The Washington times., 1908-12-12
GIRLS THROAT CUT
IN PADLOCKED ROOM
Had Been Dead Two Weeks,
Hospital Doctor
Thinks.
FIND FEW CLUES
TO TRACE SLAYER
Every Vestige of Evidence De-
stroyed on Murderer's
Later Trips.

NEW YORK, Dec. ia pretty girl
about twenty years old was found slain,
with her throat cut from ear to ear, in
q second floor room which was pad
locked ut s97 East Eleventh street. and
today the police are seeking a man
known as her husband, who disap-
peared two weeks ago, the time the
crime is believed to have been COM
mitted. Bloody finger prints on the
doorlSnob and mantel are clues by which
the police expect to run down the slayer.
DR.. Steele, OF Bellevue Hospital. who
examined the body, said the girl h1'
been dead two weeks and gave IT as his
opinion that she had been druggec be-
fore she was kined.
Find Two Razors-
Two razors were found in the room.
one underneath the body Of the victim
This was nicked and broken at the
handle and was undoubtedly used IN
committing the crime. The police, who
made a thorough examination OF the
room. declared that the slayer hao ap-
parently returned TO the room several
times after killing the girl and destroyed
ali evidence that might lead TO his or
the girls Identification.
The crime was discovered by Police
man Scherer, of the Fifth street station,
who had been summoned by Mrs Sniler,
5anitress Of the house. who said she had
tried repeatedly 20 set into the room TO
collect the rent, which was due. The
door was padlocIled on the outside The
policeman broke It in and found the girl
dead on the bed.
The place was IN a state Of almost
indescribable disorder, due to the fact
ID h.1r- h1A
spent considerable time destroying every
vestige Of evidence. There We're many
picture frames on the bureau and man
tel. some OF them Of expensive sHNer.
From these the pictures had been WIFI
orawn or cut out In the stove was q
heap OF ashes and charred paper, show
ing that every scrap of writing had
been burned
Clothes Are Gone.
The wouan's clothes had disappeared
or had been mutuated with a knife, or
nv being torn to shreds until they were
almost beyond Identification All Of the
mans effects had been removed from
the room. The only living thing in
the apartment were some gold fish in
2. bowl. and after DR.. Steele, Of Bellevue
Hospital. who examined. the body. de-
cIared that the woman had been dead
at least Two weeks. IL was believed that
the man who killed her had returned
M intervals TO the room to make thor
ough his work Of the destruction Of any
clues Of Identification, and In one Of
the inexplicable traits shown by nur-
derers. had fed the fish on his visits.
Mrs Gussie Smiler, the janitress, was
able to throw but little light on the
tragedy. and her story about the mys-
terfous actions Of the couple added to
the interest Of the police in the crime
and their belief that there IS some
strange motive back OF the murder.
On October 10, according 10 Mrs.
Smiler, a man about thirty years old,
with black hair, black mustache, and a
dark complexion, finely dressed, with
diamond scarfpin and rings, and wear
ing a handsome fur-Hned overcoat,
called upon her and asked TO look at
some apartments.
Selects a Suite.
He selected the suite known as No.
., a large room and a buffet kitchen,
and promptly paid me a months rent
I'm advance from a roll Of bills" said
Mrs. Smiler. He said that his wife
and himself had Just returned from
California and would remain at the
house until he had established himself
in business. He told me he was a
.'1eLSS N<L44oAs Dul billleu aL me Wnen
he said this. and had no idea that he
had ever followed such a calling. He
looked more to me ike a soIdier-lfke
an officer from some foreign country.''
mat evening the man brought the
woman, VINO seemed about TWENTY-FIVE.
and was richly gowned and wore naafy
diamonds lie called her Flora - and
by that name alone was she known TO
the tenants. The only clues found IN
the room were a receipted bill for
eWelry from Breslaysky Bros in
Maiden lane, but with no name and a
gas blu IN the name Of ''BetteIio'' from
Jhe Consolidated Gas Company. and
GATED September II. 1905.