Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-14
THOUGHT
TRAPPED IN WOODS.
Woman's Story of CoIored
Mans Request for Food
Opens New Trail to Posse.

Armed with shotguns, pistols and
high-powered rifles, zoo neighbors of
Mrs. Clara Millar, who was criminally
assaulted by colored man who in
vaded her home in Takoma Park, Md.
yesterday morning, hastily threw cor
don around an area of pine trees and
underbrush just north of town limits
this morning after a woman reported
that man answering the description
of the assailant had disappeared in the
woods when she refused his request for
some food shortly after 10 o'clock.
Under the direction of dozen State
police and county officers, the villagers
posted themselves on hills and at other
strategic points to prevent the mans
escape until bloodhounds from Deco
guam. Va can be brought to the scene.
County Police Sergt. Claude Reese left
for Occoquan to get the bloodhounds
Immediately after word had been re-
ceived that the colored man was located.
He is expected back early this afternoon.
Attempts are being made to secure
an airplane from nearby commercial
field. which will be used in scanning the
woods from the air.
The posse was assmbled around the
woods OTTER the woman the Negro had
asked for food notified officials of his
visit.
Word from the Washington SAM
tarium that Mrs Millar still is in
critical condition spurred the possemen
this morning as they scattered through
the wooded sections of Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties in their search
for her assailant $3.50
When the posses returned to Takoma
Park last midnight one suspect had been
arrested, griiled and released. a colored
woman was under arrest and 20 homes
had been searched. out the object of the
hunt was still at large
Reward Is Posted.
Mayor Ben G. Davis of Takoma Park,
who has assumed charge of the hunt.
last night offered a $500 reward for the
arrest of the colored man. A reward
of $50 previously had been offered by
police.
Mrs. Millar was alone in her home
when the attack occurred yesterday
morning. Her husband, a Washington
insurance salesman, was at work, and
her two sons, Howard, 'l3, and Byron, II,
had gone to school.
After an early shopping trip, Mrs.
Millar returned to her home, bathed
and went to bed. A victim of insomnia,
she had experienced difficulty in sleeping
at night. and made a practice of taking
q nap during the morning hours.
She was half asleep, she said, when
suddenly she sensed the presence of
some one else in the bedroom. She saw
the colored man standing at her bed
side and screamed.
Screamed for Help.
Mrs Millar tainted as the colored
man sprang at her. When she recovered
consciousness he was leaving the room
Both of her eyes had been blackened.
her throat was swollen and her body
covered with bruises from the brutal
attack
After the colored man had left her
room Mrs. Millar went to a window and
screamed for help. Two painters-Dale
Hamilton and William Blosser-were
working on neighbours garage and
heard the womanS cries. Leaving their
work, they pursued the colored man for
quarter OF mile, losing the trail in
the woods.
In the meantime, Mrs. Millar had
been carried to neighbours house, from
which she was removed to the hospital.
Her lips and throat had become SO
badly swollen that she could not give
an account of the attack, and it was
late last night before she was able to
describe the colored man.
Posse Assemblies Hastily.
News of the crime spread rapidIy
through the town and the posse was
hastily assembled.
A bloodhound from Occoquar, Va.
followed the trail for a short distance.
but the rain had SO blurred the scent
that the dog had to be called OF.
An arrest was expected when the
posse found q damp and muddy suit
and cap. described by the painters as
being similar to the garments worn by
the colored man, in shed in the rear
of the residence of Estelle Herbert.
33-year-old colored woman of Wild
wood, Md. The woman was taken to
the police station at Takoma Park and
: questioned, but denied any knowledge
OF the clothing or its owner.
A colored man, who gave his name
as Arthur Kelly, was arrested on suspi-
cion. He was released after a severe
grilling in the Takoma Park fire station.
Says She Can Identify Him.
The posse this. morning planned to
resume its search Of wooded sections In
the vicinity and in localities frequented
by colored men. Mrs. Millar has furnish
ed them with detailed description of
her assailant. She said she would be
able to identify the man.
One of the searchers. Curtis Barr, 81,
Of 1014 Carroll avenue, Takoma Park,
was shot in the right leg as he acct
dentally discharged pistol in his hip
pocket.