Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-21
| WOMAN VICTIM
OF GROSS CRIME
Unidentified Man Assaults Mrs.
Rose Porter.
HER SKULL WAS FRACTURED
Surgeons Unable to Determine the Re-
suit of Her Injuries.
RESIDENT OF BETHESDA, MD.
Officers in Search of the Suspects
Believed to Have Been
White Man.
HER SKULL WAS FRACTURED
RESIDENT OF BETHESDA, MD.

Mrs. Rose Porter, thirty years of age,
was taken to the Emergency Hospital last
night to be treated for dangerous wounds,
which, she reported, she received at the
hands of an unidentified colored man, who
attacked her while she was near Sheridan
circle not far from Massachusetts avenue
and 10Th street.
He was a short, stout colored man." she
told the police He had on light over
coat, but l don't think l could identify
him."
The police received information that
white man was seen coming from the di-
rectiOn of the place where the assault was
committed and they state they think Mrs.
Porter is mistaken about the color of her
assailant The young woman has several
ugly cuts and bruises about her head and
face. Her skull is fractured and it was
impossible for the physicians to state last
night her exact condition.
1t was stated at the hospital that a
change for the worse may take place at
any time and that the wounds may event
ually cause the death of the patient.
The statement made by Mrs. Porter is
that she was struck on her right temple
with some blunt instrument. that her as
saiant rammed his fingers down her
throat several times after using his fist
upon her face and that attempt was
made TO commit feiOnious assault upon
her.
Resident Of Maryland.
Mrs. Porter lives at Bethesda, Mont
gomery county. Md, and is the wife of
Louis Porter, a stonemason. She stated
last night that she left home about
O'Clock and went to visit friend. Mrs.
Sawyer, who lives at 142S Wisconsin ave-
nue., Georgetown. After leaving home she
stated, she walked west on street, cross
ing the 2 street bridge over Rock Creek
and going in the vicinity of Sheridan
Circle, where her assailant accosted her
She went TO that vicinity, she said because
she expected she would meet her step-
daughter. who is employed near there. She
was disappointed at not finding the child
she told the police, and she was walking
leisurely along Massachusetts, avenue when.
she says the colored man grabbed her
with the result stated.
Loud screams for assistance brought Coo
Nicholson to the vicinity Mr. Nicholson
resides in the locality. He offered to assist
her, Two boys appeared upon the scene
about that time. and they also volunteered
to lend helping hand.
MI Nicholson realized the condition of
the woman was such that the services of
physician We're needed. but before going in
search OF professional man he stopped at
a private school. near where the assault
was committed, and washed the blood from
Mrs. PorterS head and face. Then he
assisted her to the office of DR.. Richard s.
gave her temporary aid. heard the story of
her terrible experience, and then suggested
that she be taken to hospital.
Police Start Investigation.
Policemen Sullivan and Russell of the
tenth precinct and Policeman Hughlett of
the third precinct went to work upon the
investigation. Mrs. Porter was taken to
the Emergency Hospital in the third pre-
cinct patrol wagon by Policeman O'Brien,
and Lieut.. Peck, who was on duty at DO
ice headquarters, was notified. He sent
Detective Grant to the hospital to get a
statement OF the occurrence and later he
was joined by Detective Hewlett and they
We're directed to go to Bethesda for the
purpose Of continuing the investigation
there and possibly to make an arrest of
resident of Montgomery county on sus-
picion.
While Mrs Porter was on the operating
table at the hospital she was closely ques-
toned by Detective Grant and Policeman
Lake of the third precinct. During the time
the two officers talked to her she was per-
fectly rational, the severe injuries to her
scalp, skull and face not having affected
her mental powers. 1t was found neceS-
sary for the surgeons to put several stitches
in the cut she received to her mouth, and
a dressing was applied to the other in
juries. BY the time the surgeons had fin
to be removed to a ward the detectives had
finished questioning her.
Mrs Porter's Statement.
To Detective Grant and Policeman
Lake she told the story Of having left
home to visit her friend. Mrs. Sawyer.
and of then going over to the neighbor-
hood where she thought she might see
her stepdaughter. She was walking along
Massachusetts avenue, she stated, when
she was grabbed from behind by a col
ored man. who began beating her with
out saying a word to her. She thinks he
used stone on the back of her head and
upon her right temple.
Then she said, he grabbed me by
the throat and rammed his fingers down
my mouth several times"
Mrs. Porter said she fought off her as
sailant as well as she could and screamed
for help. 1t seemed to her as if 1t were
a long while before assistance came but
Mr. Nicholson says he hurried to her as
soon as he heard her screams. Following
the blows she received. she told the po-
lice, her assailant made an attempt to
submit her to an indignity. The sight of
quantity of blood caused Mr.. Nichol-
son to believe she had been cut with a
knife.
At the Office of DIR. Blackburn Mrs. Porter
related part Of the story of the assault
but the physician did not question her
closely He detained her only long enough
to wash the blood from her wounds and
sxi,- rolf halt =,