The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-10
Beauties of GordonSviIle
Singled Out as Intended
Victims in Midnight
lntruSiOnS.
In Each Case Residence
Entered in Absence of
the Men of the
House.

GORDONSVILLE, Va, Feb. g.
The dastardly attempt of unknown
miscreants to chloroform four Young
women Of this town in the night
with foul intent, has aroused the
people here to a desire for ven
geance such as has never been
known in the annals Of the com
munity.
The reward offered for the ap-
prehensiOn Of the malefactors
reaches an aggregate of $1,000. and
1T is expected that $500 more will
be added to the sum already stated
The crime or series Of crimes which
are the sole topic of comment here were
committed week ago last Thursday
morning at about 1:30 o'clock, when
the neighbors in the vicinity of the
Davenport home were aroused by the
cries of the inmates.
Among those responding TO the call
Tor assistance were J. L. Bailey and
Councilman r. r. Powell.
In Girls Bedroom.
The found all the members Of tho
Davenport family at home at the time
in a high state OF excitement at what
they claimed was the invasion Of the
house by two or more men who had at
tempted 10 ChlOrOfOrm the two eldest
daughters, Anna and Lottie Davenport
Upon investigation. IL was found that
the window leading TO the young wo-
mems bedroom on the first floor had
hppn Ia
the kitchen was atar.
The oldest sister, Anna. said she vvas
awakened by the sitting and oppreg-
sive odor OF chIoroforn and. as she
awakened. she detected the voices Of
men talking In subdued whispers in the
kitchen.
She gave a scream which was follow
ed by a shuffiing of feet as the men
ned out the rear door Of the kitchen.
In Deathlike Sleep.
She then noticed that the window in
her room was wide open and her sister.
Lottie. who occupied the same bed. an
peared to be in a deathlike slumber.
After repeated urgings Lottie did not
awaken from her stupor and Anna
rolled her out Of the bed which served
10 arouse her to some semblance Of life.
On the pillows Of the bed where the
girls heads had rested was a cap be-
longing TO one Of the boys Of the house.
saturated with chloroform, which had
evidently been placed over Annals face
while she slept. 4 shirt waist belong
ing to Lottie had also been dampened
with the drug and placed over her
face.
In the morning n report came from
the Woodlawn Seminary that an attempt
had been made to chloroform two pupils
of that institution. the Bowers sisters.
who had room at the residence Of the
Episcopal rector. the Rev. T. A. Meade.
Man of House Away.
The latter, with his family. was away
from homo on the night the intruders
entered the two girls having been left
&lone.
The open windows and doors in the
house, as well as the odor Of chIoro-
form. were evidence that the intrudars
were on the same erraad as those who
had broken into the Davenport house.
Then IL was told that the intruders
had invaded the homes Of w. A. BIaI1ev.
the town treasurer; w. W Scott. the
State law librarian. and Robert Swan.
the blacksmith. All these places were
broken into during she absence of the
men, and in no case =.s-e any valuables
taken.
Chief Of Police r. G. Watkins de-
clares thet he is nOnplussed as 10 the
identity OF the miscreants, saying:
Trail Killed by Hail.
''We had Hurricane Branch here with
his famous bloodhound. Tiger Jr..' but
Il had hailed heavily the night Of the
crimes. and the trail could not be fol-
lowed by the dog.
mo me saw the intruders. We have
no clue TO their identity. Their pur-
pose was apparent on using the chIoro-
form and in visiting the homes of the
prettiest and most popular young ladies.
IT was the barking OF a dog that drove
them away from the residence where
the Bowers girls room. and the awaken
ing of Anna Davenport and her cry for
help drove them out of that place.
1T is astonishing that the malefactors
should have chosen homes at the very
opposite ends OF town and escaped de-
lection. To me IL looks as IL there
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