Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-16
Woman Had Been RecIuse
Until Moved to Home for
Aged and Infirm.
SIX PEOPLE ARRESTED
FOR INVADING PROPERTY
Miss Blanche Magruder Resided
in House Which Is Now
Falling to Pieces.

Miss Blanche Magruder, once known
as Fair, the Golden HAIR" because of
her beauty. lived the life Of recluse
III her dilapidated, aforementioned
dwelling at 1904 Thirty-fifth street until
circumstances interviewed, with the re-
suit that she was sent to the Home for
the Aged and Infirm and subsequent
investigation uncovered a modest treas
ure trove in her Georgetown residence.
Last Summer she was overcome by
the heat while on one of her rare ven-
lures into the street and was sent to
Georgetown Hospital, then Gallinger,
and finally the District Home.
The building was left much as it had
been during its occupancy-blinds
drawn, doors barred and slowly falling
to pieces. The first persons to cross the
threshold after Miss Magruder had gone
were intruders slipping quietly in and
out under cover of the darkness.
Six Are Arrested.
Neighbors noticed their presence and
notified police, who posted guard there.
Early yesterday they arrested six colored
people, said to have been caught on the
premises.
Police we're informed that the in
vaders were looking for money, which
neighborhood rumor said had been con-
cealed on the place. Miss Magruder
was known to be of an acquiSitive
nature, while she exercised such eX-
IRENE domestic thrift that there were
times when she went hungry, although
had brought provisions to her
door.
The officers made a search Of the
place and uncovered some S400 in gold
newspapers and secreted in suit case
they found in a bureau drawer.
Searching further, they found other
small amounts of money, lodged behind
the pictures on the walls.
Put Money Away.
At the Home for the Aged and In
firm this morning, Miss Magruder, who
is listed as rs years old. said she had
put the money away for safe keeping"
but declined to disclose if she had left
other sums about the house.
A published report that $4,000 was
rumored hidden in a back yard we'll at
the house was denied by Miss Ma
gruder, a denial which police were in
clined to credit. particularly in view
of the fact that there is no well on
the premises.
The elderly spinster has long been
familiar to Georgetown. She was born
in the house and passed her entire
life there. In her youth Miss Magruder
was called Fair, the Golden Hair" be-
cause of her beauty. and the name was
later used by children of the community
to taunt her when she emerged on the
street.
She lived with three spinster sisters,
the last of whom died some six and
or seven years ago.
Used Front Window.
One eccentricity Of Miss Magruder's
which gave rise to considerable Specu-
lation in the neighborhood was her
habit of coming in and going out q
front window in preference to the door.
The old house, a sagging two-Story
frame affair. exhibits hlistering paint
and cracked and broken shingles. The
windows are tightly shattered and the
doors pock-marked by the stones
Georgetown's small boys, who liked to
see Miss Magruder protrude her head
from window to upbraid them.
Inside, police found the furnishings
falling to pieces. A few tables. chairs
and an ancient grand piano on the
ground floor were almost in ruins, while
the upstairs bedrooms were in no better
repair.
Although doctors have been unable
to determine what is the matter with
her. Miss Magruder has been bedridden
since she was removed from her home.
Expects to Go Home.
She said today that she expects to go
home again when She is vel. and eX-
pressed her sorrow at the turn of events
which led others to NEEDLE in her af-
fairs. She declined to reveal to au-
thorities of the home if there is any
more money in the place, although
they questioned her in the hope of OBJ
tanning information that might enable
them to safeguard her property.
The colored people being held at No. z
precinct for investigation of allegations
that they entnered the premises are
Ellen Davis. 10. 1861 Scott street; H.
Robinson, IT. of the same address:
James Lee, 20, 927 T street; Thomas
Alonzo. II, 1924 Prospect avenue; Will
liam Brown, %. 1929 Prospect avenue.
and Herman Slater, %, of an unknown
address.
After searching the premises, police
securely boarded the doors and windows
and notified some distant relatives OF
Miss Magru6er here, in the event they
wished to take steps to safeguard her
interests.