Evening journal., 1922-01-04
RECLUSELEFT
] TODIE INCOLD
Officials Believe Vineland
Widow Was Attacked and
!. Robbed in Home
BEGIN HUNT FOR
STRANGE NEGRO

brutaily beaten senseless by an un-
known assassin and robber, was the
verdict of the coroner's jury at the
inquest yesterday following the ind
ing of the body of Mrs. Charlotte f.
Dudley. n years old. the lone widow
Of a civil war veteran, in her home
at 240 Plum street. on Monday.
The discovery by neighbor OF the
aged woman, who lived alone In her
fve-room cottage, and the report
that she had frozen to death proved
a community shock to the quiet
town. But the fact that subsequent
evidence disclosed that a fiendish
crime had been committed has
aroused the residents OF Cumberland.
Local. county and state police are
securing the countryside in search OF
a strange Negro who was seen loiter-
ing around a factory opposite the
home of Mrs. Dudley late Sunday az
ternoon.
Mrs. Dudley's body was found on
the floor OF her freiess kitchen by
Mrs. Rose Carlos late Monday after
noon when she opened the door after
knocking and received no response
The grewsome discovery sent the wo-
man screaming from the house and
the police were notified. The kitchen
was in disorder chairs overturned
and broken and every evidence that
a terrific struggle had taken place.
The body lay under a table. where
IT had evidently been kicked or
showed after being felled. A broken
chair leg found near by is believed
b.~ he roffro a botro hanr, bo de-
sile with which the aged woman
had been beaten.
A cruel wound on the forehead
disclosed that a blow on the head
had rendered the feeble old woman
unconscious. but severe abrasions on
the arms and elbows showed that she
had made a valiant effort to defend
herself from the blows showered
upon her fran body. Both wrists
were bruised aud discolored. both
knees scratched and lacerated as
though she had been first beaten to
her knees and dragged upon them.
and a severe confusion on the right
hip gave the appearance that she
had been kicked as she lay pros
trate Her clothing. literally torn
in shreds and other conditions lead
TO the belief that an inhuman as
sault was committed.
Drawers were pulled out OF dress
eEs and bureaus and the generally
disordered condition OF the house
was plainly evident that II had been
hurriedly ransacked.. No purse or
money, such as the woman was
known always to have with her was
found. which lis further evidence
that robbery was the motive
Any doubts existing that the aged
woman had met her end by other
than natural causes was dispelled 10y
the post st-mortem examination OF
Coroner John S. Halsey and the au-
topsy BY County Physician w II
Wainwright Examination Of tho
wound on the head revealed that
concussion OF the brain had resulted
and the numerous other wounds on
the arms. legs and body could not
have been received in falls
4 Mrs. Dudley was last seen alive
Saturday afternoon by VIM sharp
q postman. who handed her a let.
ter while she was in her yard. The
fact that she was not seen all day
\ Sunday was not considered unusua
in the neighhorhood. as she OTTER
remained in the house for days at q
time and rarely burned light al
night
Mrs. Thomas Carton. one OF the
Few neighbors or friends who ever
visited the aged widow. said that she
took Mrs. Dudley some warm food
Friday. as she rarely ever cooked
anything. for herself. subsistinf
chiefly on bread and coffee. Mrs
n Dudley. she said. repeated a stor,
she had told her on several occa
sions OF the visit OF a strange mar
4 Sunday night. two weeks ago. II,
was accompanied by a small boy. an,
although she said she never saw hin
before, he insisted that he used I,
work for her and did some repain
to the house some time ago. Thl
police are working on this theor, a
a possible clew.
Chief OF Police William Hudson
who Is also a county detective an,
Hamilton Gebhart another detective
are engaged on the case under N
cfection OF County Prosecutor Ward
The body was removed yesterday {
81 The undertaking establishment o
William Hanson. where the inaue.
was held.
According TO former Mayor Rer
jainin Stevens. who was counsel N
the victim OF the tragedy, Mrs. Due
ley was the widow OF a Civn wa
veteran and Government empiov
who was retired on a pension in 1ai.
and moved TO Vineland He died
1914 and the widow. residing ther
since. lived on the pension. sse ever
~ three months.
She was a lady in every respec4
said Mr.. Stevens. "She had consi,
cradle property. including the hon,
she lived in, and az one time owns
q a house in Washington. d. c.. whir
she sold ! do not know anythir
about her family and doubt IL 81
had any near relatives. II is sa.
she was from New England. She 10
will making disposition OF her :
tate to friends"
DR.. John Halsey. the coroner. sal
We have not fully decided on Il
assault theory. but that will be A
termined later. My theory is that Il
victim was not killed outright. b
received tho wounds on the he
while batting with her assaiiai
She was Knocked unconscious a.
later died from exposure to the bs
ter cold. The wound is hardly 81
ncient 10 kin outright"