Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-07
.CLOUDED BY MYSTERY
Murderous Assault at Night
Upon Joseph H. Settle.
NO MOTIVE DISCLOSED
Unidentified Assailant Makes His Es-
cape, Leaving No Glue.
STATEMENT OF ONLY WITNESS
Woman Companion Of Wounded Man,
Who Was Also Injured, Unable
to Clear Mystery.
STATEMENT OF ONLY WITNESS

Developments today have failed to clear
up the mystery surrounding the murder
Gus assault committed last night upon Jo-
seph H. Settle of 1868 Potomac avenue.
Georgetown, while he and Miss Tessie By
waters of Rappahannock county, Va, were
strolling together in the wooded ground
in the vicinity of Luna Park and not FAR
from the Washington, Alexandra and
Mount Vernon electric railway. Settle was
shot in the neck and jaw, and was beaten
severely over the head. The pistol which
was used by the unknown assailant was
held close to Miss Bywaters, whose neck
and shoulders were badly burned by the
powder.
Both Settle and Miss Bywaters declare
that they were attacked without any known
motive by man whom neither recognized.
They assert that the man appeared sud-
denly on the lane where they were walking,
attacked them with stones, fired upon them
two or three times with a revolver and
then dashed away without uttering word
Inquiry by Attorney Mackey.
Commonwealth Attorney Crandal Mackey
of Alexandria county today questioned Miss
Bywaters at length concerning the affair
After her statement had been received Mr..
Mackey directed the detention of the young
woman pending fuller investigation.
Upon his instruction Miss Bywaters was
conducted by Sheriff Palmer this afternoon
to the ground near Luna Park, where she
pointed out the scene of the assault and
described the relative positions of the cou-
pie and the unidentified assaiiant. Mr..
Mackey stated that Miss Bywaters would
be kept in custody awaiting further devel-
opments.
In her examination by the commonwealth
attorney Miss Bywaters was asked many
questions with view to disclosing some
information bearing on the motive or the
crime. But she positively maintained that
she was absolutely in the dark. not only as
to the identity of the man. but as to his
reason for committing the assault.
Adheres to Original Statement.
She practically repeated her statements
made at Luna Park and to the Alex
andria police last night. following the
shock She declared that there was no
attempt at robbery made, and denied that
she knew of any reason why any one
should have committed the attempt at
murder through jealousy She and Mr..
Settle. she said. had been friends for a
long time. She said she had no other men
admirers in Alexandria or Washington.
Miss Bywaters stated that she is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas By
waters. living on farm near Woodville.
Rappahannock county. She gave her age
as tWenty-e1gnt years. Sne also stated
that she and Mr. Settle are distant
cousins. ~-
Settles Condition Improving.
The condition of Settle, who was con-
veyed to the Emergency Hospital early
this morning, was reported there this af-
ternoon to be much better. 1t was found
that. while suffering from two bullet
wounds he had, apparently. been struck
by only one ball. That entered the left
side of the neck and penetrated the jaw.
Since being taken to the hospital the
man has made only the briefest refer
enceS to the circumstances of the assault.
While he was being conveyed to the park
hospital Immediately after the shooting
he told the special officers in a few words
what had happened. asserting his igno-
rance of facts which the authorities are
trying to discover.
When the mans condition will permit he
will be examined at length by Mr.. Mackey.
Settle is about forty years of age and UNI
married. He has lived most of his life In
Rappahannock county, but came to Wash
ington two years ago to work as car
time at the home of Mrs. w. Bremen at
the residence designated in the foregoing.
Overcome With Nervousness.
Miss Bywaters, when seen by Star re-
porter short time after the affair." relat-
accents. She seemed to be SO oppressed
with nervousness that she could scarcely
collect her thoughts. In the course of the
recital she frequently declared that she
was wholly ignorant both as to the identity
of the person who committed the assault
and as to the motive for the deed.
my companion and t. said Miss By
waters, after spending some time in the
park started to return to Alexandria
Shortly after 10 o'clock we passed out at
the main gate. and finding that no train
bound south was in sight. we decided to
picnic grounds to the north of the coast
ers. We had been on the outskirts of the
woods enjoying the scenery only a little
while when the affair happened.
II am unable to tell exactly what occur
red first. We were standing together
when a man appeared and began, I think,
to throw stones at us. At any rate he
made an attack upon us. either with some
think he threw at first and then COM
menced firing the weapon. Two shots
were fired and Mr.. Settle said he had
been struck. l felt burning sensation on
my neck and thought bullet had hit me.
My friend was bleeding terribly and my
clothes were covered with blood. thought
we both were being murdered. Then the
man who attacked us ran away.
II did not see him well enough to make
out his features and don't know whether
he was white or black, although he was
close to US. 1 screamed for help as loud as
I could. My companion was tottering as
II about to fall but managed to keep him
up until we got close to the park gate,
where assistance reached u.s.
Unable to Give Particulars.
Miss Bywaters could give only hazy de-
scriptiOn of the place where the shooting
She reasserted that she had not
the slightest idea of the cause which
prompted the assault and reiterated her
declaration that she was unable to describe,
even in a general way, the appearance of
the assailant. She did not know, she said,
whether he had come upon them suddenly
or whether he had been in ambush, watch
Ing their movements. Her first intimation
Of the proximity of the man who fired the
shots. she declared. was when the attack
was commenced.
Miss Bywaters denied that she and her
escort had wandered far into the grounds
and had seated themselves under a tree,
where a couple was seen by two young men
passing through the woods less than half
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