Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-29
SUSPECTED OF CRIME
Man Believed to Be Wanted by
West Virginia Authorities
FOR FELONIOUS ASSAULT
Answers TO Description Given in Circu-
lar to Police.
IS HELD FOR IDENTIFICATION
Gross Brutality Alleged by officials of
Mineral County in the
~ State Named.
FOR FELONIOUS ASSAULT
IS HELD FOR IDENTIFICATION

roughly dressed man, whose name was
recorded at police headquarters as Charley
Sailor. is held at the sixth precinct police
station on suspicion that he is wanted in
Mineral county. w. Va, to answer for
felonious assault committed upon Nellie
Ott the sixteen year-old daughter of John
OFT residing in West Virginia about three
miles south of Cumberland, Md. The as
sault was committed early last Saturday
morning while the girl was on her way
to Cumberland to do some shopping and
caused considerable excitement in the town
of Ridgeley, the young woman's home and
the surrounding country. A posse was
formed and bloodhounds were used in the
search for the assailant of the girl, but
the search proved to be unsuccessful. Be
cause of the Nervousness of the crime,
threats were freely made that the criminal
would be lynched if caught.
The description of the prisoner under ar
rest here ta.lieS with that given of the as
salant of the girl. and Capt. Boardman
was impressed with the similarity of the
descriptions that he wired Sheriff Nethken
to send some person here who can say
whether or not the suspect is the right
party. Inspector Boardman received card
from Sheriff Nethken three days ago asking
that the police here assist in the search for
the assailant of Miss OFT. He also stated
that a reward of 500 would be paid for
the arrest of the guilty person 1t was
stated in the message that the accused man
was about thirty-five years of age and that
he had red hair and sandy beard. 1t was
also stated that he had light complexion,
with the appearance of defect in one eye.
Sheriff Nethken also suggested that two or
three OF his fingers had been bitten by Miss
OFT in her struggle with him.
Description Tallies.
Sailor has the red hair and beard, the
t.l.
one of his fingers. There is defect in
his eye. but there is popularity about his
eyes that is likely to attract special atten-
ton. The face and hands of the prisoner
indicated that he had been working on the
railroad that he had been riding on
freight cars. and ii was necessary for him
to wash his face before the police could
definitely determine his complexion. 1t was
then seen that he had the rudy complexion
such was noted in the description. In
spector Boardman questioned him closely
and then sent the message to Sheriff Meth
ken keyser.
The description received from Sheriff
Nethken early in the week was read to the
police of the several precincts. the officers
being instructed to pay particular attention
to the request. 1t was thought the culprit
would possibly come this way freight
train, and the police along the line of the
Baltimore and Ohio road watched for
tramps, hoping they might find the
wanted. No such tramp passenger was
found but yesterday afternoon Policeman
Michael Lynch of the sixth precinct found
Sailor on Pennsylvania avenue and arrested
him.
I'm not the man. declared the prisoner.
Il worked in Cumberland, but l left there
in April"
Stories Conflict
Sailor. as the prisoner gave his name, told
different stories concerning his recent
whereabouts. He said he was a native of
Dayton, Ohio, and that he was thirtytwo
years of age. He left Dayton when he
young child, he stated, but he had
not been back there since He told the
police he worked for a man named Kelly in
Cumberland, who was railroad con-
tractor. After being measured and photo
graphed, the prisoner was returned to the
sixth precinct station to be held until the
arrival of the West Virginia authorities.
The story told of the crime aroused the
people of the surrounding counry. 1t was
evident the crime had been carefully
planned and that the fiend contemplated
taking the girl away. He told her he had
been watching her house for her and
threatened her if she made an outcry. A
blind had been constructed in the woods
with branches of trees, and Miss OFT was
passing near the blind when she was cap
tured by the ruffian.
Il watched your house for you last
night her assailant told her. land l
tried to get you yesterday. If you make
an outcry I'll return tonight with my chum
and carry you off,
Brutal Cruelty.
Miss OFT was then bound and gagged.
and was tied TO a tree and left there. She
managed to get the gag out of her mouth
and then guawed at the cords until she
freed herself Weak and suffering from
intense excitement. she hurried from the
woods to the road and told her story to
some friends who happened to be driving
TO Cumberland. They had her taken home
and posse started in pursuit of her as
sailant.
About IL o'clock in the morning man
answering to the description of the girls
assailant was seen in Ridgley, and I'M
successful effort was made to overtake
him. Later in the day. it is reported the
same man was seen going in the direction
of Oldtown, about fourteen miles east of
Cumberland. An effort made to get
the Oldtown authorities on his track, but
the telephone line was not working and
nothing in that direction was accomplished