Evening star., 1907-09-04
ASSAULTED BY F|END
Mrs. Mary Lanham of Anacos-
tia Victim of Outrage.
FOUGHT OFF ASSAILANT
Then Beat on Tin Can to Summon As
siStance.
FOR SHE HAD BEEN GAGGED
Police Looking for Muscular White
Man Described by Victim-Have
Good Description.
OR SHE HAD BEEN GAGGED

Sounds of the beating on a tin can att
tracted attention to the basement OF the
home of Mrs. Mary Lanham, forty-five
years old, of Good Hope, D G., about IL
O'Clock today: and when those within hear
ing distance went to investigate they found
Mrs. Lanham gagged and bound tightly
and just recovering from a period OF un-
consciousness, lasting, she supposed, for
about half an hour, following a personal
assault
) Her assaiant, she says, was a muscular
white man; and it is believed the object
of the attack robbery and perhaps
criminal assault. The struggles of Mrs.
Lanham, however, the police say, pre-
vented the crime.
The police from the Anacostia and fifth
precinct station houses and Detectives Par.
ham and Barbee from police headquarters
were directed TO make invest gation as
soon as news reached the Anacostia sta
ton, and they are trying to run down the
perpetrator of the crime.
Mrs. Lanham declared she had a fierce
struggle with her assailant in the basement
OF her home. About IL o'clock today she
went into the basement Of her home to fin-
ish washing some clothes, and while she
was busily engaged in her work a man
stepped into the basement rear door and
stealthily crept up behind her. With hardly
any warning, 1t Is declared. the intruder
|
tried TO throw her to the basement floor.
Mrs. Lanham fought desperately and tried
to scream.
The assaiant, however, quickly grasped
a garment that was lying in the room and
by his strength forced 1t between her teeth.
Her fratl strength was no match for the
power OF the man, and he soon overpowered
her and threw her % the floor
While she was gagged and unable to
scream the intruder calmly began to tie
the woman's hands and feet with rope and
struggled to get free, but he was able TO
carry out This purpose easily and quickly
by brute force.
Loses Consciousness.
About that time, the woman told the po-
lice, she was overcome by her frantic ef-
forts and by the fear Of her assailant, and
she became unconscious. When she re-
gained her senses her mind was confused
at first, she says but gradually and slowly
she realized her plight and tried to scream,
but found that the gag was still In place.
She tried to rise. but was hardly able to
move.
In a short time however, her strength
came back, she says, and she managed to
crawl along the floor to q hammer which
was usually kept in the basement, and OBJ
tanning that, she began to beat frantically
on a tin can that was at hand. At first no
one responded, but she continued making
attracted assistance.
The house adjoins barroom on Good
hope HILL and 1t was from there that tho
assistance came Persons who were stand
ing around the establishment heard the tin
can sound and soon located the source.
They quickly freed the bands that bound
the womans limbs and took the gag from
her mouth. Then she told the story Of the
assault and Of her struggles.
Police Notified.
n~I, tLa
ance took steps at once to call the police.
Fred Domer telephoned to the Anacostia
police station, and from there the fifth pre-
cinct and Inspector Boardman chief of de-
tectives, were notified. Reserves from both
the Anacostia and the fifth precinct sta
/ ton houses were sent to investigate. De-
tectives Parham and Barbee were also de-
tailed from police headquarters. and no
time was lost. The officers were sent
securing through the neighborhood in
search Of the assailant.
Mrs. Lanham, 1t Is said, obtained a good
look at the man, and she gave the police an
accurate description OF him. He Is described
white man, with light sandy mus
wore a dark suit. Mrs. Lanham says she
thinks she saw the same man about six
months ago and that he acted as II he was
crazy On that occasion, he passed her
house and kept looking at her. She said
afterward that the man wore eyeglasses.
1t was believed from the foregoing state
ment that the assailant might be patient
from the hospital for the insane, but so far
as the police have learned this afternoon
no man answering the description Of the
wanted assailant has been missed from that
institution.
Briscoe, Mrs. Lanham's sixteen-years
old son, was on the top floor of the house
when the attempted assault occurred, and
did not learn of the occurrence until his
mother had been found.
After her rescue from the bonds that
held her feet and arms medical assist
ance was summoned from the Good Hope
pharmacy nearby, and the proprietor
rendered aid at once. 1t is believed that
Mrs. Lanham will recover. although sha
is suffering from shock and Is hysterical.
The husband of the victim is dead. but
two sons and daughter live with her on
Good Hope hill.