Evening star., 1919-01-24

Two women were shot, one proDaDly
fatally, and third was nearly choked
to death by a supposed maniac who
broke into three homes in the north.
west section of the city before dawn
this morning and escaped. The wound.
ed are:
Miss Lillian Hood. twenty-three
years old. of 1897 L street. who is
dying at Emergency Hospital from a
bullet wound in the left side.
Miss Martha E. Geagan, forty years
old, of 1912 Connecticut avenue, who
also was shot in the left side. but who
will recover, according to physicians
at Emergency Hospital.
The third victim is Miss Florence
Fowler, twenty-four years old. who
was in the grip of the intruder In her
room on the second floor of 1911. i
street when her screams awakened
the household and frightened the man
on.
y Asks Defense League Aid.
All members of the Home Defense
League today were called upon by
Maj. Pullman to report for duty at
their respective station houses to-
night and assist the regular force
in patrolling the residential sections
in the hope of catching the des-
perado should he attempt to repeat
the performance of this morning.
Members Of the league who have
automobiles have been especially
urged by the superintendent OF police
to report for duty tonight.
!, Police Search Is Futile.
Every member Of the detective
force, including Maj. Pullman him
self. turned out as soon as word Of
the first attack reached the police.
but at late hour this afternoon
the man had not been captured.
Every exit from the city has been
police Of all nearby cities have been
notified to be on the lookout for
suspects.
AS a result Of this lookout, two
men, one white and one colored, were
taken into custody as they got of
both deny any knowledge of the
crimes. Detectives have gone to
Baltimore to question them and to
conduct general search in that city.
Offers 800 Reward.
Maj. Pullman has offered reward
fof 500 for the arrest or information
leading to the arrest of the right man
The police are convinced the man
was demented. A patient escaped from
st. Elizabeth Hospital yesterday even
ing and the description of him given
TO the police did not vary much from
the meager descriptions which two OF
ahe attacked women were able to give
This man was found down in Vir-
gInia, however, and has been elimin-
Rted as suspect by the police
This leaves the authorities with
nothing to work on but two hats, a
scft blue one which was found in the
backyard of 1887 L street, and a
brown hat, found on Connecticut
avenue between M and N. which is on
taken going from Connecticut avenue
TO the l. street houses.
Two of the women attacked, how
ever. say they think the man wore a
derby.
The police bulletin describes the
man as being between twenty-five
and thirty-five years, feet 6 to s
inches tall. medium heavy build, dark
lair, smooth face. pale. high forehead
and wearing ree-quarter-le length
overcoat.
Believing that one of the hats the,
have was dropped by the fleeing man
the police are keeping a watch on al
stores where he might attempt to bu,
smother. They also are watching place.
where ammunition is sold.
Miss Geagan First Victim.
The desperado is believed to have he
gun his rampage at the Geagan home a
1912 Connecticut avenue, which he en-
1ered through the front door littl,
after o'clock. He went upstairs, ant
into the room of Miss Martha Geaean. a
the head of the steps. The woman wa,
awakened by the striking of a match.
Who's there?" she asked in a startIe,
voice.
Its me-" was the intruder's renIv
as he advanced toward the bed. Be
fore Miss Geagan could recover he
wits sufficiently to scream he had he
in a viselike grip.
As the woman struggled. she late
told the doctors. she saw her assaiI
ant draw a revolver from his pocke
and fire. The weapon was So close I
the bed that the shot singed the bed
clothing.
The sister Miss Margaret V. Geaear
who was in an adjoining room wa
awakened by the sound of the shot
but the man had fled before she go
into her sisters room. Other occu
pants of the house heard the intrude
running down the steps and out tn
bdront door.
4 Hurried to Hospital.
s.. Miss Martha Geagan was hurried t
SLmergency Hospital, where 1t wa