Evening star., 1895-08-12
Charles Hammond and Wife Sus-
pected Of the Crime.
CAMPBELL HALLS SUDDEN DEATH
Circumstances Surrounding Il That
Require Investigation.
AWAITING THE AUTOPSY

Charles Hammond, colored, tWenty-seVen
wears old, ard Rose Hammond, his wife,
who is cne year his senior. were locked up
at the sixth precinct station this afternoon
on suspicion of murder. In the little room
known as the morgue, in rear OF the ponce
station, and only few feet from where
the prisoners were behind the bars, vas the
body of their alleged victim. Campbell Hail.
ten years Cid. He is Hasnmonds step
brother, and has been living with ham-
n.ond and his wife at No. 122 Balls court.
III rear of Sd street northwest, between u
and H streets. This morning the boy was
found desd, and suspicion rested on the
parties " no are now in custody, the police
alleging that the boys death resulted from
injuries received at the hands of one or
beth of them.
Last light the boy was out in the alley,
erd had a conversation with Policeman
Cox In this conversation the policeman
asked the boy how he felt, knowing ne had
teen complaining, and the little boy who
Was SO near deaiIi mlde him the answer:
I'm all right"
Found Dead in Bed.
This morning, however. word came that
the boy was dead. He had been found
dead in bed and the police at once notified
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook. This official
short investigation he ordered the arrest
of the parties and had the body removed
to the morgue, where an autopsy was COM
menced at o'clock this afternoon.
1t is known to the police that the step
brother of Hammond has given the latter
and his wife considerable trouble, and the
wife admits that the boy has been whipped
with a strap, but she says not cruelty.
On one occasion the police went to the
house and found the boy tied to the bed
hi i'm
home. He had been in the habit of rum
ring away, so it is said, and returned only
about month ago from trip of two
weeks from home.
A Suggestive Circumstance.
In addition to the serious statement made
against the couple the police say that some
months ago another boy who lived with
them died suddealy. That boys life was
insured for 500. 80 the police say. snd
they think this boy was insured for a
similar. amount.
When DR.. Gfazebrook ordered the arrest
of the couple Policemen Langley and Estes
went to the house and found them. They
were locked up on suspicion, but they deny
any violence, except The statement by the
woman that her husband used strap on
the boy.
On one occasion, the police learned, the boy
jumped from the second-story window to
escape beating.
.He was a bad boy,'' said Policeman
Cox this afternoon. land had thought Of
having him sent to the reform school,.
Mrs. Hammond's Statement.
Mrs. Hammond, who has cared for the
boy for a long time, was seen in her cell
this afternoon by Star reporter. and she
denied that she had ever whipped the boy.
MY husband whipped him with strap
about two months ago." she said. but
know that did not kill him."
Continuing, the woman said that the boy
had been very bad. and had repeatedly
gone off and remained away for several
days. About a month ago. she said, he
came nome after an absence @ about two
weeks, and he complained of a misery in
his stomach.
Il gave him some pills and castor oil. !"
she said, land he got better. althougn the
misery did not leave him. This week was
going to have my doctor come and see MIN.
I would have had him in attendance last
week, but he's out of the CITY,"
She was asked by the reporter about the
time the boy jumped out the window, ana
she remembered the occurrence very we'll.
But she said there was no one upstairs at
the time, and the boy only imagined he was
going to get whipping.
She said she could bring witnesses to
prove the truth of her assertions.
The exact cause of the boys death will
not be known until the physicians have
finished the autopsy.
It is thought that the inquest Will be
held at II o'clock tomorrow morning.