The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-17
MRS. VALERA PRESTON,
Who Net Negro Assailant With
Bullet.
Latter Uses Pistol to Defend
Herself in Country
Home.

A large body of hastily sworn depu-
ties, with numerous residents, today.
are searching the woods around Eens-
iugton and Wheaton In an effort 20
locate the negro intruder who yester-
cay entered the room Of Mrs. Valera
Preston. wife OF J. W Preston. a local
horse owner, and attempted TO at
tack her
The entire comm unity OF Wheaton
IS -Ouscd- Posses Of armed men are
watching 1H roads leading 10 Wash
i-igton and the SfOund contiguous 10
tie Preston summer home is being
gone over again and again.
So tar the negro has czty rosa setr
twice. One those two occasions. how
ever, he remained in view long enough
20 enable his pursuers TO carefully scrg-
tinize him anC the latter are now in
possession or detailed description OF
his appearance. which will render his
escape doubly difficult.
According 20 Ms Preston and others
who nave seen him. the negro is about
Eve fest ten inches tall. stocky in build.
with a smooth and rather goOd-natured
face He WIS last seen clad in a blue
jumper. a PAIR OF old dark trousers. and
the attack Upon Mrs Preston.
Negro in Bedroom
The attack upon Mrs Preston happen
e yesterday morning at about 1879
o'CIock in her bedroom Mrs. Preston
had been alone with her infant daugh-
ter, and a cOICred girI during the day-
and had fortunately kept a loaded re-
volver in her room, hanging it on a
reg In the wall
During the morning she had occasion
10 60 TO her chamber, and on entering
It was terrihed TO behold the coIored
man standing near the window. hat in
hand.
What are you doing here?" she
gasped.
Instead Of replying the negro ad-
vanced toward her menacingiy. Fright
ened beyond all self-COujrOl. Mrs. Pres
ton reached wildly for the peg where
the rev Oliver hung Evidently the negro
had not noticed the weapon until her
action attracted his attention 10 it.
spraug half way across the room. with
arms outstretched. IN an effort 10 seize
her Instantly she leveled the gun and
fired The intruder pitched forward on
Fearing she had killed him. Mrs.
Preston ran down the steps, crying and
sObbing Historically In the meantime,
neighbors, hearing the pistol shot, ran
TO the house
Dives Through Window.
Mrs. Preston had barely reached the
front gate when the negro arose. ap-
parently unhUrt, sprang for the win
dow and dived through, falling a dis
tance Of seventeen feet Mrs. Preston
again brought her revolver into play
and fired two more shots before the
fugitive succeeded in making his
escape.
1t is believed that neither Of the last
two shots toOkt effect. The first shot,
it is thought, grazed the negro's skull
and mOmentarily stunned him
Mr.. Preston was Immediately tele-
phOned for. arriving at the house with
in an hour after the occurrence. With a
party Of twenty friends, all armed, he
started a search Of the woods near the
house Excitement was at fever heat
at that time, and threats Of lynching
were freely made.
So far the searching parties have
brought nothing 10 light but obscure
clues by which the negro can be traced
in his flight Every possible road 10
escape is being watched. and il is be-
lieved that, unless he is being aided,
the man win be caught before night
fall