The Washington times., 1908-07-31


Shields the Woman.
The detectives in the case say that
Bliss maintains a certain amount OF
secrecy, even with the officials. in dis
cussing Mrs. Martnlnson' connection
with his tarring by her irate husband
and the cause leading thereto. He
shows a tendency, 1t is SASS. to shield
the woman in every way possible.
Detectives Pratt and Hewlett have IN
their possession today several yards
OF tar-smeared rope taken from the
wrists Of Bliss after he had been drag
ged from the basement door back 10
the kitchen and given a drubbing-
According 10 the story the police now
have. Bliss was tied, face front, 10
pillar in the rear OF the Marthinson
home. and the whipping administered
as his arms and legs enctrcled the post
Bore His Punishment.
Bliss is understood to have refused to
answer the questions put to him by the
enraged men, and the drubbing was
frequently interrupted by more questions
about his alleged attentions 20 Mrs
Marthiuson and Mrs. Cole. upon his re-
fusaI 20 answer which II is said, the
whipping was renewed.
Following this the tar was administer
ed Bliss all the while standing the
ordeal with remarkable fOrtitude and
making no cutlery Persons in the
neighborhood were unaware of the
thrilling scene Of vengeance being en-
acted IN one of the most fashionable
parts Of the city.
Liquid In Eyes.
After the whipping, and while Bliss,
stu tied. was receiving a coat Of tar
he Is said to have demonstrated IN q
most matter-of-fact way with his cap
turers, while the daubs were being
thrown IN his face.
AS the fiery liquid began to run into
his eyes, he remarked:
Gentlemen. you wouldn't put out
mans eyes would you? That is pref
ty serioIs matter"
II Bliss received any other answer
than another dose Of the same llquid
fl Is not yet announced. A detailed de-
scrlption Of this taTring scene promises
TO be one OF the most interesting bits Of
court testimony ever heard in enlight-
ened washington
Detective Smith. of the Fifth pre-
cinct, who saw Bliss upon the streets
before he reached physician, said this
morning that he was frighfful object
10 behold, and that scarcely SPOT upon
his body seemed free OF the tar, with
the exception OF the palm Of his hands.
His face and eyes were completely
covered. the detective says. and even
after he had been washed by Dr. Butz,
the liquid would run down his face
again from under his hair.
Finally Found Doctor.
Bliss had considerable difficulty in
finding a physician. It appears. after
he had been virtually thrown from the
Marthinson home. visiting several ply
slcians' residences before he finally
called upon DR.. A. D. Butz, 70l East
Capitol street.
His appearance at the home Of DR..
Edwin Lothrop, in the same block,
previous to this. is said TO have been
such as to frighten Mrs Lothrop, who
at first took Mr. Bliss for a cOlOred
man, so dark was his appearance. DR..
Butt declined. on the ground OF pro-
fessiOnal ethics. to discuss the case to-
day, and Mr.. Bliss denies the reports
heretofore published that he informed
DR.. Butt that he had called at the
Marthinson home to see his fiancee,
that she had returned his ring. and that
the three men had then set upon him.
Mr.. White. one Of the arrested men.
issued a statement today in which he
alleges that he knew nothing before
hand Of the planned attack. His state
ment is:
II have known Mr.. Marthinson for
the past thirty years and was present
at his nome on Wednesday evening as
his friend knew nothing OF what was
TO occur. and as l had no grievance
against Bliss and barely knew him. l
took no part in what happened"
Statement Corresponds.
On this point the joint statement is
sued by the three men from the office
OF their attorney last night says:
Mr.. White and Mr.. Marthinson have
been acquainted about thirty years and
Mr.. White was present as Mr.. Martini
sons friend and at his request. as a
witness"
An of the three men implicated are
well known In business and financial
circles. Mr.. White, especially, was be
fore the public several years ago and
as result Of speculatiOns in various
stocks was said at that time to have
suddenly 9massed a fortune of 81 900. 900.
subsequently, he lost practically
all Of this fortune, ii is reported, on the
street. He is now broker and specu-
lator.
Marthinson owns extensive Southern
lumber interests. One Of the first per-
sons 10 appear and offer financial aid
yesterday was Vice President White Of
the Commercial National Bank. Mr. Cole
is the general manager OF local tabu-
lating company.
Mr.. Marthinson is man. apparently,
Of about ffty-five years Of age. weigh
ing about 200 pounds Mrs MarthinSOn
Is said 70 be thirty-fOur They have a
son thirteen years old. Az Of the men
VINO participated in the tarring appear
70 be the physical equals II Bliss Mr..
Cole is a young, athletic man. weighing
about $50 pounds Mr. White is smaller
OF statute and lighter, but stOckily built
Mrs Marthinson Pretty.
Mrs Marthinson is said to be an IN
usually attractive woman. She has de-
ciined to discuss her alleged hypnotic
regard for Bliss. and it is understood
that Detective How EFT was unable 10
make her divulge Information upon a
number Of points which would throw
light upon the case.
Mr.. and Mrs. Marthinson, il was said
have lived here about eight years but
none of the principals concerned seemed
inclined to tell the officials about the
earlier life Of the couple or whence they
came She is said to have married
MarthinsOn when but sixteen years OF
age.
Mr.. Coles address is given in the di-
rectory as 1917 Kenyon street. the same
as the Marthinson address, but this Is
explained that during the absence OF
his wife, AIr. Cole has Sublet his apart
ments to the MarthinSOns for the
present.
Bliss denies that he made statements
10 his physicians that he had been hyp-
Noticed by Mr.. Marthinson the night OF
the ARRAY The fact that hypnotism
seems TO be upon the mind of the two
respective principals in the sensational
affair, is but one Of the mysteries Of the
case.
A Mysterious Feature