The Washington herald., 1915-01-13

SLElJTHS Scent
SLAYERS' TRAIL
Learn Where the Burglar
Murderers of Two Men
Came From.
MAY VISIT CITY TODAY
Detectives Are Armed with Descrip-
tons of the Men Who Attacked
People at Hughes Home.

IhiuiueIeis "Ho SATURDAY nlght killed two
persons and seriously wounded another
in the house at Clark Station, Va, ol
Mrs. Matte A. Hughes, better known a,
Frankie Harris"
| Authorities say they have learned de.
tails of the lives of the murderers and
know where they came from. Detectives
are of the opinion II will be several days
before they may apprehend the murder.
ers
$1,000 Reward offered.
Gov. Stuart. Of Virginia. yesterday Of
fered a reward equal in amount to pny
reward the county supervisors would
put up. The board of supervisors met al
Alexandria County Courthouse and voted
reward OF $500. so the total now offered
is $1,000
The five persons described the mur-
derers are:
Mrs. Matte \. Hughes, now at SibIey
Hospital with fractured skull who be-
lieves that the men who assaulted her
formerly were visitors at her house.
Billy" O'Dea, friend of Mrs Hughes.
who month ago last Saturday night
fired at two men lurking in the carriage
house at the Hughes home O'Dea be-
lieves they are the same ones who bur
. IL
Mrs. Rose Powers, resident OF Clark
Station. who saw two men alight from
an electric car at Clark Station Satur-
day night about 1870 o'clock. They look
ed like foreigners and talked with an
unusual accent.
John Lovelace. conductor of the electric
car, who was asked by the men to let
them of at Clarks Station
John Dugan. liveryman, Of S3f N street
u-h
urday night hired a horse and buggy to
TWO men. They drove across Aqueduct
Bridge In the direction OF Clark Station.
The descriptions given by the FIVE
witnesses are as follows:
No. l. About thirty years old, FIVE
feet mine or ten inches, 200 pounds,
smooth shaven. black hair, dark COM
plexion, wore dark overcoat, large
black derby hat.
years old. five feet seven inches. 10
pounds. smooth shaven, black hair,
dark complexion, wore dark suit, black
cap.
Both men have a foreign appearance
Detectives say the men became ac-
quainted with Mrs. Hughes from four
TO six weeks prior to the tragedy. One
of the men, the shorter of the two, is
said to have visited the Hughes home
on at least two occasions as the guest
of the wounded woman. Mrs. Hughes
says she does not know his name or
address.
Detectives are positive the crime was
committed by persons who were ac-
quainted with Mrs. Hughes and IA
miliar with her house
Billy O'Dea. friend Of Mrs Hrghes,
who lived at the Clark Station home for
a time, yesterday was questioned about
the night a month ago when two men
were discovered in the carriage shed.
He said he and Mrs. Hughes were re-
turning to the house after midnight, and
heard noise in the shed. a short dis
tanCe north of the house
He got Mrs. Hughes revolver and
fired at the shed. shooting a second time
into the air to frighten the men. He said
two men ran from the shed and up the
road Later a coupe with a driver on the
seat. two men inside. and a white horse
attached drove by the house toward the
city.
Detectives learned that John Dugan. Of
Georgetown had hired a buggy to two
men of the same description about mid
night on that Saturday. A gray horse
drew the vehicle. Dugan says the men
returned about or o'clock in the morn
ing. Detectives are puzzled by differ
ences in the description of the vehicle.
O'Dea says it was a coupe. Dugan hired
a buggy. O'Dea says a man was on
the box. Dugan says the men left in the
buggy by themselves.
The morning after. Mrs. Hughes
found an article which detectives are
pIizing as valuable evidence. They say
il cOrrobOrates the belief that the mur-
derers are foreigners.
Crandal Mackey yesterday called at
the Hughes home to get the hat
sweater and searchlight found after
the tragedy. The hat is size ~. Of
green felt, and of unusual style. II is
new. The sweatband found in the yard
Of the Hughes home fits the hat. The
name and address of a dealer are on
the band. and his store is located in a
section frequented by foreigners.
The electric searchlight found In the
mud near the home was sold in the
same city where the hat was purchased.
There is the imprint of bloody thumb
on the lamp.
The sweater found near the search
light is blue and of large size. There
Is a snag In either the front or back
of the garment. Blood stains are on
The wristbands OF the sweater. A local
store, making a speciality of sweaters.
will be visited this morning by detec- |
lives who want to learn to whom the !
sweater was sold.
Mrs. Hughes Improves.
Mrs. Hughes showed Improvement last |
hight Physicians think she has good !
;hances of recovery. It developed yes
erday that she was not shot. Her skull
vas fractured, lips almost severed, and a |
leep cut inflicted in her cheek.
Isaac Waldrop. aged father OF Mrs. |
Hughes, who was killed by the burglars, |
viii be buried tomorrow in Oakwood cem-
.tery. Falls Church. Va. Funeral services |
will be held from the Hughes home at |
O:3O o'clock tomorrow morning. DR.. r. |
!. Yates. OF Del Ray. Va, will perform |
in autopsy this morning and remove the l
,ullets from the body.
Nicholas Coffinas. the Greek killed by !
he burglars. was buried yesterday IN
Noodlawn cemetery. Services were held,
i the Greek church, Sixth and @ streets
northwest. -.. .
Detectives may visit another city |
oday in an attempt to secure clews.
Detectives O'Brien and Evans, of the !
ocal bureau are working with Mr..
IIackey, Sheriff Barbor and Deputy /
;heriff Palmer. of Alexandria County.
they are aided by Pennsylvania Rail-
Dad detectives led by Bob" Reynolds.
The safe In Mrs. Hughes home was
opened yesterday and found to con-
ain noting but personal papers