The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

When almost directly beneath a street
lamp. and but a short distance from one
OF the entrances 10 The Portland Apar.-
ments. on Vermont avenue, just north of
L street northwest. Miss Janette c. Kelly.
"a cashier at The Arlington Hotel. was at
tackled By an unknown negro last night
and robbed Of her handbag
Her assailant escaped. Al lata hour
! last night ne had not been apprehended.
The attack on Miss Kelly occurred
about z o'clock ia the evening within view
Of a number Of people VINO were on the
| well-lighted street Within three blocks
from where Miss Kelly was attacked. two
other women have been robbed in q
similar manner during The past few
weeks, and as yet their assailants have
not been apprehended.
Miss KeIIy's Account.
Miss Kelly was returning from visit
at the home of "a friend last night when
attacked. According to what she told De
| tective Parham, one Of the headquarters
| detectives. who has been assigned TO the
case, at the conclusion OF her days work
she left the hotel and started 10 her
/ friends home in the vicinity OF Thomas
/ circle, Fourteenth street and Vermont
| avenue.
Arriving at the house. Miss Kelly learn
/ ed the friend was not at home. She start
ed back TO the Arlington Hotel. where she
makes her home
/ The young woman was about middle
way Of the block between the intersec-
ti0n Of Vermont avenue and Fourteenth
street and J. street. Sne was walking on
the sidewalk on the east side OF Vermont
avenue. and was almost opposite the car
riage entrance TO the Portland apart
meats when attacked
2Iiss Kelly was attacked fromshe rear.
Whether the negro had followed her OF
suddenly sprang from behind a vehicle
standing beside the curb. the young Wom-
an WIS unable 10 tell The first she knew
Of the negro's presence was when she re-
ceived a stunning blow on the back Of
the head. The negro then grabbed her
about the neck and at the same time
placed one OF his feet ia front Of the
young woman and tripped her.
Protects Head With Her Arms.
Miss Kelly was forced 90 the pavement
Grabbing her by the back Of the head
the negro attempted TO beat the young
womans head against the sidewalk Miss
Kelly, with her arms, protected her head
from being dashed against The pavement
4
bag. which she carried ON her arm. and
gave il a tug which severed the handle
He was about to step over the young
woman when Miss Kelly attempted 90
rise Her quick action tripped the negro.
who lost his balance. and nearly fell 10
the street. Miss Kelly managed then to
get a good look at the man and was
able 20 furnish an excellent description
OF her unknown assailaut.
With the bag clutched in his hand the
negro bOited across Vermont avenue and
ran down an alley on the west side Of
the street. known as Vermont court He
followed the court until he reached Fif-
teenth street where several people who
We're passing saw him enter another al
ley and disappear In the direction of Six
teenth street
screams bring HasSers-by-
Attracted by her screams. several pedes-
triaEs hurried 10 the assistance Of Miss
Kelly. Policeman Smith. of the Second
precinct reached the young woman's
side within a short time, and immediate
ly. secured a description Of her assauant
Her description taIlies with that given
Of their assailants by q number OF other
women who have been similarly attacked
within the past two months. Miss Kelly
says the negro Is tall. brown-skinned
man about fve feet eleven inches IN
height, dressed in a dark suit Of clothes
and black sloueh hat
a negro bearing a similar description
attacked Mrs. Robert Hickman on the
night OF November &C. 1907. in the door
way of her home at the Lenox apart
ments, 1923 L street, one Block distant
from tie scene of the attack on Miss
Kelly. On the night Of December IS Miss
Letitia Tyler. a granddaughter of Presi-
dent Tyler. was attacked In front of her
home. 1915 L street, by a negro whose
description is said 10 tally with that Of
MISS hllly's assailant When Miss Tacie
tawkes, of 1886 Fifteenth street. was al ,
lacked and robbed in the vicinity of Fif-
teenth and Q streets northwest only a
rev nights ago, TALL Hght-brown |
skinned negro figured in the case.
May BE All Cne Mans Grimes.
Because OF the great similarity In the |
descriptions OF the negroes who have been
snatching pocketbOoks and attacking
women in this city during the past two /
or three months the police believe il has /
all been the work Of one man. For the /
past two weeks the entire detective and /
reserve police forces have been on the /
streets in the northwest section Of the
city every night in plain clothes.
This practice was only abandoned three /
nights ago, when young negro was ar
rested who Acknowledged snatching |
pocketbooks Since then, however. the /
police have learned that his supposed con-
fession was not truv and accordingly
have carried the negro back to the Bows
Reform School, from which institution ne /
was a fugitive.
Since the middle Of last September there
have been fourteen women attacked and
robbed in the street by negroes. Only
three Of their assaiiants have been ap- /
pretended and convicted
Flood Danger Passed.
Reports from the Upper Potomac yes
L. ...-.-, a., -.