Evening star., 1929-10-06

Who Killed Madame Ada Gilbert Den
mis-, the handsome, youthful modiste
whose little shop on K street was well
and favorably known to many Of Wash
ington's social set in 1909? One day
20 years ago she was found in an un-
conscious condition In q back room OF
her establishment, her pretty head
mashed in and q blood stained piano
stool near an outstretched arm. For
366 days she lay In hospital. raving
deliriously and muttering many name3,
some very prominent in the Capitals
life, but not once did she regain con-
sciousness sufficiently TO tell a connect
ed story.
While she lay III scores OF persons
were questioned, to no avail. When
Ada Gilbert Dennis died, "of wounds
inflicted by person or persons un-
known" the account of the attack un-
der which she fell died with her.
Since that year many strange cases
have challenged the ability and alert
ness OF detectives and policemen. In
more recent yearS-exclusive of the
year 1927--the number of unsolved mur-
derS is we'll under per cent of the total
number of persons slain. But in tina:
G per cent, and not counting 9 of the
Al murders committed In 1927 that are
listed as 'unsolved," are some of the
most sensational and confusing studies
in criminology ever to confound the ef-
forts of a Metropolitan Police Depart
ment.
Three mysterious deaths since 1922
have not been explained satisfactorily.
The Mcbride Case.
Who killed Barney A. Mcbride. the
wealthy Indian oil operator, whose
body. mutilated by Is knife wounds,
was found in clump Of bushes near
Meadows. Md, short distance from
the District line, on August 10. 1922?
Who killed Miss Emma Kirk. To-
year-old woman. who operated a little
umbrella shop at 8ls r street until
January %, 1926? On that day her
trussed-up body was found. the hands
and feet tied. and a piece OF cord tight
around the neck.
War Sergt. Arthur "Mitt" Scrivener
of the Detective Bureau murdered on
October 49, 1926 Was he shot down
his friends believe. or did he take his
own life? Many of his acquaintances
concluded he was q suicide. but on the
books at police headquarters the ques-
tionS are unanswered.
The wealthy Indian. Mcbride arrived
in Washington about five days before
he was killed. put up at the home Of
Mrs. Mary E. Gone. in the 200 block of
Third street, and in the next few days
was seen frequently at the headquarters
of the Washington Elks Club. Mcbride
was one of that group of Indians that
have realized wealth through the sale
of oil lands in the West. He had been
in Washington six years earlier TO i'm
prove the deed to properties he had ac-
quired through the death Of his wife
and nothing about his conduct here
aroused suspicion. He had plenty Of
money, carried large amounts on his
person, but was quiet by nature and
we'll hammered.
Rope Around Neck.
Somebody took Barney Mcbride 'for
ride" A pedestrian chanced to see
two feet protruding ominously from a
clump of bushes under a culvert near
Meadows and investigated. He found
a body. A rope was knotted around the
neck and many knife wounds were in
the head and about the neck. A trail
of blood led from the body several yards
around small farm dwelling toward
! the District line There appeared nc
marks of identification.
On the BODY. later. however, wa:
found one evidence of the indians
fatalism A small leather tag had beer
concealed by the dead man between the
tongue and vsmp of one shoe. 1t was
| found accidentally and disclosed tht
wording: Mcbride. New York, Lodg'
No. /. B. p o. E., l08-il6 West Forty
third street"
The Washington police were active il
the investigation for many weeks, bu
| accomplished little. Information from