Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-19
| NEGRO IS IDENTIFIED
Man Arrested on Charge of At
tempting Criminal Assault.
CAUGHT NEAR LANDOVER, ND
Young Woman Positively Declares He
Was Her Assailant.
IS HELD FOR THE GRAND JURY
Tells Conflicting Stories Concerning
His Whereabouts When Miss
Wybenger Was Attacked.
IS HELD FOR THE GRAND JURY
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
UPPER MARLBORO, Nd, Sept. 10, 1906
John Joseph Chase, colored, who was sus-
pected of having attempted to criminaily
assault Miss Elizabeth Wybenger of Co
1umbia Park, as stated In The Star yester-
day. was arrested about / o'clock this
morning by Deputy Sheriff R. S. Vincent
of Prince George county at a negro dance
a short distance northwest of Landover,
near Annapolis turnpike
The information upon which Chase was
located was furnished by Judge j. C..
Sheriff of Landover, who went to Hyatts-
vile late last night and told the deputy
sheriff that a negro answering the -descrip-
ton furnished by Miss Wybenger had been
seen in the vicinity of Landover during the
day and it was believed that he had gone
to the dance Deputy Sheriff Vincent drove
to the home of Harry Berkeley, one of the
young men who had seen Chase, and Berk-
ley accompanied the officer to the scene of
the dance.
Berkeley went to the pavilion, while Vim
cent hid In the bushes some distance away.
After Berkeley had ascertained that Chase
was there the officer went on the pavilion
and reached the middle of the floor before
any of the dancers recognized him. APP
preaching Chase, he asked him for his
name, and the latter, 1t is said, declared 1t
to be John Joseph. Officer Vincent now
ever, was nOr to be duped, and told Chase
he would take him, anyhow.
Dashed for Liberty.
When outside of the pavilion Chase made
dash for liberty, but the officer drew a
pistol on him and the negro decided that
1t was unwise to run. He was taken to
Hyattsvilc and placed in the lookup, and
early this morning Miss Wybenger, accom-
panied by Mr.. Watts, came to Hyattsville.
AS soon as she saw the negro the young
lady declared most positively that he was
the one who had attempted the assault.
She declared she could have told him by
his voice, even though she had not seen
him. She also stated that the clothes he
wore were the same in which he was at
tired when the assault was attempted. Miss
Wybenger is an attractive blonde, about
sixteen years OF age, and well built. To
Officer Vincent she repeated in substance
the story printed in last evenings Star.
She resides in Columbia Park and was on
her way to work at Tuxedo when she was
approached by the negro. who asked her
the direction to OdentOn. Although the
negro has the appearance of being strong,
Miss Wybenger succeeded in breaking away
from him. before stated, and ran for
nearly half a mile in the direction of Tux
edo the negro following. When she came
in sight of some houses the fellow evil
in the direction of Columbia Park.
Lodged in Jail.
After Miss Wybenger had identified Chase
this morning Justice of the Peace Arthur
Carr held him for the action of the grand
jury. fixing bond at 81 .O0O. The negro being
unable to furnish the bond was lodged in
jail here about IL O. clock this morning. He
appears to be about twenty-one years of
age is very black and of powerful frame.
He told Officer Vincent several conflicting
stories as to his whereabouts Monday
morning At one time it is said. he de-
clared that he was cutting corn for local
farmer and again he stated that he was in
Washington. later asserting that he was
working for Contractor c. c. Magruder near
Tuxedo When arrested he attempted to
get some of his companions to substantfate
his statement about working for Mr.. Ma
gruder but they declined to do SO. The
negro appears little weak-minded and
does not seem to appreciate the gravity OF
the charge against him. When searched at
the Jail he had nothing in his pockets but
a railway ticket from Bennings to Washing
ton. dated August 10.
1t is stated that Chase traded a watch to
Harry Berkeley for a mouth organ. and
that Yesterday Mr.. Chas. Bean of Tuxedo
identified the timepiece and declares that 1t
was taken out of his pocket Monday while
his coat was hanging on tree on the pub
IT, nd