Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-08
GordonsviIIe, Va, Aroused Over
Recent 0utrages.
YOUNG GIRLS ASSAULTED
Details of the Work of Unknown
Chloroformers.
INDIGNATION IS SPREADING
Guilty Men Showed Familiarity With
Surroundings, but Officers Have
No Clue to Follow.

RICHMOND. Va, February s.-The first
authentic and accurate report of the recent
Gordonsvile atrocity. in which a double
criminal assault was perpetrated upon two
young ladies, who had previously been
chloroformed, has been received here.
The crime occurred In the rectory tho
home of Rev. F. A. Meade. Mr.. Meade was
at the time on his vacation. The victims
were both students at the Female Institute
located across the street from the rectory,
Both ladies lived at the home of the MIN
lister. The young ladies are said not TO
have regained consciousness until after 8
o'clock on the following morning so deadly
was the action of the drug. .-.-
State Law Librarian w. w. Scott whose
nome adjons the rectory, says that intense
excitement prevails in Gordonsville and was
rapidly spreading over the whole county of
Orange. There is already in hand a purse
of $1,000 subscribed as a reward for the
apprehension and conviction of the men
guilty of the crime.
A significant feature characterizing the
work of the. offenders, says Mr.. Scott. is
the familiarity displayed by them in the
homes visited Wednesday night. These
homes were apparently selected by men
familiar not alone with their premises, but
with an Interior motive of entering only
such as were absolutely unprotected. Thus
it was known that Librarian Scott would
be in Richmond that Edward Davenport
| employed by the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road, was habitually from home during the
week, and that Rev. .F. A. Meade, rector
OF the Episcopal Church. was off on his am
nual vacation. 49,
Fled From Home.
In the Davenport home there was sup-
posed to be only the two Misses Davenport,
with their invalid brother. There was,
hprr,a
ing that night at the residence, and the in
truders beat hasty retreat.
At the home of w. A. Blakey no one but
the mother and her two daughters were to
be found in the early hours of the night
Mr.. Blakey, a Gordonsvile merchant, usu-
ally being detained at his store until late
hour. The homes of Messrs. Scott Meade
and Blakey are all punched, those of the
librarian and minister adjoining. The
Blakey home is supposed to have been the
first entered. Mr.. Blakey is a member of
the town council.
When Mr.. Blakey returned to his resi-
dence Wednesday night he discovered that
his front door was locked. This was about
o'clock, an unusual hour for Mr.. BlalSey
Upon entering his house, Mr.. Blakey found
his wife in a state of excitement. She said
that she had been disturbed by unusual
noises downstairs, and believed that men
had attempted to force entrance. Shes
said however, that it was not she who had
locked the door. On trying the door to
ened. Men had evidently been In this room,
large ferns and growing plants having been
removed from bay window, though the
intruders had made off. This easement
was up when Mr.. Blakey entered the room.
Two Women Chloroformed.
At the rectory on the night of January
80 slept two young lady students who were
attending the female institute Both ladies'
had their rooms at the rectory, which cir
~ q IA 10 10Th
the outlaws. About midnight the home was
broken into, both women chloroformed and
double assault committed. Absolutely no
clue was left by the. ruffians, who, having
accomplished their designs, left for the
Davenport'home. ..l,.
Their victims were not discovered until
some hours afterward. 1t was at the home
of Edward Davenport that the alarm was
first given, and the desperadoes put finally
to flight.
1t was we'll past midnight when the ma
RAIDERS entered this dwelling. The two
Misses Davenport were asleep in an upper
apartment. Mrs Davenport was away from
home. About o'clock the frightened, half
stifed cry Of a woman rang out. The cry
was one of terror, as though some one were
being smothered. The cry was repeated.
and in an instant a mans footstep was
heard In answer to the alarm and the in
truders We're beating their retreat. .
One of the sisters was found in a CONF
plete state of Inconsistencies. A tight
sack, saturated with chloroform, was fitted
tightly over her face. The second sister,
who had given the alarm, had raised her
self from her pillow. On her face was a
look of unutterable terror She seemed to
be fighting for breath. An underbody, like
wise saturated with chloroform, had been
laid over her face. She had awakened
just In time to save the home.
Interest in Washington.
Much interest in the case is being taken
by the local police and friends of the per-
sons who-Here attacked in the homes and
chloroformed. Many former residents Of
Orange county live in this city, and they ara
considerably wrought up over the happens
ings of the past week Police department Of
fcials received the first official information
about the affair this morning, when cir
cular came by mail from w. L. Dowell,
president of the Gordonsville town council.
Offering reward of 81, 900 for the arrest
of the guilty persons. The circular reads:
"One thousand dollars reward for the
rest and conviction Of the person or per-
sons, who with evil intent entered the
houses in and around Gordonsville, Va, on
1.-TWO hundred dollars by the governor OF
Virginia; $500 by the town OF Gordons-
vile; 500 by the county of Orange; $500 by
subscription Of citizens of town of Orange,
and guaranteed; $500 by subscription of cit-
zens of Gordonsvile, and guaranteed. Good
for ninety days from date and then renew
able" .
The circular was dated February g. In
spector Boardman had the contents of the
circular telephoned to the several police
stations, but as reports from Orange county
indicate that the offenses were committed
by persons who probably belong there he
has not much hope Of finding them here.