Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-16
SuspeetQuiizzed
In Killings Here

ASS euS 'OO
A man was arrested yester-
day after an extraordinary two
month manhunt In three robbery
assaults on women motorists.
| Detectives questioned him in
tensively today in two unsolved
District murders. They said he
maintained stubbornly that he
had no part in the killings. Of
ficers said they would continue
Questioning him before exon
Grating him. however.
Washington's Detective Chief
Edgar E. Scott picked the suspect
from a lineup yesterday because
of the suspects unusual jacket.
matching the description Of one
worn by the assailant in q purse
snatching.
Charles Curtis Coleman, %.
colored, of the 100 block Of y
street NV, was described by In
spector Scott as lone Of the most
vicious operators in recent years"
Rape. Robbery Charged
Coleman was charged with
rape and robbery: Inspector
Scott. said three additional rob-
berry counts. plus one of attempt
led robbery, would be filed later.
| Coleman was held for grand
jury action without bono today
when he appeared before a
United States Commissioner. On
two companion counts Of rob-
berry, bond was set at total Of
$50. 900.
! Today's intensive questioning
Icentered on the two-year-old
Staying of Miss Alma Preinkert.
University of Maryland registrar,
and the strangulation last
Thursday Of Mrs. Ann H. Brooks.
"a. colored. in a dry cleaning
shop
| Coleman became involved
Through an entirely separate
lease. 1 al
Sarah E. Davis. IS, colored, of
the 100 block of Swami street
INV. complained to officers yes
iterday that Coleman slashed her
hand in q wrangle in her apart
ment.
Police found him at Freed
mems Hospital. where he had
Ilgone for treatment of a cut on
his own hand. He denied cutting
the woman and charged instead
4 that she had cut him.
| Inspector Scott was struck
with coleman's rust-colored
suede Jacket.
The garment matched one de-
seribed by Mrs. Ann M. jackson.
46, of 1877 Thirty-fifth street
NE. She was parking her car
lin the l700 block Of Florida ave-
nue. NV. November II when q
man leaped aboard. clinging to
the cars side. and grabbed her
purse containing IS.
Left Palm Print,
Two pedestrians chased him
and caught him. They returned
Mrs. Jackson's purse but let her
assaiiant go. police said. Her
rescuers did not report the case
Ito police. but Mrs. jackson did.
stressing the jacket In her de-
scription.
The man left the print Of his
left palm on the auto.
Inspector Scott had Coleman
pulled from the lineup yesterday
and taken to the identification
room. Pvts. Carl Tate and Clin-
ton Keys. fingerprint specialists.
matched his palm print with the
one on the Jackson auto. Inspec-
tor Scott said.
Coleman was quickly identi-
fed yesterday by q Northwest
Washington spinster, as. as the
man who raped and robbed her
November 8. Inspector Scott
said Coleman had admitted parts
of her accusation.
Victim In Hospital
The rape victim, who was
hospitalized five days after, the
attack. said she had Just
parked her car in q basement
garage when a man confronted
her with a knife, dragged her
behind a plywood packing case.
robbed her Of IS and assaulted
her.
The inspector said Coleman
also was identified yesterday by
Mrs. Eleanor A. Williams, So. the
resident manager Of the Harvard
Hall Apartments, 1850 Harvard
street NV, as the man who
abducted her May IL. She said
he accosted her In the apart
ment garage. dragged her 40 feet
across the floor, ripped of her
earrings. robbed her Of IS,
forced her back into her auto
and drove her around for more
than an hour before releasing
her.
Police. Chief Robert v. MUIR
ray took personal supervision OF
the manhunt he organized after
the November 8 assault.
Extra men were detailed to
the Identification division to spe-
cialize on palm prints. Some 40
plainclothesmen and uniformed
officers were staked out in the
Northwest area bounded BY U
and Fourteenth streets. Spring
road and Rock Greek Park.
Twenty large apartment houses
were placed under special scru-
tinv