The Washington times., 1920-03-14
.DAUGHTERA|DS
SLAYER HUNT
Miss Margaret Mann Learns
Truth of Mothers Death on
Arrival Here.
DETECTIVES LACK CLEWS
Believe Robbery Not Only Mo.
tive in Killing Of Music
Teacher.

On the verge of nervous break
down from the discovery, upon her
arrival in the Capital, that her
mother had been slain, Miss Marga-
ret F. Mann, twenty years old, soph-
omore at Smith College, Northamp-
ton, Mass, today has urged the po-
lice to leave no stone unturned in
their efforts to capture the slayer.
First Told Mother Was Ill.
Following the discovery OF the body
OF Mrs. Gertrude Harrison Mann. .
music teacher. divorced wife of viii
EllaM "A Manu. nrominent Chicago Az
torney. Miss Mann was Informed by
telegraph that her mother was Ill,
and urged to come to washington 1t
was not until she arrived last night
at the home of Mrs. Arthur w. Dunn.
Oakland apartments. girlhood
friend Of Mrs. Mann, that she learned
the truth of her mothers brutal
death.
But with the insistence OF Miss
Mann that her mothers slayer be
captured, the police this morning ad-
mitted they had no tangible clew
that had led them to a point where
an arrest could be made.
"The man who attacked Mrs. Mann
was a vicious sbrute-probably a man
lac Of some Sort" declared Inspector
Clifford l. Grant, chief OF detectives
this morning. He no doubt lay In
wait for the woman to make her ap-
pearance and when she approached
the spot where he was in hiding. he
struck her across the head with the
chestnut club found bloodstained
near the scene.
at is my opinion that the blow
only dazed or stunned Mrs. Mann and
that the brute pushed or dragged her
to a spot thirty yards away to further
attack her. While I think his motive
was robbery, am inclined to believe
also that he had ano her purpose. In
the latter, however, he failed-prob-
ably being frightened or"
Handkerchief Important Clew.
Ono Of the most important clews
that the police have to work on is
the blood handkerchief found
tied around Mrs. Mann's throat. 1t Is
the opinion Of the police that the
woman's slayer, after striking her
with the stout club, placed the hand
kerchief as gag over her mouth to
prevent an outcry. The handkerchief
they believe, fell from her face
around her neck.
Efforts to Identify the handkerchief
failed. but the police have not given
up hope Of learning its owner. II
bears an initial in one corner, and this
point Is in favor Of Identification.
At first II was believed the hand
kerchief was the property OF Mrs.
Mann-that she had placed 1t around
her throat as n precaution against
catching cold. However, the police
have since changed this theory, be-
lieving now that the slayer used 1t
as a gag.
1t is not believed the footpad In
tended to kill the woman until he
found she would not submit to his
criminal desires. Finding that Mrs.
Mann did not lose consciousness from
the blow on the head with the club,
the thug Is believed to have used the
handkerchief, which probably the
woman tore away from her mouth.
Finally, angered and becoming des-
perate, the assailant, the police be-
lieve, crushed her brains out with
the stone which also was found near
her body.
Look For New Clews.
A score Of detectives today are al
the scene of the crime trying TO pick
up some further evidence that may
lead to the Identity of the slayer OF
the music teacher. Other policemen
are looking UP a number of negroes
known to have been In the locality
recently, who will be questioned.
1t is the opinion OF tho police that
the culprit who slew Mrs. Mann bears
blood stains on his clothes. One
negro sought in connection with the
murder recently stole number OF
handbags from women OF Cleveland
and Richmond parks.
The following description Of this
negro has been sent out to every
member Of the Police Department:
Brown skinned negro. about twenty
years old. Ave feet four Inches tail
rather heavily built wearing bull
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