peculiar conditions caused q feel
ing Of uneasiness upon the part Of some Of
the boarders, and when the detectives went
to the house last night they were told that
they were privileged to break down the
door If necessary. 1t became necessary to
do this in order to get into the room. and
the task was by no means an easy one.
The house was built many years ago, and
the experience of the detectives last night
gave them a good idea Of how well carpen-
ters did their work in the early days. The
combined weight Of the three men had no
effect whatever upon the door. and an iron
bar was procured. Even then the work was
not easy. and 1t was nearly 10 o'clock when
the room.
Officer Attacked With Knife.
1t was after the door had been forced
open that the real trouble commenced. De-
tective O'Brien found it necessary to defend
himself against an attack with knife on
the part OF the younger OF the women.
II don't want to do it." she shouted. ad-
vancing toward the officer with table
knife, "but I always carry this knife with
me and I'll have to do it,
The elderly woman was also very violent,
and she went at Detective Parham with
pitcher of water She did not succeed in
giving him a drenching. however, although
she said she intended to defend herself.
The other woman made similar remark.
and they attempted to kick the detectives.
using violent language.
You'll have to find out our names the
best way you cam each woman told the
detectives.
Refuse to Talk.
After being placed under arrest they were
taken to the house of detention. where
they were given comfortable quarters. They
positively refused to discuss the question
of their identity or to give the names or
friends 1t is said they first came to this
city about seven years ago from Los An
geles Cal. and that they have gone away
and returned several times since. Letters
found on them indicate that they are
known at Marietta, Ohio: Philadelphia and
Baltimore. 1t is said they are also well
known at the capital.
letter found in their room contained a
statement that a certain charitable organ
ization had concluded to render them no
aid for the present.
The detectives have received considerable
information about the prisoners. and TINS
will be given to the police surgeons to as
sst them in reaching a conclusion when
they examine them.