Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-10
BRUTAL ASSAULT
AT FOUR MILE RUN
Negro Attacks Young Woman
and Her Escort.
ROBBERY ADDED TO CRIME
Forrest Gooding and Miss Mabel Ris-
ley the Victims.
ASSAILANT ESCAPES IN WOODS
The Injured Couple Conveyed to
Emergency Hospital, Thence to
Young Woman's Home.
ASSAILANT ESCAPES IN WOODS

Young w Oman'S home.
Almost on the same spot where Joseph
Settle and his companion were attacked
and Settle was shot last Thursday even
Ing, near Luna Park at Four-mile Run
Va, Miss Mabel Rsley of 43O Il street
northwest and her escort, Forrest Goodlng
of Garrett Park, Md, were assaulted snort
ly after 6 o'clock yesterday evening by
colored man. Miss Risley was felonlously
assaulted, according to her own statement,
and was robbed of her pocketbook con-
tanning SIG in money and two rings, the
negro meanwhile holding revolver with
which he threatened to shoot her. Goodlng
was struck a violent blow over the head
with a club and was badly hurt. The as
sailant escaped.
Both victims of the assault required
hospital treatment. Miss Risley exhibited
numerous abrasions about her throat and
today her throat Is very much swollen
Gooding has a severe laceration of the
scalp just back of the left ear and ms
face shows several bruises. The WOUNDS
were dressed last night at the Emergency
Hospital and the couple were taken TO MISS
Risley's home later in a carriage.
The young people, who soon to be
married, left her home early yesterday
afternoon for Luna Park. After reaching
that resort they remained inside the
grounds for several hours. Shortly before
o'clock it was proposed that they walk
around to the spring, outside the grounds
They passed out at the main entrance ana
down the car tracks toward the city, unti
they reached the end of the board fence
with which the grounds are incloSed. There
they took the path leading from the tracks
up alongside the side fence to the spring,
a distance of about seventy-fiye yards. IL
was still daylight and it did not occur to
the young people that they were in any
danger at that hour. After visiting the
spring. where they remained for few min
utes. they started to walk in a circuitous
route through the grove of trees back to
the car tracks and to the park again.
Colored Rufian Appears.
Before they had gone far colored man
jumped from behind a clump of bushes and
confronted the young man.
What do you want?" questioned Good
Ing, standing his ground and looking the
colored man in the face.
I'm going to kill you was the reply.
And with the words, the colored man raised
a Grub about two feet long and struck Good
ing in the head. just back of the ear. The
latter was stunned by the blow but was not
knocked to the ground. With cry for help
he attempted to escape from his assaiant
Miss Risley>remained where she was bad
ly frightened. and to her the coored ruff
fan turned after Gooding had been struck
and beaten back. The assailant at this
juncture drew revolver from his pocket
and pointed it directly at the girl, ordering
her to make no noise She did not heed the
warning, however, and began to scream for
hep. The negro quickly grasped the girl
by the throat and threw her to the ground.
She continued to cry for help, however, and
the ruffian put his hand over her mouth
fnrt To h1r- SIC
but the burly man held her fast, threaten
ing her with the revolver.
Subsequently the negro saw the handbag
which the girl held in her hand.
Let me have that or / will kill you he
said, while he pointed the revolver directly
at her She did not give up the handbag
voluntarily, however, and her assailant
reached for it, while keeping the weapon
pointed at her. He snatched II from her
grasp with one hand and started off through
the bushes He seemed to be in no hurry,
the girl said, and walked slowly until he
disappeared in the grove. In the handbag
were SIC in currency, a rev pennies ana
two rings. which the girl had preferred not
TO wear and which she had placed In the
satchel for safekeeping.
Gooding Seeks Aid.
After being struck over the head with the
club. Gooding started for help. He saw
that the colored man was armed with a
d
could 90 nothing against such odds. he de-
cided TO go to Luna Park for asss -ance.
AS he ran for the main entrance he cried
murder and help but the noises inside
the park seemed to drown his calls and ne
reached the main entrance before any az
sistance could be obtained Officials OF The
park and visitors saw that Gooding WAS
bleeding from wound in the mead. and he
explained that he and his girl friend had
been attacked by a burly ruf:an near the
spring.
Several persons started VIII. GoodinS to
the scene of the assault, and after turning
the corner of the fence and sta:tng up to-
ward the spring they met the girl, VINO was
In a highly excited condition % mind. AT
that time, the girl says. she had walked
only about 100 feet. but the coioreu assdli-
ant had entirely disappeared. After the
crowd had heard her story vi tie attack
they started a search of the woot.s for some
trace of the perpetrator of the crime, but
he had made good his escape.
Three young men who had f:riv III TO the
park offered to take the coup % the
hospital in this city, as it Was seen bat
both were suffering severely. Aad tht-y were
tio light in the carriage to TINS CITY ana
taken to the Emergency Hospital. Mss Ris-
ley and Gooding We're too excite at the
time to give particulars of the affair
Miss Risley did not at first tell her mothc-
after she reached her home anything about
the trouble, as the latter was ill in bed,
band informed Mr. R.sley. ---...
Denial of Report.
Miss Risley denied the report that a
shot had been fired at the assat'dI,t and 1t
was stated by Gooding thai he had I'D re-
vclyer and fired no shot. The report was
started by a person. she SAIL, VINO claimed
to be an official of Luna Park, and who
called at the first precinct station house
late last night. To Lieut.. Hartley, with
whom he talked, it is stated. he refused 10
give his name. but he stated that s9eing
Gooding bleeding from the wound in his
head, he rushed around toward the spring
and fired a shot at a colored man whom he
saw running through the woods.
In describing the assailant Miss Risley
said he was colored man. not very tall
and wearing black clothing. He had a black
mustache and his face was quite black.
Officers Pursuing Clue.
Detective Leonard and Deputy Sherif
Howard Fields were at the main entrance
of Luna Park when Gooding ran there tc
ask for assistance. and they went at once
to the aid of Miss Risiey.
The authorities We're informed by several
passengers on a car of the Washington
Alexandria and Mount Vernon railway thai
they saw colored man lying in the grass