Evening star., 1937-03-06
ATTACK SUSPECT
SOUGHT IN COUNTY
One Man Believed Respon.
sibIe for Series of Crimes
in Montgomery.
By . stan Correspondent q, The Star.

BETHESDA, Nd, March 6.-The
young white man wanted for . crimi-
nal attack on . Chevy Chase woman
night also Is suspected OF
1t least one other similar attack and
half Q dozen pocketbook snatchings
during the past several weeks, it was
today rs Montgomery County
police intensified their search.
The man, apparently between rs
and 30. whose distinguishing char.
acteristic Is q low, -modulated
voice. has been operating with
tied over the lower por-
ton Of his face. making Identification
difIicult. but has been described identi-
cally by several victims. even to the
language he used when he encountered
them
His latest victim, q young Chevy
Chase matron, who was robbed of her
pocketbook. containing about $40, and
then attacked near the Leland Junior
High School about 1880 pm. Thurs
day, within q few blocks OF her home,
was under the care of q private physi-
clan today. Her condition was not
serious. but she was suffering from
shock and nervous strain.
Descriptions Tally.
During the investigation Of the case
by Detective Sergt. Theodore Vollten
and Oficer Jack Berry Of the county
police, 1t was learned that description
of the attacker Tailed with descrip-
tions furnished BY victims in several
other cases to Oficer William Craw-
ford. another county police ofiicer
Investigation has been made difh-
cult by the nature Of the crime. The
other attack victim, who lives only
a few blocks from Chevy Chase Circle.
first reported only that her pocketbook
had been stolen. Several days later,
while en- route to Rockville to view a
suspect in the county jail, she re-
vealed to a member of the county
police force that she had been attacked
before the thief fed with her purse.
Except for location, the stories Of
the two women were much the same.
The man approached and pressed q
revolver against their ribs He used
practically the same words In warn
ing them:
You don't want to die, do you?
One bullet and all will be over"
Would Recognize Voice.
The man was described as about 5
feet 10 inches tall, well dressed in q
IL falt hot nd no
tween IS and 30 years of age. While
both women were unable to see much
of his face, partially covered by an
ordinary white handkerchief, both
stressed his low. even voice. speaking
in perfect English. and stated they
would be able to recognize it again
If they heard it.
Police said the description also fits
the man who Snatched q purse from
the hall of the home of C. L. Wolcott,
ls West Kirke place. Chevy Chase.
February Is. after setting three fires
in the basement to distract attention
of several guests. Although ne did not
speak when he was seen by one of the
guests he was we'll dressed, and for q
time mistaken for the brother of Miss
Helen Wolcott until it was recalled
that he was in Baltimore.
The description is the same as that
given by WoodSide resident who was
accosted by young white man only a
few feet from her front porch late last
month and robbed OF her purse. con-
tanning about $40 In that case, and
also in the case of the woman who was
attacked several weeks ago, the bandit
whistled as his victims approached,
evidently to allay suspicion.
Police admittedly are without def
mite clues, but are investigating sew
eral leads which they hope will dis
close the identity of the attacker
Plaster casts of footprints found in
the soft ground at the scene Of the at
tack Thursday night have been made
Police suspect other attack cases have
occurred in the county in recent weeks,
but the victim preferred not to make
any report.