Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-11
BLOW WAS FATAL
Row Among Boys Ends in Death of
Kirby Mobley,
WILLIAM GREBLR ADMITS HITTING Elm
The Police Capture a Number of
the Principals.
AN INQUEST ROW


police claim that the injury inflicted
with a heavy wagon spoke around which
some wire had been twisted Sergeant
Moore and Policemen Edwards, Burton,
Adams. Warren and Dodge investigated
the case and made ten arrests. They
worked the case all night, and had the
last of the ten boys behind the bars about
breakfast time. The boys arrested gave
their names and ages as William w.
Greble, seventeen years; Leroy Krouse,
thirteen; Abraham Hamely, fifteen; Mall
colin Hamely, seventeen; George W. Lucas,
six cen; David Towle. twelve; Grover
Cleveland, fourteen: Arthur F. Fenton,
fourteen: Charles Moliere. fifteen, and Cor
don krouse, seventeen. Another party ar
res-ed Samuel f. Stiles, who gave his
age as twenty-three years.
Kirby Nobley, who was killed, worked for
his stepfather, q. G.. Osgood, who lives at
10 Rhode Island avenue northwest. He
had been in the habit Of keeping company
with a nurnLei Of boys ABOUT l. street, who
composed what is known as the IL street
gang" William W. GIeble, who lives in
the neighborhood of @th and r streets, was
with some friends, most Of whom live
along the line Of Massachusetts avenue.
These be Us are known as the "Massachu-
sets avenue gaEg." Tie factions had come
together many times Eefore, but not until
last night was anybody ever seriously in
il ed. Just what really G.d occur may not
be known Until the testimony of all the
". ,ne5SeS is heard.
Stories Conflict.
At present many conflicting stories are
being told by the Joys. Several of them
Were accused by others of having inflicted
the fatal injury, but upon the arrest and
confession of Greble, they were able to ae-
finiteiy free themselves of the RESPONSE
biiity.
The row in which MoDley lost his life
was at a second meeting of the boys last
night. About 8 o'clock there was d clash
between the factions, when blows We're eX-
changed. When the gangs separated it
was evident that there would De further
trouble, for neither crowd willing to
leave the neighborhOod., There was consid-
cradle grumbIing done by some of them,
and some threats We're made. A report
was received by the Massachusetts avenue
faction that those who opposed them were
on 1lth street breaking stones preparatory
to prospective stone battle. Even this
did not brighten all the boys away.
Finally CaTc the fatal meeting. Some
boy in the crowd was seen by bystander
To strike a blow. This blow fell on Mob
ley's head, and the latter, going down, was
heard to scream 'Murdcr!' and "POliCc!'
When citizens went to assist the injured
boy he said he had fallen from tree. Be
fore he was taken to the Emergency Hos
pital, however. and while he was apparent
~ in 4 semi-conSci0us condition, he cried
Don't hit me again
When he reached the hospital the doc
tors found an ugly wound of the left tenn
pie. Several blood vessels had been rup-
tured and he died it is thought, from hem
"rrhage of the brain. His stepfather and
other members of the family We're at the
hospital when the boy died
All night long. as already stated, the po-
lice of the first precinct worked hard on
the case. Many versions of the affair
heard. These statements showed. that a
number of blows were struck, several
stones thrown and a blackjack used. This
latter weapon the police have recovered,
and the witnesses before the coroners Jury
tomorrow will repeat their charges against
one of the prisoners.
In the police station some of the boys
gave the officers trouble and annoyance.
One of the smallest of the prisoners in
formed the police that he was member of
the IL street gang and said they were
also known the twelve rough riders"
GrebIe's Version.
Greble, who is one Of the brightest boys
in the crowd and very gentlemanly in his
conduct told Star reporter about the af-
fair.
Il struck him with a piece of broom
defense"
He seemed to be greatly worried over the
affair and was anxious to know what
would be done with him.
Talking of the affair. he said a party of
boys gathered in the park early in the
evening and about O'Clock those from l.
street came there from the 18th street side
of the park and rushed in for fight. His
friends were pursued down 18th street he
said, and then they went around on 10th
street.
one of our boys hit at the boy who was
afterward killed" he said, land the trouble
was apparently over"
Afterward, he said, one of his companions
was made the object of an assault with a
blackjack, but the weapon failed to strike
him A man took the blackjack from boy
and gave II to a policeman.
Greble said he was with five of his COM
panionS on 10th street later on, when he
was told of the preparations that Were
being made a square away for a stone bat
tie With his companions he returned to
the park and was standing near tn, foun-
tain when MObley and Arthur Fenton came
in. Mobley, he declared. hit one of the
boys IN the mouth, and the latter boy lost
his hat and ran away. Then his compan-
ions, with the exception of Gordon krouse
ran away, leaving the two of them. Blows
passed between the boys, and then, he
said. Mobley struck at him.
He raised his arm" said Greble, land
| tried to strike him on it with the stick
Just as made the attempt he tried to
strike me IN the stomach and my stick
struck him on the head instead of on the
arm As soon as / struck him he went
down and called Harry. Then he scream
ed murder and police and | left"
Acting Lieutenant Shilling listened to
Greble's account of the trouble, and is in
clined to believe that his version of it is
correct. except as TO the weapon he used.
The body of the dead boy was removed
to the morgue this morning. where it was
viewed by Acting Coroner GlaZebrook
Acting Deputy Coroner Mcdonald made an
autopsy. Tomorrow morning at IL o'clock
the inquest will be held. Several of the
boys who were arrested We're released this
afternoon. They will appear before the
corOners jury tomorrow as witnesses.
The Police Energetic.
Policeman Edwards did the greatest share
of the work of arresting the offenders, but
he was ably assisted by Policemen Burton
Dodge, Warren and Sergt. Moore who also
manifested great interest in the roundup.
According to Mollere's statement he and
Mobley returned by way Of 10th street and
Were proceeding on that thoroughfare until
they saw d crowd of boys at the corner of
10th and II streets. Mobley then started
through the park and Mollere continued on
his way down 10th street
The general opinion in regard to Greble's
statement seems to be that the broomstick
was not capable of infiicting the wound
that caused Mobley's death. the marks on
the head pointing to the use of the more
dangerous wagon-spoke, wrapped with
heavy wire at the end. which was found In