Evening star., 1951-06-26
Two Men Admit
Kidnap-Rapeof
Virginia Bride
Also Tell Police They
Would Have Killed
Her, but Gun Failed

AA>SAA@NkS~S% ~ k>AS0NJ HA40S VA CASAAU
days from her Colonial Village
apartment, each raped her twice
and would have killed her but for
a rife that failed to fire, police
said.
The nightmarish affair ended
with the woman. Mrs. Nancy Ann
Hotchkiss, 20. screaming for help
on the porch of an Arlington
police lieutenant. who rushed her
to Arlington Hospital.
There Mrs. Hotchkiss, bruised
about the neck and shoulders,
gave such a vivid and coherent
account Of the ordeal that police
mad two men under arrest within
four hours.
Both Capital Offenses.
One was John Robert Polk, 10.
Of the 800 block of North Wake
field street, Arlington, 180-pound
automobile mechanic with minor
police record.
The other was William Robert
Payne, 25, of the 200 block Of
Wooten avenue, Bethesda, also a
mechanic.
In Arlington County both were
charged with abduction with in
tent to ravish and with burglary
and were ordered held in Arlington
Jail without bond. kidnapping in
Virginia carries penalty ranging
from eight years to death.
Stern Justice Promised.
They were charged in Fairfax
County with rape. which carries
possible penalties of from five
years to death. Commonwealth
Attorney Denman T. Rucker of
Arlington, said he would confer
with Hugh B. Marsh, Fairfax
commemorative attorney, with
the suggestion that the rape
charges be tried first because the
multiple ravishment involved
aggravated crime.
1.-The shocking details Of this
ghastly ravishment of this young
woman will be met with the stern
est and most appropriate justice" :"
Mr.. Rucker said.
Mrs. Hotchkiss and Ensign
James Hotchkiss, %, were married
lat Winnetka, H., where Mrs.
IHotchkiss made her social debut
,llast summer. Only last Saturday
/ they moved into their apartment
lat 1889 North Troy street, Arling-
ton. I
! Flashed Light in Window.
/ About l am. today the newly
weds were awakened by a noise at
their first-f1eor apartment VIM
dow. Pvt. Thomas Tracy of the
Arlington police said this is what
he was told happened:
Polk and Payne had approached
the apartment with the intent of
robbery. Flashing light into the
room, they saw a pair of trousers
and were tempted by the thought
of a wallet.
Then they flashed the light on
the bed, and on the side next to
the window, saw Mrs. Hotchkiss.
ITO Payne, who was holding the
rifle, Polk said: "Give me the gun
and you go get the car started"
Polk turned the flashlight in
Ensign Hotchkiss' eyes and
ordered his wife:
Get out of there. I'll shoot.
I'll count to three" ..
Neighbor Sounds Alarm.
Blinded by the light and fear
| full for his wife's life, Ensign
Hotchkiss remained motionless
while Mrs. Hotchkiss slipped on a
blue negligee, and at a command
from Polk. went through the
window. Then he rushed out in
pursuit of the abductors but was
unable to overtake them.
In the apartment above, John
Kramer, "a, an employe of the
Otis Elevator Co., heard the loud
talking. He also heard the metal
lie sound of window screen being
lifted. He hurried to the tele-
phone to ask the apartment
operator to call police.
In another second-floor apart
ment Miss Ann Bricker, is, saw q
man leading woman across the
lawn toward North Rhodes ave-
nue.. A footpath runs from North
Troy to North Rhodes. paralleling
the apartments and wooded
lravine.
IT saw the man had hold of the
woman's arm and was twisting it
behind her back. I heard the
man say as he twisted her arm.
You keep quiet or I'll kill you'."
Awakened by Screams.
Just then Mrs. Hotchkiss
screamed, awakening AIMS moth
Ier. Mrs. Edna Bricker. a telephone
operator.
When the pair reached the car,
parked on Rhodes street, Payne
had the cars engine running. It
was a 1946 Cadillac belonging to
Polk.
After they began driving, Polk
asked Mrs. Hotchkiss if her hus-
band had any money. When she
answered "No," he asked if he
(See KIDNAP. Page A-3.)