Evening star., 1923-03-26
HAMMER W|ELDER
BELIEVED LUNAT|C
Police Seek Insane Woman
for Attacking Mrs. 0'Brien,
Wife of Attorney.
HALLUCINATIONS BLAMED
Visitor to Law Office Sought to File
Suit-Victim's Condition
Still Critical.
HALLUCINATIONS BLAMED

Working on the theory that a de-
mented woman early this morning
murderously attacked Mrs. Elizabeth
OBrier while she slept in her home,
1929 Euclid street northwest. detec-
tives who are handling the case eH-
pect to make an arrest this after
noon.
Mrs. O'Brien was attacked with q.
hammer. and several blows were
struck on her head While her con-
ditfon is critical. it is believed she
will recover. X-rays of her head
were taken today to determine wheth-
er the skull was fractured.
The name of a.woman, who has been
visiting Mr. OBriens Office for the
past year. is in the hands of the po-
lice, and a description of the woman
as she appeared Saturday when she
called at the law office tallies closely
with that of a woman seen to leave
the house this morning while others
were proceeding there to investigate
Mrs. O'Brien's screams.
Had HaIIucinntions.
1t was said today at Mr.. O'Brien
office that there was nothing on file TO
show just what the woman was after.
as Mr.. OBren had not reached the
stage in her case where he was TO pro-
ceed in court. 1t appears. however.
from those who saw the woman in the
lawyers office that she had halluctna-
tions regarding her family, charging
that she was compelled constantly TO
pay them money. II is understood
that she sought to file a damage suit
Detective Frank Sandberg. finger
print expert of the police Department.
visited the house shortly before noon
today in an effort to find some i'm
print which might lead to Identification
of the would-b slayer.
He could find no prints on the doors
or windows. The police learned that
two windows on the first floor were
unlocked but there were no evidences
that any one had crawled over the
sills.
Prints on Hammer.
There were flngerprints in blood on
the hammer. but these. 1t is believed
by Detective SandberG, will be of lit
tie help in Identification, in view o.
the fact that Mrs. O'Brien removed
the hammer from its entanglement IN
her hair following the assault. How
ever he said that the prints Iyero
coarse. as though made by man. but
explained further that this may haVe
been due to the fingers slipping n lit
tie when in contact with the manner.
Mrs O'Brien was struck on her head
five times. a sixth blow infiicting
wound on her arm.
The wounded woman was taken
to Emergency Hospital. Surgeons
found she had lost a quantity OF
blood and was in a weakened condi-
tion. She also was suffering from
gardeu serious.
Detectives Mullen and Murphy and
police of the tenth precinct reached
the house shortly after the attack.
Later Detectives Springmann and Oar
nell were assigned to help in the case.
Statements of Mrs. O'Brien and
neighbors convinced the officers that
Mrs OBriens assailant was a white
woman.
Unable TO Give Motive.
The police were told that Mrs
O'Brien had no trouble with any per-
son, and why the woman should have
attacked her she was unable to sug-
gest Police say there was nothing
about the house to suggest robbery
as the motive.
The hammer used. practically new.
became entangled in Mrs. O'Brien's
hair when her assailant followed her
from her bed to a window and de-
livered a parting blow. Leaving the
room of the wounded woman. her
assailant went to the lower floor
passed out and walked east on Euclid
street, unmolesteu.
One of four neighbors who re-
sponded to Mrs OBrien's outcries
inquired of the woman as she walked
from the house what the trouble
was. The woman made no response,
the police were told, but continued
walking for a short distance and
then started running. Neighbors of
the wounded woman made no effort
to interrupt her flight.
Husband Ont of City.
Mr.. O'Brien and his son, Matthew
E. O'Brien, jr., left here early last
night on a business trip to Scranton,
Pa, and the police wired him a mes
sage of the attack on his wife. He
probably will return home tonight
Mrs. O'Brien and Miss Helen
CONTINUED on Page .. Column 3D.