1939-12-08 — Page 21

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 8, 1939

TO-DAY'S STRANGE STORY OF REAL PEOPLE

THE MURDER OF ADA DENNIS

By VINCENT TOWNE.

The most buffling mystery that ever vexed the police of Washington, D. C. was presented by the murder of Ada Gilbert Dennis, in 1902. Mr. Dennis, a well-known dressmaker, counted her clientele among the most exclusive families of Washington. She was widow and lived at the corner of 11th and K Sts., northwest. Her headquar- ters were on the first floor, The upper floors of her house were occupied by several persons to whom she rented

rooms.

a

On the morning of October 30, 1902, a Negro porter, whom Mrs. Dennis em- ployed to carry parcels, came to work. Going to the back parlour on the first

floor he found the dressmaker lying in a pool of blood.

The gory seat of a piano stool, which had been unscrewed from the base, bore mute and ghastly testimony to the manner in which the deed had been done.

Mrs. Dennis had been attacked in her bed. There was no sign of a strug- gle and the police theory was that the first blow had rendered her uncons- cious.

The terrified porter immediately in- formed the police and aroused Mrs. Dennis' tenants. The house was promptly closed and an investigation was begun. The only procurable trace of the murderer, except the unique weapon he had used were footmarks on the window sill of the front room, which showed how he had entered and left the house. The sill was only a few inches above the ground.

A thorough search of Mrs. Dennis' effects failed to disclose the slightest motive for her murder. So far as the police could learn, she had not an At first as the enemy in the world.

the suspicion was directed toward Negro porter but nothing could be found to bear it out. The man's character was excellent and there was no evidence that he bore anything but good will toward his employer.

The search continued for months, but nothing came of it. Every detec- tive and policeman, every newspaper reporter and many amateur sleuths worked on the case.

The history of Mrs. Dennis and her associates for years back was studied carefully. Men were sent to several cities to look up former friends and companions of the murdered woman. But all of these efforts went for naught.

From the fact that no single article in the Dennis home had been touched, all thought of robbery in connection with the murder was from the first cast aside. The theory of revenge was followed out, but no foundation for it could be discovered.

or

Mrs.

Two

three days after Dennis was murdered a man commit-

gas ted suicide by inhaling

in a nearby house. His actions after the Dennis murder were peculiar, and the

10-25

Midlts Bradienis,, IKK),

It may seem low-brow but most-

of us will have to admit that the, book we get the most out of is the cheque book.

The Porter Found Her Lying

police had had him under suspicion. He was employed in one of the Gov-

ernment

I

bureaus in Washington.

came to look was when the police into his recent movements that he died by his own hand. He had been heard to make inquiries about Mrs. Dennis, and to remark that he liked her looks. He was known also to have mailed to friends out of town marked papers containing' accounts of the murder. In a store he was re- ported to have said he knew the police were shadowing him in connection with the crime. An investigation of his record showed that he was con- sidered eccentric by his fellow clerks, and also that he had been involved in the writing of letters that showed indications of a perverted mind.

The most peculiar feature of the crime was the weapon used. That any one wishing to commit murder should take the time deliberately to unscrew a piano seat from the stool and batter the victim's head with it, when any one of a dozen other met- hods would have been easier

Inside Information.

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row.

In A Pool of Blood.

quicker, astounded the police.

There had been no evidence to show that the act had been committed in There was of anger. an outburst nothing to indicate that it had been

planned. Otherwise, carefully

!,

the

his

murderer would have gone to

with whatever Dennis home armed implement he had selected for purpose.

1

At one time the theory of the police was that the mysterious slayer had entered the Dennis house in a spirit not of perverted curiosity and that until he had sneaked into Mrs. Den- nis' bedroofh had the murder mania seized him.

t

But, as stated, the only suspect ever considered in connection with the case died before the police could get even enough evidence on which to de- tain him. For months, afterward, every cluc, no matter how slight, was but at last the religiously followed,

police admitted defeat and the investi- gation had to be dropped.

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