Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-24
FOUND GUILTY
OF ASSAU[T|NG GIRL
Sentence Imposed, Following
Story Told by Nine Year.
Old Child in Court.

Edward Gayer. a bricklayer. Of al
Ridge street, who figured In the reported
abduction Of Achsah Petty. a nine-year-
old school girl, yesterday afternoon
was today adjudged guilty OF assaultins
the child by Judge Pugh In the Police
Court. and sentenced to spend eleven
months and twenty nine days in Jail
The abduction phase Of the case was
dropped, there being a lack OF testimony,
in the opinion OF the United States at
torney, on which to base a bona fide
prosecution.
1t was testified that Gayer grabbed
the child and lifted her on a street cal
as 1t stopped for a moment at 7th and
G streets. He quieted her fears by
telling her that he intended giving her a
street car ride and taking her home.
When the car reached a point close ,c
Rhode Island avenue and I'd stree
northeast, Gayer alighted with the child
and took her into a lonely culvert under
the street, according to the testimony
Several moments later her cries for as
sistance attracted the attention of pedes
TRANS They investigated and after hear
ing part Of the girls story summoned
the police.
Story Told by Girl.
II was standing at 7th and G. streets
waiting for a girl and a woman will
whom I came downtown to come out o
d restaurant, when a car came along Oh
the G street line. 1t stopped for mo
ment and somebody reached down. caugh
me under the arms and lifted me into
seat. 1t was that man there, the CIR
told Judge Pugh, indicating the defendan
with her finger.
II began to cry and tried to get off. H
put his arm about my shoulder and tolt
to take a long street car ride and go oaci
home. He offered to buy me candy ant
told me he was all alone In the worlt
and lived In the woods.
the Capitol building-until We came to
a narrow cross street. We got on
there, and he took me by the hand and
led me down into a tunnel"
The child described the assault and
her cries for assistance. Her demeano
voice on the witness stand indicated
she had not fully recovered from the
shock OF her experience.
Joseph Burnston of 933 + street
southwest, Benjamin Gordon of 712
street southwest. Walter Bartholomew
of 939 r street southwest and Leonard
B. Hurr of Brookland told of hearing
the child's cries and going to her as
sistance.
Said He Was Child's Father.
"Gayer told us he was the child's
father" Burnston testified. She de-
MED it and began crying Historically
Between her sobs we found out a few
Of the details of his picking her up or
the street. There was nothing to dc
but grab him and hold him for the pc.
lice"
All the witnesses said that while thu
girl was telling them how she happened
to be in the culvert Gayer attempted Il
slip away. Several of them held hin
while Gordon, who was on a motor cycle
speeded away for the police. He subse
quently brought the girl into the city ant
turned her over to the second precinc
police station.
Gayer denied that he had assaulted tn,
child or had made an effort to do SO
He gave his age as forty-efght years ant
said he had been q resident Of the Dis
trict practically all Of his life.
Achsah Petty Is the daughter of Mrs
Petty Of 41 NJ street. She is the only
child, and her father, it was said. i.
now in a precarious condition in a loca
hospital. The news of his daughters ex
perience is being kept from him. The
girl is second-grade pupil in the Abbot
School. Mrs. Petty and several of heI
relatives accompanied the child to cour
this morning.