Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-01-11

I walk. III
1 Z Coleman, the chauffeur said that
| after Coffinas had settled the fare
!: with him he turned his automobile
and started back to Washington. fle
said he had to run up the road a
Ipieca to make the turn so as to get
| into the best road back to the city
land that on his way back ne passed
the Hughes home, but noticed moth
ing wrong. Some distance from the
Hughes home. Coleman said two men
i ran up the road and disappeared in
the direction of Fort Myer.
Investigation at the Hughes home
showed desperate struggle had
taken place there, the papering on
the walls being marked with blood
stains as were the carpets in the hall
way and parlor. Every drawer and
storage place in the lower part OF
the house was found pried open with
sharp instrument and the contents
thrown out. A pair Of diamond ear
rings worn by Mrs. Hughes were
torn from her ears.
II was after o'clock when Mrs.
Hughes regained consciousness. She
staggered to the home OF Represen-
tative Philip Campbell Of kansas,
who lives nearby, and told him OF
the tragedy. Mr.. Cambell, with seve-
raj employed men on his place, went
TO the Hughes home. DR.. James w.
Hart, of Washington, was summoned
and paye medical aid to Mrs. Hughes
He afterward ordered Mrs Hughes
sent to the hospital.
Mrs. Hughes, besides having seVe-
raj teeth knocked out and deep
cut in the upper lip. has pistol
pistol wound in the chest, which she
did not know of until examined by
DR.. Hart. Her condition is serious.
Mr.. Waldrop was shot in the
right arm, right chest, left side. and
in the back. Coffinas was shot
through the left chest, the bullet
penetrating his heart. He died IN
stantly the police say. When found
there was a cigarette in his hand.
Mrs. Matte A. Hughes, known as
"Frankie Harris is forty six years
old. She was formerly of Greer. S. {.
Mrs. Hughes lived a checkered
career. Twenty years ago she was
one Of the most beautiful women mi
South Carolina. In 1899 at Greer, s.
c.. she is alleged to have killed her
husband George Hughes, wealthy
merchant, because Of cruel treatment
The woman's beauty aided her when
she was placed on trial for her life
three times at Grenvill, S. c.. in
1900.
She mysteriously disappeared from
Greenville,. and was reported to be
massquerading around the world in
mems clothes; One report said that
she had been killed in a gambling den
in Denver and that she was dressed
as a man at the. time.
Fifteen years, ago she went to
Washington dressed as man and OBJ
tanned; employment in a cafe. : Her
impersonation was discovered, and
she disappeared again. The police
say she drifted to the underworld
lived there as an inmate, and then
ASA promietress. : ,'.'>
According to the Washington po-
lice; Mrs, Hughes after coming there
lived at 1904 D. street northwest
and for years conducted houses at
1853 Ohio. avenue northwest and lZo'
C street northwest.
For a long time she had grocery
store in northwest Washington, and
has grown son living there.
Shortly before the Kenyon red
LIGHT" law went into effect she dis
appeared again.
Before. her marriage to George
Hughes the South Carolina merchant
sbe was Miss Matte A. Waldrop.
and when she went to Washington
her father was with her. :.
CAPTAIN BEVERLY RESIGNS.