The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-09-01
Penitent Tears Suffuse
Face Of Conductor S
Youthful AS
Sailant.
KNIFE WOUND
IS NOT SERIOUS
Miss Suahan, Subject to Mel
anchOlia, and Last March
Tried to End Her Life.

Penitent tears filed the eyes of pretty
Viola Strahan. seventeen years Old who
created a scene last night 10y rushing
through a street car and stabbiug her
lover. Thomas Stallings. 81 Fourteenth
street northwest. when she was led
out OF her cell this morning and placed
in a van and whisked of 10 Police
Court. The girl had spent the night Ia
a iingy cell where she wept bitterly
from the time she was locked up until
this morning. Her fece presented a hag-
gard look and her eyes were badly
swollen.
The intention OF Assistant District At
torney Charles II. Turner TO place the
case on trial was not realized. The girl
was questioned closely by the attorney
and the fact that she had used a deadly
weapon IN her assault upon Stallings
rendered the Ofense grave in the opin-
io- 2: the officials. All plans To have
the case trisd today We're frustrated by
the appearance of young Stallings in
the ONCE OF the District Attorney. who
made a plea 10 save the girl from un-
favorable nOtoriety as a result Of ths
disturbance.
Stallings Pleads for Girl.
stalllngs said he was only slightly
hurt and would not go on the stand
against his former sweetheart. He was
anxious 10 spare the family Of the girl
any further publicity because OF the in
cident.
Mr.. Turner decided TO release the girl
on $3.50 bond. the case having been con-
timed for a few days. pending further
Investigation.
Thought to Be Irrational.
An examination may be made as 10
the girls sanity. IL was stated AT the
District Attorneys Office this morning.
1t IS not believed that the girl was
rational when she made the assault and
her actions have since seemed strange,
Miss Strahan this morning was not
very communicative about the affair
in which she figured so prominently
last night, and while being questioned
hung her head IN shame and refused 10
answer many Of the attorneys ques-
tons. once or twice she expressed re-
gret. and said she wished it had not
happened. Before the girls 5 release on
bond her father appeared al Police
Court and made an appeal IN behalf OF
his daughter. He secured the necessary
money To gain her release
Two w ere oW6clAtdALe-
Stauings IS a conductor on a Columbia
railway car and makes half hour runs
to Benning. where the Surahau girl
lives The two are said to have been
very much enamored Of each other for
some tine, and wheE the girl saw that
love was waning she became jealous.
The girl told the attorney this morning
that StaIlings had been sIandering her
and that this had prompted her TO stab
him. According TO the girl Stalhngs
had been paying her some attention
and turned suddenly against her.
Greatly incensed. Miss Strahan came
in from her country home yesterday
evening with the aVoWed purpose on
her stand at the corner of Fifteenth
and II streets northwest and waited LOT
Stallingsa car. When II did arrive she
dashed through the door OF the car ahds
drawing the knife from the IolQs OF
her skirt, buried IL deep into Stalllngs
shoulder The motorman Of the car
rushed from the platform and wrenched
the weapon from the girl and held her
until the police arrived.
Many Witnessed Stabbing.
The stabblng was witnessed by sew
eral hundred people. who rushed up.
While waiting for the patrol wagon TO
take her 10 the station house, the girl
S wore vengeance against Stallings-
Tn girl was taken 10 the First pre-
cinct station. Stalllngs was relieved
from duty and his wounds were quictlv
dressed. Todsy his wounds w.re
dressed again. and the physician de-
clares that he IS not hurt seriously.
Miss Strahan, II is said. has long been
q victim of melanchOlia- On March 50
she tried to commite suicide by drinking
carbouc acid while In the waiting room
of the Columbia railroad at the corner
OF Fifteenth and II streets northeast.
Medical attention was quickly sum-
moned. and she eventually recovered.