Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-02-06
THE ASSAULTS IN ORANGE.


Gov. Swanson yesterday offered re-
ward of 5000 for the arrest and convic-
ton Of the men who recently figured in
the chloroforming Of several young wom-
en- a: Gordousville. Orange county, while
several individuals, in their private ca
pacities, are slso Offering rewards for the
apprehension Of the guilty parties.
The county Of Orange, in which Cor
louisville is situated, offers 800; citizens
of Orange, $3.50, and citizens of Cor
louisville, $3.50.
1t now appears that the men, who are
seeking to evade the officers, perpetrated
many hideous crimes aud terrorizsd the
women in several different homes. 1t
leaked out yesterday that at least two OF
the young women were the victims OF
assault.
The houses entered we're those Of Rev.
f. A. Meade, W. A. Blakey, W. w.
Scott, librarian OF the Court of Appeals,
and Edward Davenport. In the latter
home the two Davenport sisters were
sleeping together. One Of them sue
cumbed to the chIorofjrm, but the other
awakened, and the intruders made their
escape.
While little has been learned TO shed
light on the identity of the men guilty
of the ouirsge, it is known that at least
three were engaged in the saturnalia Of
crime 1t seems that they are residents
O.. the neighborhood. Several prominent
young men are suspected.
Gordonsyile is still stirred to the core
over the recent atrocities perpetrated by
an unknown gang Of men who chlosormed
several young women in their chambers
and created agre0. inrore in the town.
State Law Librarian w. W. Scott has
at his Office a clear glass bottle, partially
filed with some aromatic liquid which,
together with a knife, had been left at
the Davenport home the night the ruff
fans hsd visited that plscs.
The bottle, with its contents, will be
turned over by Librarian Scott to DIR.
Magruder, of the Agriculture Depart
ment, for analysis. The vial is large
one, and the liquid Of a muddy COM
position, strongly impregnated with the
fumes OF ammonia. The knife is ali or
binary pocket knife. Both articles were
left on a table in the room occupied by
the Misses Davenport, each of whom was
nearlyIovercome BY chloro.orm before the
alarm was given.
A small sack was used in the first Of
tempt, which sack was fitted closely over
the face of one of the sisters. Itwas not
long before the girl lost consciousness.
A corner Of the Counterpart was next
saturated with cbloroform and this
drawn over the face Of the second sleep.
ing sister Fortunately this young lady
awOke to give the alarm. BY her side
lay the apparently lifeless form OF the
second Miss Davenport
An invalid brother responded to the
alarm, and the intruders hurried of.
10 the case of the Scott home the men
entered through the windows and left
through the back door.
A significant fact, said Mr.. Scott, is
the familiarity eyinced by the band with
all homes entered by them. This would
indicate the parties wanted are citizets,
or at least such as were familiar with
the neighborhood.
Upon leaving The last home the men,
who are believed to have been three in
number, broke into an eating house run
by aa old negro woman, and literally
consumed the entire contents OF the
locker.
The crime was committed early Thurs.
day morning Just before daybreaE.
One of The Misses Davenport was
completely under the drug when her
sister tried to awaken her. She was re-
suscitaied and is now out Of danger.
The other sister, who escaped the aw-
ful ordeal, is confident that more than
one man entered the room, although IN
her fright and confusion she could not
take careful note Of the intruders.
An unknown man entered the home
of John Luttrell at Chatham at an early
hour yesterday morning, aud was in the
act otadministering chlorOform 10 his two
step-daughters, Misses Cassie and Kate
Yates, when one of the young women
awakened and gave the alarm.
The men used cap and hood in adj
ministering the drug 10 the young wom-
en-. When Lutterell came to their as
sislance, the intruder made his escape.
II is reported that other houses were
entered, but nothing was molested, ana
no other attempt was made to chloro'
fUrm women.