The Washington times., 1915-01-10
ROBBERS KILL z MEN
AND WOUND WOMAN
Tragedy Occurs at CIark's Sta.
ton, a Few Miles From Cap.
ital, Early Today.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First PageJ
parlor having been pulled of the roller. |
open. Although the house Is lighted by |
the burglars used matches.
H. J. Coleman. driver Of the automo- |
bile that took Mrs. Hughes and Cof. !
the tragedy when he was found at !
the Grand Hotel today by detectives
and Commemorative Attorney Grandall
Coleman told of driving the two from
the hotel to Mrs. Hughes home. Mrs.
Hughes went in the front door, he
said. land Coffinas started to follow.
then turned back to where had be-
the charge for that portion Of the trip.
and told him 50. lie paid me and told
me to wait. that he was going back.
Then he evidently, changed his mind.
II had to drive down the road for
about 200 yards before ! could turn tho
I came back past tine house,
and was going down the hill toward
Columbia pike, slowly approaching the
railroad ,,s,., CROSSING when two ] men run.
one Of them had a beard or mask
down. giving the appearance Of
a Hebrew. Though I went faster when
I hit the pike I never overlook them.
They must have turned Off. either to-
ward the city bridge, or toward Fort
Myer."
Heard No Struggle
1t is the theory OF Alexandria. county
officials that the noise OF Colenan's
car prevented him and Coffinas from
hearing the struggle, which occurred
after Mrs. Hughes shut the front door
and switched on the electric lights.
L. l~~1s hat yIt ALI
man was down the road turning. ths
two burglars dashed out and shot down
Commas.
Coleman stated that he saw no one
turning. and 1t is believed that he
probably passed the body of Cofrinas
This agrees with the story told by
little valley from tho Hughes home. lie
said that he was aroused by shots, sad
went to tho front Of his house. lie
heard four shots fired at the front door
Of the Hughes home, he said. and then
two figures ran down the Hughes front
ward. taking the road at the fence cor
ner toward Washington:
He later Investigated, but did not
reach the Hughes house, until after 0.
Xander, the German summoned by Mrs.
Hughes from the place Of Congressman
Campbell. after she regained conscious
ness had reached the house.
Suffering greatly from shock and
other injuries. Mrs: Hughes was taken
morning. 1t was discovered that in
addition to the many cuts and bruises
sustained by her. that she had also
suffered a bullet wound in the breast.
injury was discovered by physicians.
She was taken to the hospital soon
after her son reached the house this
morning. as her condition was becom-
ing grave.
Office Of the Washington police early
today and furnished Inspector Board
man with q detailed account Of the
murder and Of the Inurdcrers. Mrs.
Hughes was able to give him fairly
could describe his companion only in a
general way. She said that the only
| words spoken by the burglar who at.
tackled and robbed her was an cpithet
and a threat to kin her. ~
scribed by Mrs. Hughes was about
thirty-fivc years old. was short and
stocky. had q growth OF beard and
wore a cap. dark clothes. short over
coat, and heavy shoes His companion
was described as taller man wearing
! cap and dark clothes.
Inspector Boardman put practically
every Central ONCE detective to work
| on the case as soon as he received the
were rounded up In the various pre-
cincts and questioned, particular at
, tcntion being given to running down
clues in connection with the two mer
| arrested by Policeman Penn after !
running pistol fight.
Frightened Providers Away.
One clcw that pointed to the possE'
arrest of the two murderers more thar
any other in the hands Of the police
carly today was one furnished by Mrs
Hughes. who told Of two providers wht
were frightened away from her home
Woshiagtom % man: as' Z She " SAID that h Isl She :
. ODca and q girl known as Alice Mortor
and also Annette Petty returned to hel
home from Washington and that the two
prowlers were discovered in a shed !,
fired a shot and the two men fed.
| Other facts. which the police have no
disclosed In connection with this incl
dent, will. It Is believed. help clear VI
the shooting at the Hughes home carl!
today.
Bandsgc Of Clue.
| What may later prove n valuable clue
is bandasc supposed to have been oil
the finger Of tho burglar with whom
Mrs. Hughes struggled. The baudaG'
was found in the hail OF the \Hushe
home today. 1t is covered with blooe
spots and the deductions OF the Ictec
tives working on tho case are that tn,
burglars little finger was cut
Bloody finger prints on a window
| shade and similar marks on the window
sash Of the Hughes house arc beinG
preserved by Prosecutor Mackey, al
positive Identification. In his opinion
will be possible if the two murderers
| are apprehended.
1t was not until this afternoon tha,
the wife of Coffinas. the murdered
Greek. learned OF her husbands death
She is an American girl and will soor
| become q mother. Her home is at 92(
New York avenue, the address found or