Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-17
A BOY SHOT DEAD.
Was 1t Case Of Accidental Shooting OF
q Murder?

ShAhLEs BoEHMANN, TwELvE-YKAR-oLD BOY,
KILLED By PARLoR RIFLE IN THE HANDS OF
GEORGE W. GATES, a YOUTHFUL MARINE-THH
coRoNERs INQUEST.
george W. Gates, q marine, was yesterday
sent to Jail until the grand jury can investigate
charge Of murder against him. 1t is alleged
that he killed Charles Boehmann Saturday
afternoon by shooting him with parlor rifle
In the rear Of the house where Gates family
reside, on Georgia avenue between 18th and
18th streets southeast The prisoner is eigh-
teen years old and has been Q member OF the
marine corps about two years. He expected
to go to sea in about q months time. He has
been permitted to leave the barracks Satur-
day and Sunday afternoons of each week and
on these occasions he usually spent some time
at his home. There is another young man,
one Of Georges companions in the marine
corps, who Is not fortunate enough to have q
home in this city. He owns the rifle which
caused Charlie Boehmann's death. Gates had
been keeping the rife at his house for his COM
panion, who permitted him to use it
THE FATAL SHOOTING.
Saturday afternoon the prisoner and de-
ceased, Charles Carl and Vim. Clark were in
the yard Of the house and passed away an hour
u
good marksmen and the target was rendered
useless. They had some bullets left and to use
them up q tin can was placed on the fence post
and the boys took turns in shooting at it
Willie Boehmann, who was only twelve years
old, knocked the can of the post, laid down
the rifle and started to place the can in posi-
ton again. After doing 30 he got on the fence
and while there broke some sman branches Oh
peach tree in the yard This seemed to anger
Gates, and after ordering the boy away he
pal Il - l.
The other boys in the yard screamed for as
sistsnce when they saw Willie fall, and Gates
mother came out and picked up the dying
boy. While the boys were running in all direc-
tons for physicians the little fellow died and
Mrs. Gates tainted. When the physicians ar
rived at the house their services were not
needed.
The bullet had entered the carotid artery,
passed through the windpipe and lodged near
the shoulder. From the location Of the ball 1t
must have been sent from the weapon with
considerable force.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Patterson held an inquest at the I'M
dertaking establishment of MIR. Mitchell on
Capitol Hill at noon yesterday and made a
thorough examination Of the case.
The two boys, Clark and Carl, were called as
witnesses. Their evidence was that Boehmann
had been setting up the can for Gates. The last
time he put the can in position and while
standing on the fence broke some blossoms
from peach tree. This 30 incensed Gates that
he ordered Boehmann out of the yard Gates
then raised the rifle and pointed it at Boeh-
mann. The latter said: Look out, George
that might go off," Hardly had the words
fallen from his lips when down went the trigger
and he fell to the ground.
The prisoner was sworn in his own behalf
and he told precisely the same story as was told
by the other witnesses and added how he came
to fire the fatal shot. Before raising the rifle
to point at Boehmann he said he thought he
put the hammer down 30 that the weapon could
not be discharged.
The jury thought from the circumstances at
tending the shooting that the case needed
further Judicial examination and held Gates re-
sponsible for the killing. On the coroner's
commitment he was sent to jail