The Washington herald., 1907-01-14


this kind to operate in Washington. made
his appearance here yesterday, choosing
for his victim Margaret Schwartzhaupt,
aged thirteen. of 1713 East Fayette street,
Baltimore, who was visiting in Washing
ton. She escaped injury, the acid only
eating partly through her clothes.
There is no clew to the identity OF
the man. and the case is all the more
mysterious for the reason that a Jack
the Vitriol Thrower' has been operating
IN Baltimore for the past few weeks. One
of his victims was a thirteen-year-old girl
living on the same street as does the
Schwartzhaupt family.
That the vandal's victim here should be
Baltimore girl is regarded by the police
as more than coincidence, and De
tectives Cornwell and Evans have been
detailed to use every effort to apprehend
the miscreant.
The little girl whose clothes were ruined
yesterday has been visiting in Washing
ton for several days at the home of an
uncle, Charles BOtsch, 1731 L street north
west She had been III for some time. and
not until yesterday was she believed well
enough to start home She had gone 10
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station
10 meet her mother, who was coming here
for her
Together they returned 10 the uncle's
home, and then it was they found that
more than twenty-five holes. some of
them Of large size, had been burned in
her coat The acid had also struck her
shoe, and had eaten a hole through the
leather. It had not penetrated the stock
ing, and she escaped injury.
struck While on street.
Her mother. uncle. and the police are
confident she was struck with the acid
either when she transferred at Four
teenth street or at the station. as her
back could net have been struck while
riding on the car
From Baltimore II is learned that the
acid used Is vitrioI. and for several
months the police nave been on an ac-
tive hunt for the criminal who has been
throwing it. He is believed to be the
same man who has been Sitting skirts.
stockings, and shoes Of little girls with
a sharp knife. The last case reported Is
that of Elsie Hook. eleven years old. of
Baltimore, whose skirt was ruined with
acid Saturday
From Baltimore it is also learned that
heretofore he has been satisfied with
two victims a day, but since he has been
undetected, he has grown more brazen;
until now it is almost unsafe in that
city for little children to go out on the
In Ia
sections parents Will not let their chill
dren out at night.
Although the Baltimore police are on
the lookout for the man. and have been
since he commenced operations. they have
been unable TO Obtain description OF
him, because he throws an acid that en-
ables him to make his escape before il
commences 10 burn.
NitTiol is slow but sure, and takes some
time to eat its way through a piece of
cloth. Jack the Vitriol Thrower" is
aware of the fact. and knows he can
throw the liquid. get away from the scene
of action. and when it begins to burn
into a Child's flesh, return i'm time 10
secretly gloat over the sufferings of the
victim, and not be suspected. He always
selects girls as his victims. and since he
has been operating in Baltimore has never
thrown the fiery liquid on boy.
Long List of victims.
Following is list of Baltimore girls
who have suffered at the hands OF the
criminal:
Miss Helen Cassidy aged twelve years. 80 Aisluith
street. burned on left leg
Miss Lille LundburE aged thirteen wears I05-
Hlllen street burned on the left ankle.
Miss Maria CoTdery, aged nine years. 1902 Aisquitt
street. bumad on the limbs.
Miss RUSa Aclnstcln. aged twelve Years SIS East
Baltimore street; stockings and shoes burned
Miss Bessie LesScuco, aged thirteen years gjg Low
street; stockings and shoes burned
Miss Rachael McCaIlister. aged fourteen years
Hartford road. shoes burned
Miss Lillia Mctsllister aged twelve years Hartford
road. Shoes and stockings burned
Miss MyrtiC Faulkner. aged twelve Years Hamii
ton avenue. near HaIfCrd Uad left leg undorskiu
SHOES. and stockings burned
Miss Margaret Higgins aged ten years los North
avenue; left limb burned.
Miss Margaret Cross aged fourteen years. 81
South Chester street; burned about the legs
Miss Annie Adams, aged sixteen years. I723 East
Eager street, clothing and shoes mined
Miss Hattie Blumeuthal. aged thirteen Years. l0s
East Fayette street. legs burned in i've places and
coat ruined.
Mis- Bessie Bernan, 90 North Front street; cloth
ing and shoes UIIued.
Uncle Offers Reward.
Twenty-Five dollars reward has been
offered by Mr.. Botsch for the arrest oi
the guilty person.
In the opinion Of the detectives. the acid
was undoubtedly used through a sprav
probably a water gun. as it was not
thrown in "A body. The detectives are OF
the opinion from the location of the
spots on her shoe that the person ap-
preached the girl from behind and to the
left and fired the acid at close range al
her legs just above the ankle.
These acid-throwinS cases bring strongly
10 mind the so-called Jack the Slasher''
who operated on Washington streets and
in department store elevators and other
places several years ago, cutting and
slashing wOmen's garments. II was sew
eral months before he was caught by the
police he was examined by expert alien
lists from all over the country, and it was
their unanimous opinion that it was q
mania with him. a species of insanity
He was never brought TO trial, but sem
out Of the country 10 Germany, where hC
married and has lived peaceably ever
since.
It was thought by the detectives that
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