The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-16
P|NATTACKON
BOY TOSLAYER
Police Believe Negro Who Killed
Mrs. Mann Assaulted Youth
Near Same Spot.

-
CAV and nixht In an effort to cap
ture the negro who beat to death
with q club and flint stone MIS- Ger
trude Harrison Mann last ThursdaS'
another attack made on a boy on
March s In the vicinity of Cleveland
Park is attributed to the assaiisnt
Of the music teacher.
Tho attack on the boy, whose mare
- withheld by the police. occurred IN
close proximity to the scene where
Mrs. Mann was slain
Attsosxel In DsyiiGht.
Like Mrs. Mann. the boy was at
tackled in daylight. and he gave i've
police q description OF the negro oe-
.elaring that he would be able TO ideh-
tify him II he should be captured.
Another development In the case
today was the admission made by de :
tectives that a stout cord. such as IL
ussd in binding wheat, was fouhi
tied about Mrs. Mann's throat.
handk erchief also was found ana
which the police believed was used
by the negro as a gag 10 preven'
Mrs. Mann from making any QUERY
That both the cord and hanoKer-
chief were used by Mrs. Mann's as
sailant gives ground for the ponce
theory that the woman's brutal as
sailant tried to strangle her when
he attempted to accomplish puf~
pose other than robbery.
Every effort Is being made today
To find where the cord used by mrs.
Mann's assailant came from. IN
curry Is being made by Detectives
OBrien, Kelly, Scrivener and Thofap
son, at stores and shops where cord
II sold.
Recalls other Crimes.
In connection with the investiga-
ton the police recall that the negro
who attacked Miss Louise simmons
colored teacher at the Reno School,
last July, tied a string of ribbon
around her throat in an EFFORT TO
atranrle her and prevent outcries
when he attempted to outrage her
Lewis Randall, a negro. identineo
bv Miss simmons as her assailant on
that occasion, today faces the gar
klows, ne having been convicted OF
Ncrime against Mrs. Bessie Gleason, OF
Nicholson street. Mrs. Gleason for
time was not sure of the identifica-
ton of Randall, stating she believed
he looked like the man who ASSAULT
ed her." Later, however, she posi-
lively. Identified Randall as her as
sailant and 1t was on this Anal identi-
fication that Randall was convicted
and sentenced to be hanged. Randall
never has been tried for the Sim
mons crime
Because of the similarity Of the
crimes committed against women in
the suburbs Of the Capital last sum-
mer with the one against Mrs. Mann
many members of the police force be-
lieve that the negro who terrorized
La Ttflu IA
his appearance. having been under
"cover" during the winter months.
Expect Arrest.
The description of the assailant
Of Mrs. Mann Ats that given by two
women and the boy Of the negro who
attacked them, taking handbags from
the former while they were walking
in secluded spots of Cleveland Park
recently. With the capture OF this
negro, the detectives believe they
may be able to clear up the identity
Of Mrs. Mann's assailant.
This man will be caught" declar-
ed Detective Sergt- Patrick OBrien,
who, with Detectives Kelly. Scrivener
and Thompson. are working on the
case. 1--WE have information which
we believe will result in his capture
within q week"
But despite this fact. it was said
that the identity Of the negro still
pushes the police, it being intimated
he has baffled them. There was no
one in the vicinity of the scene where
Mrs Mann was attacked who could
give a description Of the woman's as
sailant
A woman of Northwest Washington
told the police that six months ago,
she noticed a negro, carrying a club,
similar to that used by Mrs. Mann's
aasAilant, in the wooded section Of
Cleveland Park-but that was six
months ago. This statement further
strengthens the theory Of many Of the
detectives that the same negro who
attacked women In Washington's
suburbs last summer attacked Mrs.
Mann.
women Garry Pistols
Other detectives, however. are just
~ insistent that Randall is the negro
who attacked Miss simmons and Mrs.
y Gleason.
Since tho staying OF Mrs. Mann at
. Cleveland Park last Thursday, wom-
en- not only in that vicinity, but in
other suburbs, are using every pre-
caution against similar attacks.
Many of them when compelled to 60
out are carrying revolvers. A num-
Der of policemen also have been tenn
buueu 10 tue
force, with instructions to arrest any
negro who answers to the description
or the purse snatcher and the one
who attacked the boy.
Six negroes already have been ar
rested as suspects, but after being
questioned have been released. At
noon today, II was said that the po-
lice had not any tangible clew against
anyone in connection with the STAY
ing OF Mrs. Mann.
Because OF the absence OF any
tangible evidence on which to place
tho responsibility for tho staying Of
Mrs Mann. Dr. J. Ramsay hewitt, Dis
triot coroner, has postponed until an
Indefinite date. an inquest in the
case.
Tho body OF Mrs. Mann today was
taken to her former home at Gales
burg, Ill. for burial
INV LIT DIV Alta