The Washington herald., 1919-02-02

1<oNNl sIt saiu htA iiH
name was Mary Ann Agnes Delaney
ana that she came here from
New York. Her principal grievance
against the churches seemed to be
that they had declined to let her
have the parish halls for lecture
purposes. As a result of her trial
before the criminal court she was
adJudged to be insane and was sent
to the government hospital across
the Eastern Branch of the Potomac.
Elsie KrcgIo Murder.
Washington was thrown into a
fever of excitement about twenty-four
years ago when Elsie Kreglo, a pretty
lo-year-old girl, was brutally muir
dered near the home of her parents
on kalorama Heights, near Rock
Creek Park. She had gone TO a near
Dy pasture about sunset to drive in
the cows, and when she failed TO re-
turn 10 her home a search was made
for her. Her body was found partly
submerged in a creek and she was
dead. her throat having been cut, be-
sides other injuries. There were evl-
denccs of a struggle about the place
where the girls remains were found
and her clothing was torn, indicating
to the police that a double crime had
been committed.
The entire city was wild with indig-
nation and excitement ran high
There were no clues for the authori-
ties TO work upon. Every policeman
and many citizens were ready for the
man hunt and the woods about the
city were secured and doubtful re-
sorts searched for possible clues.
After several days had elapsed the
meager information was received at
police headquarters that the crime had
been committed by a large black man.
Telegrams were sent broadcast asking
Tor the arrest and detention OF sus-
poets who answered the description.
DR.. llammett. the coroner, had the
girls eyes taken from her head and
submitted them to the Army Medical
Museum in pursuance of an old theory
that the face of the murderer was in
many instances photographed on the
.retina Of the eyes. but without avail
as no picture could be found by the
chemist who made the test.
Suspects were arrested in many
places outside the city. and every
available detective and several uni
formed officers were rushed hither and
thither IN the united effort to appre-
hcnd the criminal. Finally the police
learned that a gigantic cOlored man
named Ford had suddenly disappeared
from his home in the suburbs-the So
called Burnt Mill district. not so far
from the scene of the crime. Then the
man hunt took on an objective and de-
scrlptIons OF Ford were sent to neigh
boring villages. town and cities.
l. l..
w"r" away from the city examining
suspects. some as far away as Phil
ad"lphia and Richmond. Va, po-
lie" reporter of this city received
a tip from the telegrapher at the
old Il. & o. Railroad depot at New
Jersey avenue and c streets. that
another suspect had been arrested
at Harper's Ferry The reporter
being a military telegrapher. receiv-
ID permission to talk" on the wire
t" tho operator at Harper's Ferry.
Tn" litter informed him that a large
negro had been arrested by the
mayor of the town and his clerk
while in hiding in a thicket near
tn" railroad track. The prisoner
Will" being escorted to the town
lookup broke away from his cap
tors and threw himself into the wild
waters of the Shenandoah River.
which has its confluence with the
Potomac at that point. He was
saved with difficulty and placed in
cell. The operator at Harper's
Ferry said he was sure the man
under arrest there was the badly
wanted murderer OF Elsie KreglO.
Capt. Boardmnn on Case.
The police reporter arranged to
make a quick departure for the West
VirgInia town. but hefore doing so
called uD detective headquarters. All
the detectives were out on assign
ments connected with the case except
Robert BOardman. who had received
word about the arrest at Harpers
Ferry. but did not know the suspi-
cious features OF the fellows attempt
to escape through the rushing waters
of the Shenandoah.
At that time Roardman was clerk at
headquarters. He later became chief
of detectives. and was filling that post
when he died several years ago Be
ing convinced that the suspect at
Harpers Ferry was the murderer. he
accompanied the police reporter on
the trip. After examining the man he
admitted he was Fred. and then the
problem of getting him away from
the place was presented. 1t became