Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-30
TAR SUIT FOR SU|T0R
Bliss Calls to See FianCe and
Gets Rough Treatment.
GIRL GIVES BACK HIS RING
Sends Him in Basement, Where
Three Men Seize Him.
REVOLVER POINTED AT HIM
Despite Resistance, Is Daubed With
Sticky Stuff From Head to Foot.
Then Freed to Seek Doctor.

II was to have been married in New
York. and had given the lady ring.
Last night when l went to the house she
asked me to enter through the basement
door. This was something unusual.
after she had returned the ring the
three men grabbed me, dragged me into
the house. tied my handsome of them
pointing a revolver at me-and then ap
piled the tar"
This was his epitomization of an unex-
pected china to his love affairs told last
night by F. E. Bliss. jr.. Of Washington.
to the doctor to whom he applied to strip
him of a coat Of tar which extended from
his head to his heels
Bliss Is a member of the firm Of Bliss,
Albrect & Co. paper rulers, with Offices
In the Hutchins building, 10th and ID
streets northwest.
The young man had his uncomfort-
able experience last night between and
10 o'clock. at 1917 Kenyon street, the
home Of the woman who, he stated, was
to have become his wife. He. was awed
into submission, he declared, by the
revolver.
Following the indignity Bliss went to
the Office Of DR.. Abraham D. Blitz and
had the coat Of tar removed.
Detective Phillips and Precinct Detect
i've Smith saw the man before DR.. Butz
Warrants Sworn Out.
No action was taken until today. Then
Bliss swore out a warrant for his alleged
assailants. giving their names as Charles
Marthinson, Henry c. Cole and James l..
White. He made no effort to implicate
the woman In the proceedings.
1t is said that Bliss was literally drag
ged from the front basement door to the
room In which he was given the coat, of
tar. He made a desperate resistance, but
caused no excitement in the vicinity OF
the Kenyon street house. 1t was dark
when the young man emerged from the
house and started in the direction OF Cap
itol Hill.
The first known Of the affair by the
police was when the two detectives saw
Bliss on East Capitol street about 1(
O'clock looking for physician. His facs
was covered with tar. His appearance
frightened several ladies who were seated
before their homes on East Capitol street
when he appeared there in q runabout.
Bliss was there to find DR.. Richard
KinEsman. his family physician. AS that
doctor was out OF the city he went to the
Capitol street
us the doctor in?" he called from his
runabout to Mrs. Lothrop and friends.
who were seated in front Of the house.
Bliss asked where he could find another
physician.
Mrs Lothrop thought 1t strange that the
man whom she supposed to be a negro
had not left his runabout and come to the
door. One of her friends suggested prob
ably his horse would not stand. The wife
Of the physicians walked to the curb. 1t
was not until she saw his hands that she
realized he was a white man.
I'm pretty badly done up" the man in
- H. I,,sr4 h
to 60 to the office Of DR.. A. D. Butz. 7O1
East Capitol street.
-And Of all the sights I ever saw" DR..
Butz said, that was the worst.
Physician Removes Tar.
As soon as the young man told the
physician what had happened to him the
latter invited him in taking him to the
bathroom on the upper floor. realizing he
had difficult job ahead of him. The
physician assisted Bliss to remove his
clothing. and soon saw that the coating
OF tar was from his head to his feet.
How did you ever get all that tar on
your was the physicians query.
1t seemed rather ludicrous to the physi-
clan, but Mr. Bliss did not appreciate
the fact that he was the victim Of prac-
experience at the Kenyon street house.
and was not In any humor to look lightly
upon the affair.
His wrists showed where the rope had
somewhat infamed.
Bliss told his story to the physician, and
further explained that after the tar had
been applied the rope was removed from
his wrists and he was permitted to leave
the house. From there he drove all the
way to Capitol Hill to find DR.. kingsman,
realizing his condition was possibly dan
gerous and that he would be unable to
remove all the tar from his body.
His explanation having been made. the
physician invited him to the bathroom
and proceeded with the work of making
the young man comfortable. He was un-
able to use preparations which would
have removed the tar without any diff
Guilty. realizing the skin was already ten
der and that serious results might follow.
For fully one hour the physician labored
over the tarred man and finally said
good night to him. suggesting that q
Turkish bath would be about the best
thing for him. Where Mr.. Bliss actually
sician the latter did not know.
The affair was the means Of giving resi-
dents of East Capitol street something
to talk about last night. Detective
who live only a few doors from the house
of DIR. Butz. learned of the affair and
saw the patient.
Police Call on Bliss.
Bliss made no effort to conceal his
identity. writing his name and business
address on a sheet of paper and giving 1t
to the physician and police. Inspector
BoardIman was told Of the affair this
morning. and he detailed Detectives Pratt
and Hewlett to make an investigation.
They called upon Mr.. Bliss, and learned
from him that he was the man who had
had the terrible experience last night.
that he had made no effort to conceal his
Identity and that he did not want to fig
ure in a prosecution Of the alleged Offend
ers. He was advised that the affair had
already been made public. and he there
upon decided he would take the case to
court.
Mr.. Bliss told the police that Marthin-
son lives in the Kenyon street house.
was unable to give the address Of White.
He did not call at police headquarters
this morning to make complaint against
the trio. The detectives had to go to
his once. When they reached his ONCE
he readily explained to them the circum-
stances under which he had received the
treatment and afterward went with them
to the Police Court and procured the war;
rant.
The police and others who saw the
young man do not understand how 1t
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