Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-05
E. II. PurnsII, Philadelphia DrlIR.
meP, SWeaps Hs Remembers
HalhIng About 0ffsRse.
GUILTY OF HIs0ERftgoR ONLY
Accused win Not &c Held on More
Serious charge, Made BY. Command
er Victor Blue, as Result of Affront
offered Young Relative Of the Dis
tinguished Officers Wife.

assault II III rurncll. hat and shoe
drummer from Philadelphia. was ar
raigncd BEFORE Police Justice brown
In the Office OF Chcf OF Police Roy
nolds Yesterday afternoon nj 9 O'clock
There was no evidence to substanti-
ate The grave crime charged in the
warrant. but the Justice held that tho
prisoner had been guilty cf assault
ANA battery ana announced that he
would impose sentence. very prob.
;inly both fine and Imprisonment. this
morning ut o'clock
purncll was released upon n boni
of $3.50 for his appearance today
Messrs, Minus Meyers and j Else.
man being accepted MS surety
Offence Committed Friday.
The offence with which Puinell is
charged was committed last Friday
morning ut Hotel Warwick Tho nj.
tack was made upon Miss Estelle De.
gengremal. Young relative OF the
wife of Commander Victor Blue. u.
S. v. who lives at the Warwick with
the commanders family. No complaint
to the authorities was made nj the
time and It Is understood that Com.
mander Blue hoped Friday night and
Saturday to find the man ana deal
with him personally, Failing to 10,
swore out warrant nnJ nut II In the
hands of Chief Of Police Reynolds.
The chief found Pnlnel In the Ma
iestic restaurant, Washington aven-
nc and Thlrtvsecond street. Sunday.
and lodged the prisoner mt the sta
ton with the grave charge against
his nnmc on the blottcr.
Hearing In Private.
In consideration for the feelings of
the young lady, Justice Brown held
special session OF tho Nolice court in
the chiefs office, without spectators.
The accused WAS brought In and Col
Marquis Jones and MIR. Floyd limdg-
Ills, apearing for the defense. an
nounced that they were ready to 70
ahead with the hearing.
Commander Blue brought Miss De.
pengremal into the room lust before
the time appointed
Miss Degengrcma's Statement.
Miss Dcgengremul very quietly snyo
brief and clear statement of what
occurred, telling story which tho
attorneys for the defense made no nj
tempt; 10 break ny cross examinations
she srid that "a she was passing
through corridor on the fourth
lioor of Hotel Warwick on her way 10
one of the rooms of the Bluc familys
suite she heard some one calling
from behind. She turned and found
That purnell, who she had never saen
before, was following her The man
asked II he could speak with her n
moment. She replied that she was
very busy and hurried on toward tho
rGom Purnel fol!owed and asked if
he might speak with her later. by
this time the young lady was thor.
oughly frightened, and reaching the
door. she hurried into the room
Man Entered Room.
C'ling across tile room, she was
bending over q trunk when noise
attracted hrr rttnntion and she turn
ell, to find Purnell standing in the
doorway. S.' ran to the door and
ATTEMPTED TO slam IT, but the man
nut his foot in the way an forced
himself into the room Then Miss
pcgcngremal sprang through the door
In an effort to get into the corridor
hui the man caught her aud there
was scuffle between the door and
Tho lattice screen on the outside. In
this scuftle the young lady's shirt
waist was torn. She finally escaned
from the mans grasp and fed to Mrs.
Blues room.
~ hAi'l CloSS examination nv Col.
Jones only brought out the additional
fact that Commander Blues family
had moved TO this city ron Norfolk
and taken up residence at the War
wick. Thursday evening
Commander Blue On Stand.
Commander Blue went on the etnnd
mn made n short statement He was
in Norfolk ut the time the offence
was committed. and could tell onIv
81 MS own actions upon his return
home
Miss Degengremal returned 10 the
stand
When Purneu was nut on the
stand in his own defense. Justice
Brown announced that the common.
wealth had failed to prove IL felony
ana that the prisoner would he exam.
met as one charged with misdc-
lmaanor
Remembered Nothing.
Purnel said that he was n hat and
shoe drummer and HAD been travel.
ing through here for the past eight
or ten years. He declared that he
got drunk soon after reaching here
Wednesday, and that he remembered
noting about what happened nj the no.
TEL. lie sworc that he did not re.
before she took the witness stand
and that he could not account for tho
actions credited to him He expressed
profound regret that the thing had
Disappeared. and said that he would
make all manner of apologies to
Commander Blue and the young lady
Mcrsrs. Abe Horwitz A. r. Hudg
fNa MnOuc Mavnps Idtaarr,,,, -,