The Washington times., 1919-10-28
TWice- Told Tales
THE sLAYING OF ADA DENNIS.

er be answered. the police believe,
except to the priest in confessional
confidence, or by confession from
the slayer on his own death bed.
Since the day they were first con-
fronted with the case. Central Of
flee detectives and the entire po-
lice department, particularly those
Of the Second precinct. have had IT
in their minds.
The fact that a man was arrest
ed and indicted for the killing. o<
Mrs. Dennis heightens rather than
District Attorney realized the gov-
ernment had no case against him.
and he was released.
Nor does the fact that . man
living near the home of the slain
women intimated in a note which
he left after committing suicide
that he knew something about the
crime shed any light on the case.
1t was established that he was
irresponsible at the time OF writ
ing, and that he was not in Wash
ington when she was beaten to
death.
At police headquarters there are
two grim reminders of the Dennis
case which will not let the police
forget the bafffing crime.
The most gruesome of these is q
biood-spattered, cherry -stained
birch piano stool. now an the prop
erty-room wrapped in piece OF
torn and faded yellow paper and
covered with dust. Attached to the
piano stool Is q tag bearing this
inscription:
piano stool, the top of which was
used in assaulting Mrs. Dennis. Of
ficer Weedon. December II, 1901"
Phe other is a record in the
homicide book which was made by
Detective "Bipp" Philips. a poHco
department clerk. on October 80,
1902, the day Mrs. Dennis died. 1t
follows:
MRS. Ada Gilbert Dennis, fash
ionable dressmaker, was found in
bed in her room at her home IN
X street northwest, about 5 o'clock
a. m. December 10. 1901, in an al
most dying condition. She had been
brutally assaulted by some un-
known person. Her skull had been
fractured, her jawbone brokSn, and
her left ear almost severedN from
number of bruises, such as would
be received in, a struggle.
Robbery could not have been the
motive, for on a table at the foot
OF her bed was a small box in,
which there was pocketbook well
filled with money, as well as some
money in the box and nothing TO
hide 1t from view
at was about o'clock when Mrs
Dennis was found. She was part
ly conscious when first discovered
through Miss Mary Doyle and Mr..
Smith WinchelI, who were roomers
in the house and heard groans
through the heaters, or flue. They
went to her room, which they found
locked, and Mr.. Winchell broke
open the door. finding Mrs. DEN
mis- In the aforementioned condi-
tion.
Mrs. Dennis was taken to Gar
field Hospital in an unconscious
condition. While being carried u
the ambulance on a stretcher sew
ersl agonizing cries indicated that
the victim was conscious, and Dr..
Atkinson leaned over the patient,
inquiring: -----.---.---.-.--.-
'|NiiuiS uAh eOihVOOuy huIN
your
Yes. somebady, she replied.
WHO was it?'
Never mind. she replied.
"On December Is, 1901, Mrs. DEN
mis- became conscious, but after be-
ing questioned for about thirty
minute made no disclosures which
would justify an arrest.
After lowering between life and
death for more than ten months,
Mrs. Dennis died at Garfield Hospi-
tai on October 80. 1902, about 4 a.
a. m.
Richard Cole. colored, who was
employed at the house OF Mrs. Dem
mis- as a porter. was arrested No
vember z, 1902, charged with the
murder and held by the coroner's
jury for the action of the grand
jury. Later the case was nolle
pressed by the United States Dis
trict ATTORNEY December g. 1902