Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-09
AT TEMPTED MURDER
Albert Echelberger Held for Alleged
Vicious Assault.
STRUCK his FATHER WITH AN Ak
Injured Man at Providence Hospital
Under Treatment.
R ESULT OF A QUARREL

Albert F. Eicheloerger. twenty-nine years
old, was taken in charge in South Wash
ington at early hour this morning by a
colored man and turned over to Policeman
Stewart on a charge of attempted murder.
He struck his father George y. Eichel-
berger, on the head with an AK a his home
No. 1921 Half street southwest last night,
and fractured his skull. The injured man
was taken to Providence Hospital by the
police, and because of the serious nature
of his injuries Lieutenant Hollinberser III
rected that the prisoner be detained at the
'1tion today to await developments.
Father and son have been in the painting
business together. The police We're in
formed that yesterday they were out to-
gether drinking. and that they returned
home considerably under the influence of
intoxicants. They were seen to cross the
James Creek canal about 30 o'clock walk
ing in the direction of their home from
Southeast Washington, where they had
probably procured their liquor
1t was between and o'clock when they
reached home. Persons who saw them
the street say they were engaged in a dis
pute, but that it was nothing new for
them, and no attention was paid to it,
When they reached the house they re-
manned outside on the sidewalk, apparently
endeavoring to settle their differences be-
fore entering. Subsequent developments
show that their efforts at effecting an adj
justment were fruitless.
A few days ago the father and son had
dispute about money affairs, and at that
time the fathers life was threatened.
Threats in the Eichelberger family, how
ever, seldom meant anything more than
the mere of words, and, as usual, there
seemed to have been i'll feeling between
them the following morning. on each occa-
sion when neither was under the influence
of liquor.
Ruf One Eyewitness.
Two families live in the Eichelberger
home but last night nobody was. at home
when the two men returned. and there is
only one person who witnessed part of the
row, other than the principals. so far as
the police know, and Eugene Fugitt, who
looked through the window when ne heard
a noise in the house. is that one. After
entering the house, he said. the Eichel-
bergers continued their quarrel for more
than an hour before the vicious blow was
dealt. The ak, it is stated, was kept in the
rear of the premises for wood chopping
purposes, and Albert had to go to the yard
to get it. Returning with the heavy
weapon. he found his father in the little
front room of the house, and there struck
him with the AK
The witness Fugitt told Of what had
happened, and telephone message was
sent to the fourth precinct police station.
Another message was sent to the Elmer
gency Hospital for an ambulance. The
patrol wagon was first to reach the house
Hospital, where the doctors found he was
in an extremely critical condition.
When the police reached the house tney
found large crowd about the front door,
while several people had entered the dwell
ing and were trying to relieve the wounded
man. Eichelberger was unconscious when
he was found, and although the doctors at
the hospital relieved the pressure on the
BRAIN he still in a stupor this morn
ing. In the room were several pools of
blood and the bloodstained AK was on the
fi.,nr !, No.
visiting relatives in Southeast Washington
al the time, and she returned home when
she learned of what had happened.
Arrest Of the Accused Man.
When the police at the fourth precinct
learned of the affair headquarters was noti-
fled and several detectives We're detailed
to look out for the man who had used the
ak. Eichelberger in the meanwhile had
wandered to some brick yards in South
Washington, where he slept on a lumber
pile. This morning about o'clock colored
man named Hughes found him and took
him to the police station. Upon reaching
the station his name was recorded and he
was placed behind the bars.
In conversation with Policeman Sanford
the prisoner said he remembered nothing of
last nights affair. He said he did not even
remember about returning home During
the day, he said. he and his father were
drinking and if they had any trouble he
did not remember it.
1t has not been many months since the
prisoner returned home from the peniten-
tiary. where he and one of his brothers
served term of five years for killing
Henry Buckner in 1894. Ruckner who had
been a caller at the Eichelberger home
refused to remain away from the house
after being directed to do so by the sons,
and they beat him to death. They left here
after nfiicting the fatal injuries and were
afterward arrested in Richmond by Detec-
tves Boyd and Horne and brought back
for trial
Patient in Critical Condition
The accused man has two brothers Will
lam Eichelbe"ger, who was implicated in
the killing of Buckner six years ago is
married and doing well, while another
brother, George, Is doing military duty in
the Philippines.
This afternoon at the hospital ii was
stated that although the patient was still
in critical condition there appeared to
be no immediate danger of death
THE COURTS.