Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-26
VALUABLE" Defense Papers
Declared to Have Disap.
peared From Hotel Room.
MYSTERIOUS ASSAULT
INVESTIGATED BY POLICE
Announcement by Counsel for
Burns Brings Protest by Gov.
eminent Attorneys.

mysterious attack In a hotel room
last night on Mrs. jeanette Iantz, 81
year-old defense witness in the Sinclair
Burns contempt proceedings. and the
disappearance Of a valuable" defense
paper. we're brought formally to the at
tention Of the District Supreme Court
today, while municipal and private de-
tectiTes launched intensive investiga-
tons Of the occurrence
Announcement by Charles A. Douglas.
OF counsel for william j. Burns, Of the
strange assault caused a sensation IN
court and precipitated a protest By
Government. attorneys against the sin
sinuation" that the Government or its
witness, William j. McMulltn. said 70
have been named in the missing paper.
had anything TO do with the attack"
Justice Frederick L. Siddons joined
with defense counsel in assuring Mai.
Peyton Gordon that no insinuatlons
had been made, and examination Of
McMuliin, a former Burns agent, was
resumed
Although Attorney Douglas informed
the court that Mrs. Lantz. the wife OF
william Lantz Of Milbourne. Pa. an
other defense witness. had been bound,
gagged and brutally beaten by an in
truder in her room at the Hamilton
Hotel. and that she had received con-
cussion neceSsitating her removal 70
hospital. Dr. E. L Mason. attending
physician, declared today he had found
no evidence OF conclusion. beyond =
couple of slight bruises or scratches On
her head" and that Mrs. Lantz had
not been taken to hospital
Charges Letter Was Stoien-
Mr.. Burns. before entering the court
rom this morning. declared that Mrs
Lantz had been cruelty assaulted
and that an important letter which
she had written to her husband about
"a visit paid her by McMullIn N An
effort TO disSu2de her husband from
making an affidavit against him" had
been stolen by the asSaiiant
The LantzeS have been subpcenaed
to appear as character witnesses against
McMullin.
First insimaticn Of the attack came
when the husband. who Is chief motor
cycle oficer IN his home town. called
Miffien Blackstone. assistant manager CT
the hotel. and stated he had returned
to his room from dinner and found his
wife lying gagged on the hoo-. He said
letter had been taken from its en-
velope. but that copies os two andasits.
one ot them sworn 70 jointly BY his
wife and himself. had been left BE-
hind. after having been removed from
q wallet.
Mr.. Lansz had reported previously
that on Tuesday night, about the same
hour. s: 80 o'clcck. their room had been
-N% fss hA3 UhSANF>A q
nothing appeared TO be missing.
Story Told by Lantx
Aithoush Mrs. Iants was confined to
day TO her room under care OF nurse
engaged. Or. Mason explained. ~ the
suggestion Of Mr.. Burns, police tnvestt-
eating the case stated that she bore
10 marks Of v,oleuee.
Mrs. Lantx was lying down while
was at dinner" Lans3 stated today.
She heard = key turn In the lock and
she at rirSs thought te was returning
from dinner. A man wearing gray
hat and blue suis rushed IN and
clapped his hand over her rsoGth. He
olack,acked her over the head and
gagged her with strip OF towel and
one cf my handkerch;efS found her
lying On the fsoor beside the bed when
returned from dinner"
Blackstone said that when be
reached the room Mrs Ians1 was cn
the ficor With sag II her niAsh.
she appeared IL be IN daaed canGi-
ton. he said. but there were no visible
marks Of violence. Several bureau
drawers were open. he added.
Blackstone said he SauanNsne3 p~,
MaScsn. house physician. who examined
her and reported 20 sAe ns2nSxeraeGt
that he esss,ia find no apparent injuries
but that Mrs, iants appeared 10 nc
nervous II was AZ this pel0s shas
Burns, who had reached the scene
within about 10 minutes S1SyestcS eat
easement cf the narSs,
pr. Mason told The star to-day thai
when he arrived IL NrS iantsS ESSeaa
last nigh; he found her IL - 3ased
condition" He said there MAS - marx
as some kind" ca her forehead and -
tender sre," behind esss ear. cos that
there MAS no breaking ~ the SSEa and
tGan0ttaQeSl ON raSe ISssu,ssn ~