The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-26
|UAkAOWn MANS
OAsTAR0lr ATTEMPT
H1ntices Child 30 His Room, But Fails
In Purpose ON Account of
Her Screams.
LITTLE GIRLS NARROW ESCAPE.
was Feeding Squirrels in Capitol
Square When Friendly Stranger In
vited Her to go With Him to Pic
turc Show.

With promises of moving picture
shows and candy. an unknown white
man yesterday afternoon lured little
twelve-year-oid Annie Chiles, daugh-
teer of Mrs. A. /. Chiles, of 900 North
Twentieth Street in a room in the
vicinity of the Capitol Square and
there attempted to crminally assault
the little girl. But for the persistent
cries of the child, which frightened the
man. he would have doubtless ac-
complished his dastardly purpose.
As yet no trace of the perpetrator
has been found by the police, but
with definite description of the man
furnished by tho girl Detective-Ser-
geants kellam and Bryant are en-
gagged on the case, and expect to have
the criminal in custody In a short time.
Tho child described the man as be-
ing between thirty-five and forty
years of age, and stated that he had
two gold teeth in the front of his
mouth. His height. she said was
nearly SIX feet and he wore a tan
suit with a grey overcoat
Owing to the extremely nervous
condition of the child yesterday she
could not tell the officers where the
man had taken her, being unfamiliar
with the section around the Capitol
Square. but she believes that a visit
with the officers to Franklin. Ninth
and Bank Streets will enable her to
point out the buildings to which she
was entlced.
Were Feeding Squirrels.
Little Annie, with two of her play
mates, went to the Capitol Square yes
terday afternoon for a romp. and to
feed the squirrels 1t was near .
o'clock that an unknown man ap-
preached her engaging In converse
ton, and furnishing the children with
peanuts for the animals For some
time he appeared to show a friendly
interest in the innocent pleasure of
the children.
After while he told Annie he
would take her to a moving picture
show and buy some candy. IL she
would accompany him. and attracted
by the promises OF the man, the little
girl went with him. leaving the Square.
but going down town to the section
of Bank Street. without any mis-
givings. Annie followed the unknown
man, and he guided her to a house
on either Ninth, Bank or Franklin
Streets, which she cannot remember.
Once in the room alone with the
suspicious OF him and screamed for
help.
Fearing that the cries Of the fright
ened child might be heard, the man
caught her forcefully. and slapping
his hand over her mouth, Ii is said.
threatened her life. This however
tailed to restrain the girl from her
show OF resistance. and seeing that
he could not control her. the man
promised TO free the child, so that
she might return to her playmates
Before he would let her go he
made her promise that she would not
tell anyone OF her experience. or where
she had been. Annie made her way
back to the Capitol Square, leaving
the man behind. and with her chums
went as quickly as possible to her
home where she repeated the entire
occurrence to her mother
After she had recited her story.
Mrs. Chtles notified Officer 8. s. Mat
thews, who lives near the home Of
the girl. and he came over to the
house. Both the mother and child
were suffering greatly from the oc-
currence, and it was some time be-
fore he could get them sufficiently
controlled to take them to police
headquarters
Little Annie told her experience to
Captain Mcmahon. who detailed De-
tectives Kellam and Bryant on the
case. and after questioning the child,
they started In search for the man.
Nothing had been heard of the where
abouts of the man. or any clew as to
his identity last night. but the officers
are making every effort to land him
quickly.