Evening star., 1941-06-18
Two New Strieff
Leads Found as
25Work on Case
Report Of Screams
And Piece of Rope
May Be Clues

now numbering 25-was working at
top speed today to check on the
dozens of tips" pouring into police
headquarters from persons who
sought to furnish clues to the iden-
tity of the killer of pretty Jessie
Elizabeth Betty Strieff.
Out of the confusion of informa-
tion which piled up during the
morning, the special investigating
squadron found two reports which
they thought might have some sig
nificance:
l. The discovery of a piece of
hemp rope, S or 6 feet long. with a
loop at each end, which was found
buried in the mud near the garage
where Miss Strieff's body was
dumped early Monday.
2. A report from citizens living
in a county outside of Washington
that they had heard woman s
screams coming from an automobile
parked in lonely spot near their
home.
Also being investigated for any
possible connection with the case
was the story of a 20-year-old girl,
who was a visitor here, that an at
tempt was made to attack her last
night in Prince Georges County,
Md, after she had gotten in a taxi
cab in the District.
Rope Found in Alley.
The piece of rope was turned over
to police by Earl Burgette, 1914
Seventeenth street NV, whose
home is only 80 feet from the garage
at 1717 @ street NV, where the
body was found.
Mr.. Burgette said he found the
rope buried in the mud in the alley
on which the garage faces. 1t was
found about so feet from the garage,
he stated. Police took the rope to
headquarters to study, but would
make no comment.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
had announced earlier that he be-
lieved Miss Strieff had been
strangled with a rope, or cord, about
one-half inch wide. A red mark
found on her hip could have been
caused by the same rope, he said
Reports of Screams Investigated.
Police indicated that they at
tached some significance to the re-
port that screams had been heard
by the suburban residents. Detec-
tives were dispatched to talk to the
persons making the report.
Many in the neighborhood re-
ported hearing noises in the alley
where the body was found, but
police have indicated they think
these screams had no connection
with the case.
The girl disappeared about 2:30
pm. Sunday while on her way to
the store. The neighbors reported
hearing screams about 2:30 am.
Monday. 1t is the police belief that
Miss Strieff was killed within a short
time after leaving the delicatessen
where she bought butter Sunday
afternoon.
A report that woman was heard
screaming outside of Washington
Sunday afternoon, it was argued,
would fit into the general theory
of the crime. Police believe the
murder and attack-since they
probably occurred in daylight
must have been committed in some
deserted area outside the city.
Girl Tells of Attempted Attack.
There was a furry of excitement
at headquarters this morning when
first reports came in of the at
tempted attack on the 2O-year old
visitor.
The girl was under treatment at
Casualty Hospital, where she had
been transferred from Gallinger.
She said she had taken a cab to
go to Union Station late last night,
but that instead the driver had
taken her to wooded spot near
Chillum and Sargent roads in Prince
Georges County. There. she said,
the cab driver and a colored man
had attempted to attack her. She
fled and was injured in climbing
over a barbed wire fence. Her
empty pocketbook, which she said
had contained s18, was found near
the scene.
The squad investigating the Strieff
Staying is headed by Capt. John
H Fowler, commander of the
18th precinct station and one
Of the leaders in solving the re-
cent sniper murders in the city.
He has been instructed by Chief
of Police Ernest w. Brown to con-
centrate on finding the killer of Miss
Strieff.
One Man Held for Questioning.
Homicide Chief George Darnall
reported that there are no sus-
poets IN the case at present except
man picked up and held for ques-
tioning early today after he had
been heard mumbling incoherently
in filling station while reading
accounts of the Staying. Police were
(See MURDER, Page A-50