The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-27
POLICE SEE
MYSTERY
SOLVED
coIored Girl Expected to Help
as Material Witness-Rob-
berry Motive Dropped.

With the detention shortly be-
fore noon today of Mable Hollo-
way, 2024 Thirteenth street north
west, colored maid in the home of
Mrs. Matthew e. O'Brien, who
was "claw-hammered" while she
slept at her home at 1929 Euclid
street yesterday morning detec-
tive office officials believe they
have taken the first step il q
series of fasAclosfne Incidents
which VIII find the assaiIant OF
The prominent lawyers wife in
the tolls of the police.
Drop Robbery Motive.
Cutting short fruifIess con-
ference with Matthew e. O'Brien
and his son, Matthew II. O'Brien,
this morning at police headquar
ters, detectives went to the bedside
Of Mrs. O'Brien in the belief that
they win be able to get better
light on the attempted brutal CLAW
hammer" murder from this source.
Detectives declare that they place
no credence in robbery as a motive
for the claw hammering" and that
in ali probability the Holloway girl
will be released after she has
served her purpose as a material
witness.
Inspector Clifford L. Grant told
newspaper men this morning that
the investigation had come to the
stage where the police would have
to conceal some OF their findings If
they are to bring the case to an
expected successful conclusion.
The detectives are not satisfied
with their efforts in finding out
where thu unique claw hGmmer'
was bought or in whose ownership
Il reposed until it vas used in
tnflicting six COMMISSIONS on the
head of Mrs. oBrien early yester-
day morning,
No secret is made of the fact
that the detectives have been I'M
enle TO get assistance from Mr..
O'Brien seemed nettled this morn
ing that the police should suspect
the woman who is said to have
trequented his office for the past
year in the anticipation of filing a
damage suit. At first he denied
that any woman had frequented his
office other than his usual clients"
but later said described her as "a
harmless Ola woman.
II have no one in the world that
] suspect of the assault upon my
wife" Mr.. O'Brien reiterated this
morning. have told the detectives
this"
Victim VIII Recover.
Having been wearied by his hur-
ried return trip from Scranton, Pa,
where he was located yesterday
- Act -
his wife. and by a conference with
headquarters detectives last night,
O'Brien registered at the Raleigh
Hotel last night.
II was not until this morning
that he visited his home on Euclid
street, together with his son and
daughter.
Physicians at Emergency Hos
pital described Mrs. O'Brien's con-
dition as fair" this morning. They
are hopeful that no complications
will set in and that she will pull
through.
There are two facts which the
police are set upon and they are
the pivot of all of their theories.
The first is that robbery was not
the motive of the CLAW hammer
ing and the second is that Mrs.
OBriens assailant was familiar
with the OBrien home.
Has No Enemies.
OBrien said this morning that
the woman whom the police looked
10 as a suspect in the case which
he described as harmless old
woman" was not known to his
wife.
II have no enemies. My wife
has no enemies" O'Brien repeated
Nhfa nnAFntn0 Whaa
some inkling of information which
might give light on the CLAW
hammer" assault.
While Headquarters detectives
are conducting one investigation
another is in progress at the Tenth
precinct station under the direction
Of Officers Gtifoyle and Smoot.