Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-05
KNEW BLISS AS YOUTH
Mrs. Cole Declares Trouble
Can Be Strengthened Out.
SAYS CASE MAY BE KILLED
Assistant Attorney Given Asserts
Otherwise, However.
MYSTERIOUS WITNESS MISSING
Brunette Woman Called at Police
Court, But Never Came Back.
Mrs. Cole Back From Con-
necticut.
WITNESS MISSING

Many mysterious moves are being made
in the case of Charles Marthinson, Henry
c.. Cole and James l.. White, charged
with having applied a coat of tar to r. r.
Bliss. jr. a week ago in the basement at
the Marthinson home. 1917 Kenyon street.
Prosecuting Attorney Given has not yet
found the woman who visited the Police
Court several days ago and made anxious
inquiries about the Coat Of tar" episode.
which Is occupying the attention of the
district attorneys Office.
The young woman, who was not more
than thirty years Of age, had black hair
and was well dressed. She seemed to
know all about the several persons con-
nected with the complicated affair and
expressed a desire to tell the prosecuting
officer what she knew of them.
She left the court before she saw the
attorney. however, and has not returned
The woman is now referred to as the mys-
terious witness.
Many Mysterious Moves.
The man who received the rough treat
ment is doing all he can to aid the prose-
cution. The defendants and their at
torneys do likewise. although they are not
brought to the notice of the prosecuting
attorney as is Bliss.
Rliss was on hand in the Police Court
about noon today. He was with Detective
Pratt, who assisted in making the arrests
in the case. and was questioned at length
hv Assistant United States Attorney
Given.
all he would say when questioned by a
Star reporter. He is my attorney Just
at present l will have to follow his ad-
vice He tells me not to say ANYTHING.
So l am following his instructions
son will say to a reproter. White and
Cole are equally non-commlttai
Mrs. Cole Knows Bliss.
Mrs Cole wife of one of the three de-
PENDANTS, it is believed, will be an i'm
portant witness in the case should there
ever be a trial of the affair in court.
This. some people think. is doubtful. al
though Mr.. Given is authority for the
declaration that the case will positively
be heard.
II can't say anything about the case
said Mrs Cole when seen this morning at
her home. 2114 Pennsylvania avenue. by
a Star reporter
But" she volunteered. ''the case can
he killed. 1t can be Strengthened out all
right
Mrs Cole said she had known Bliss in
his younger days in Hartford. Conn,
where, she said. his father. F.. f.. Bliss.
sr. is president of the American Publish
ing Company. She knew the family well
when size lived there ten years ago. but
would say nothing more about the life
or movements of the younger Bliss.
Asked for statement about what trans
pired last Wednesday, night at the Ken
yon street house. Mrs. Cole said she was
not in the city at that time.
II was at home with my parents, i'm
Hartford she said. and was amazed
when l returned here and learned what
had been done"
Mrs. Cole said she thought it was for
the detectives and the attorneys to ascer-
tain what they could about the case She
had been questioned as witness and she
did not intend to do any more talking
about the affair until the case is tried.
Bliss Has Been Frank.
1t is said that Bliss has made ftql
statement TO Assistant United States At
torney Given. telling him of the events
of his entire life. making no effort to
conceal anything The attorney told
Star reporter. however. that he was not