The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-08
At TEMP IS
TO LURE
OTHERS
AWAY
Eight Children Seek to Iden-
tify Suspects-one Released
by Police

by Police
Eight young southeast girls,
among them being the two who
were the victims of an unsuccess-
full attempt by a rum-crazed negro
youth to kidnap and assault them,
this afternoon visited the Fifth
precinct station to identify two sus-
poets held there for the attempted
crime which has terrorized south
east parents.
Identification Unsatisfactory"
Following the visit Of the young
girls. police let one Of the suspects
go while they announced that the
Identification Of the other "is unsatis
factory"
The second suspect, VINO In still
held, however. for investigation. gave
his name as Harry Roger Thoma-
colored. twenty years, 334 Fifteenth
street southeast.
Fearing that the negro who ran
amuck last evening and attempte-
to assault two girls Of kindergarten
age within a stones throw Of their
homes, is still at large, unusual pre-.
cautions are being taken today, not
only in the southeast, but other SCI
tons Of the city. to keep young girls
within the sight Of responsible,
chaperones.
News Of the brazen efforts of
the young negro spread rapidly
through this section OF the city.
and by 6 o'clock last night the
scores Of detectives and policemen
who secured the streets for him
were aided by a furious mob of
several hundred residents.
Scared by Screams.
The girls whom the negro sue
ceeded in stealing until he was
frightened away by their screams
and those Of persons who saw him
are:
Esther DuvalI, six years, No.
617 Kentucky avenue southeast.
Margaret III. PanhOlzer, four
years. No. S22 Sixteenth street
southeast.
Three other little girls, who con.
fided to their mothers that a young
negro made efforts to inveigle them
from their home through subter-
fuge. are:
Jean HickerneIl, No. 1922 PO-
tOmac avenue southeast, eleven
years old.
Virginia HickernelI, ten years, No.
1922 Potomac avenue southeast.
Theata Hartley, seven years, No.
$40 Fourteenth street southeast.
Mothers Guard Girls
As a result of the attempted at.
tacks. mothers Of the southeast are
taking extraordinary precautions to
protect their young daughters.
Many of them today accompanied
them to school, contrary to custom.
Police today announced they are
holding a suspect at the Fifth
precinct station, but they did not
appear confident that he IL the
will ask the little girls and the
g1ances Of him to come to the sta
Child In kindergarten.
MIRA J. A. DuvaIl, mother Of
Esther. is dazed over the bold at.
tempt to steal and assault her
little daughter, who attends the
kindergarten. She explained today
that it has not been the custom
of her little girl to even cross
the street by herself and that she
had great difficulty in finding her
way home after she was left in an
alley several blocks away by the
negro after he was frightened off
by the sharp call of Mrs. John
PAUL, Alt Kentucky avenue south.
east.
Police say that the negro was
trying to take Esther into q shed
in the rear Of Mrs. Paull's home.
Baffled by Paddock.
He experienced difficulty. IN get.
ting the paddock off and was spied
by Mrs. PAUL.
Headquarters Detectives Kelly and
Scrivener and Precinct Detectives
Wise and Hilldrup are directing the
search for the negro. They made a
point last night to go to every
corner in the vicinity Of the at.
tempted assault and gather child
rem about them to obtain as much
information as possible concerning
the assailant of the little girls. It
is said they obtained valuable clues
in this way.
Parents Enraged.
Believing that the assallant may
have sought refuge in some Of the
houses near the Eastern branch, a
search was also made of this
vicinity.
The police are experiencing a
great deal Of difficulty IN pacifyinR
the parents of southeast children
who have confided to them they
will not rest until they know the
'@Agro has been Captured