Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-28
Officials Have Been Unable
to Catch Him.
WANTED FOR ASSAULT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFF,
GALS SECURING THE COUNTRY.
Miss Holly Makes Statement Regard
ing the outrage-Suspected
Man Defended.

George Coberth, the blacksmith who IL sc-
cused Of having committed a feIonious
sault upon Miss Rose Holly at Germantown
Montgomery county. Nd. more than a week
ago. as heretofore stated In the Star. was
still at large this morning. Sheriff Will
liams and Deputy Sheriff George Mullican
were at work upon the case early this morn
ing. Information was received by the sher-
III and his deputy this morning that Coberth
had come In this direction, and the deputy
came here early in the day and sought the
assistance of the police. He called at police
headquarters and told of what he had
heard and then went to Georgetown to pur-
sue his investigation. Coberth's wife and
children live in Georgetown, heretofore
stated, and he has relatives in other parts
of the city. 1t is believed by the officers OF
Montgomery county that he was anxious to
get here, where he might get financial aid
from his children or others Deputy Null
can told Star reporter this morning that
he had been told that Coberth passed
through Gaithersburg Saturday afternoon.
This morning a resident of Montgomery
county called at the Office of the sheriff IN
Rockville and wanted to know IL a reward
had been offered for Coberth's arrest. He
told the deputy that he knew OF the where
abouts of the blacksmith and that he could
get him within two hours, but In the alb
sence of a reward having been offered he
did not tell OF the mans whereabouts. Act
ing upon this and other information the
deputy sheriff hurried to this city and start
ed an investigation here.
From another source comes the informa-
ton that Coberth was seen yesterday at
TaylorStown, Va, a small place only about
three or four miles from Point or Rocks.
A resident of the town, who Is acquainted
with Coberth sent Information to the Mary
land side OF the river this morning. The
Information was afterwards communicated
to the sheriff. 1t Is expected the county
commissioners will act upon the request
that they offer a reward for Coberth at
their regular meeting of the board at Rock
vile tomorrow. The offer of reward. IL
is thought. will make detectives of hundreds
of people in Maryland and Virginia and may
result in the capture of Coberth.
Miss Holly's Statement.
According to dispatch from Boyds Md.
this morning. Miss Holly made a statement
respecting the alleged assault, as follows:
Before going to the railroad depot In
Washington to go to Germantown 1 wrote
ahead 1 would be there and fully expected
Mr.. Biggs to meet me, but learned after
my arrival here that my letter had gone
aStray. Several hours before making prep
arations to start L took from my dressing
bureau a bottle containing some white tab
let's. which 1 thought to be quinine. l swai-
lowed them, but soon found that they did
not taste like quinine. and feeling a stupor
coming over me, having been sick and feel
ing unwell for some time. I lay on the
lounge in my room. Miss Mamie Mansfield
of Germantown aroused me in time to go.
l went to the depot and upon my arrival
there told Miss Mansfield that felt sick.
She seemingly paid little attention. and
when I was farther up the road the moving
of the train seemed to stir me up. and felt
worse. When 1 alighted at Germantown
Miss Mansfield aided me. l went into the
station there and Miss Mansfield said: 4
will go home and send back for you. She
4 10. - = krat,r
the air would do me good 1 felt myself
going round and round and everything ap-
peared black to me. and in order to prevent
my falling l sank down quickly In the
grass. l heard voice coming to aid me.
1 was pulled and pushed along when near
ing a house, and just as | started to go In
said, This is not Charlie Mansfield's' and
propped my hand against the door. A rough
hand pushed me hard. / recollected practi-
caIly nothing more until rescued next day.
and knew othing of the terrible AFFAIR until
told by Mrs. Rome, whom will never for
get for her kindness to me. think Miss
Mansfield acted wrong when l needed help,
that is all
To Be Brought Here.
Miss Holly who is still at the home OF
her uncle Americas Biggs, under the care
of DIR. Nourse, has by no means recovered
from the effects of her ordeal in the room
adjoining the blacksmith shop in German
her removal to this city next Wednesday
when she will be placed in a hospital AS
heretofore stated In The Star. Coberth ana
Miss Holly lived in the same neighborhood
many years ago. and have been acquainted
practically all the woman's life. He there
fore knew her when she got off the train at
Germantown week ago last Saturday and
fell upon the road. She was not recognized
by others in the town. however and 1t was
not until the citizens went to his room and
rescued her that some of them recognized
her as the daughter of former resident or
Montgomery county who was always highly
respected. c. o. Powell brother-in-law
of the man who Is wanted by the Maryland
authorities. has come out with a statement
intended to show that Coberth is not the
worst man in the world.
Having been personally acquainted with
Coberth for thirty years or more, he says.
II know positively that a more feeling,
kind and tender-hearted man never came
under my observation. L know him to be a
man that would shed the last drop of his
blood to defend a fellow-being. man or wo-
man, white colored. His word was re-
lied on by all who have had dealings with
him. 1 have often known him to give up
his last dollar to feed or lodge a stranger.
and many Is the man. white and colored,
who. when tramping the country without
shelter and hungry, can say CT him: When
was sick We visited me; when / was hum
cry We fed me; when a stranger we took me
in; when naked ye clothed me-
He has always been known as hard
working man, and had always up to the
time of his unfortunate separation from his
family, made ample provision for his wife
and ten children"
There has been no contention by the peo-
pie of Germantown that Coberth had been
in the habit of committing crimes similar to
what is now charged against him. He had
the reputation of being a victim of strong
drink. but had never been known to have
participated IN any case involving the TAX