Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08
FAIL TO OBTAIN CLUE
AUTHORITIES UNABLE TO
LOCATE SETTLES ASSAILANT.

All efforts on the part Of the authorities of
Alexandria county. Va. to clear up the
mystery surrounding the shooting of Jo-
seph H. Settle near Luna Park Thursday
night while he was in company with Miss
Tessie Bywaters of Rappahannock county,
Va. have proved to be unsuccessful. Scarce
ly anything directly bearing on the muir
derous assault has been ascertained by the
county officers apart from the statements
of Settle and Miss Bywaters.
The account given by them has furnished
no clue to the identity of the assailant and
has supplied no explanation of the motive
of the attempted murder. In regard to
both the authorities would be entirely in
the dark but for various circumstances as
certained to have had some connection with
the affair frcm which theories have been
formed. But these views entertained are
not. it is said. of sufficiently definite
nature to give promise of throwing much
light on the shooting.
Commonwealth Attorney Crandal Mackey,
who has made careful investigat alton Of
the matter today stated the opinion that
the assault was made by some one person
ally acquainted with either one or both of
his intended victims.
Dismisse Robbery Theory.
Mr.. Mackey dismisses the idea of robbery
as motive for the attack. He thinks that
ZIG dootaaHt llOt olly dlteIHpttU 10 klil Sel-
tie. but sought to murder Miss Bywaters.
Ground in support of this belief. it is said,
is found in the statement of Miss Bywa-
ter's that the second shot fired seemed to
be aimed toward her She thought that
after she ran the d-be murderer started
10 pursue her.
The investigation of the county officers
today added nothing new to the facts al
ready aScertained. Sheriff Palmer is still
busy seeking clues and is assisted in the
work by Deputy Sheriffs Howard Field and
Harry Collins
Mr.. Mackey last evening visited Settle at
the Emergency Hospital and received his
statement of the circumstances of the as
sault. The man related AZ brief and ram
bling narrative which conformed. for the
most part, with the account given by Miss
Bywaters. At some points. however, his
statement was at variance with the decla-
rations of the young woman. When this
was called to his attention 1t seemed to give
him great distress. and he expressed the
fervent hope that she might be saved from
further trouble.
Miss Bywaters Released.
Miss Bywaters was released from custody
last evening on her own recognizance. she
promising to remain In Alexandria until
she may be wanted as a witness.
At the hospital this afternoon 1t was
stated that the condition of Settle is
encouraging. The bullet has not yet been
removed from his neck. but an effort will
probably be made In few days to locate
II by means of the X-ray. His recovery is
expected.
Mrs d. X. Hatley. who conducts a gro
Gerry store at 22d and @ streets northwest.
q sister of Settle. called to see the injured
man this morning. She positively denied
having made the statements attributed to
her in a published interview in which she
was represented as declaring that the as
sault was the result Of a deliberate plot,
and was due to jealousy. She asserted that
she had no idea Of the identity of the per-
son who did the shooting and was ignorant
of the motive behind the deed.