An elderly Guilford man was in stable condition yesterday after he was severely beaten by an intruder and left bleeding and helpless for hours before a relative found him near death, police said.

The home invasion was similar to at least three others that have occurred in the wealthy North Baltimore neighborhood since mid-October, police said.

Police said that when the daughter of James Chillis, 79, of the 4500 block of Underwood Road arrived at his home about noon Saturday, she found his car parked in the driveway with the keys in the ignition and groceries in the back seat.

Unable to enter the locked house and getting no answer, she looked through a window, saw her father lying in the hallway and noticed several rooms appeared to have been ransacked, police said.

The daughter called police and Northern District officers forced their way into the house, where they found Chillis bleeding from head and facial injuries that were hours old.

Police said Chillis was admitted at Sinai Hospital in critical condition. His condition was upgraded yesterday to stable, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Police said the attack occurred between 1: 30 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.

While Chillis was unable to describe his attacker, police said Saturday's attack was similar to those against three elderly Guilford women in their homes on Underwood Road on Oct. 13, York Court on Oct. 20 and the 300 block of E. Cold Spring Lane on Oct. 28.

Pub Date: 11/09/98