Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-19
WOMAN ATTACKED
ON WAYFR0M WORK
Mrs. Elsie Stephnick Able to
Describe Two CoIored AS
saiIants of Last Night.
FLED AS CAR APPROACHED

While members of Inspector Grants
detective corps were running out clues
in the several assaults on women COM
mitted during the past month. Mrs
Elsie Stephnick. 413 9th street south
west. employed at the J. EAU of en-
craving and printing, was attacked
by two colored men at 18th and d
streets southwest.
The attack took place last night
shortly after 10 o'clock while she was
on her way home from work. Several
persons in an automobile appeared IN
time to drive off Mrs. Stephnick's as
sailants before she had been harmed.
Described Her Assailants.
Mrs. Stephnick was able to give De-
tective Joseph Grant descriptions of
her assailants. One was short dark
man and the other a tall man with
''bumpy" face. The latter was at the
same place Thursday night when Mrs.
Stephnick passed on her way to the
bureau. she reported
Last night the taller of the two
men grinned and laughed as Mrs.
Stephnick approached the street cor
ner. and the darker one grabbed her
and drew her toward him. she said.
No attempt was made to take Mrs.
Stephnick's pocketbook that she car
ried under her arm. She drew away
from her assailant. she explained. and
his companion caught hold of her and
pushed her back toward him.
Fled at Appearance of Car.
Then the automobile appeared and
the men fed. Mrs Stephnick told the
detectives that the taller of the men
was about thirty-five years old and
she thought weighed about rs
pounds. His "bumpy" face and short
upper lip, she stated. should make
Identification easy She said he wore
yellow shirt. the right sleeve of
she stated. wore a dark coat and was
bareheaded.
Mrs. Stephnick. who was Miss Else
Williams before marriage. is the wife
OF John Stephnick. naval aviator.
and most of her friends in the bureau
called her by her maiden name. Maj.
Pullman will pay a liberal reward for
information leading to the arrest of
either of the assailants.
Eaglen Surrender Not Asked.
Montgomery county. Nd. officials.
according to a statement of Inspector
Grant this morning. have made no re-
quest or demand of the police depart
ment for the surrender of Forest
Eaglen, colored. under arrest as
suspect in the case of Miss Mary
Saunders. 31S Dorset avenue, Somer-
set Heights. Nd. who was arrested
by Lieut.. Giles of the Tenleytcwn po-
lice district and Sheriff Aud of Mont
gomery county.
The chief Of detectives had Detec-
tives Kelly. Sweeney and Scrivener
continue their investigation of Eag
lens statements last night. and their
investigation resulted in finding a wit
ness who substantiated the prisoners
statement of having been in Neal
court Saturday afternoon before he
ent to Doolroom near Florida ave-
nue. and 18th street.
Speaking of the Montgomery county
authorities demanding the return of
Eaglen. Inspector Grant stated that
such a demand would have to be made
In the form of a requisition from the
governor of the state. that being the
procedure in all such cases. especially
where the life of a prisoner is at
stake.
Maryland authorities and 500 offered
by Maj. Pullman still stand. and it
is hoped by officials of both jurisdic-
lions that hope of receiving the money
will be the means of inducing some
person TO co-ne forward with the de-
sired infoT ion.
Clue !: Anonymous Letter.
An ano ,..mous letter. containing
statements bearing on the investiga-
ton of the several assaults recently
committed. suggested to Inspector
Grant a broadening of the scope of
the investigation. That the letter was
written by the assailant was suggest
ed by persons who read it.
The letter was received by Detective
Frank Raur, who has not been de-
tailed on the assault cases, and con-
tanned many offensive statements and
death threats, the threats being aimed
at Maj. Pullman, superintendent of
police. and the detective who re-
ceived 4.
Several members of the detective
force looked at the letter and more
than one of them suggested the pos
sibility of it's having been written by
the aSSailant. 1t was not couched in
elegant language. it is stated, but
the handwriting was far above the
average.
1t was signed. Beware" There was
no name in the letter to suggest the
identity of the writer. Inspector Grant
and the detectives hope they will sue
coed in locating him. however, and
say they would not be surprised if he
proves to be the assailant.
Maj. Pullman and Detective Baur
of the death threats contained in the
letter. Search for the writer was in
stituted this morning. and every effort
is being made to apprehend him.