The age-herald., 1901-10-29

alley for Walter Anderson, who had gone in a disorderly house near by for the purpose of begging something to eat or pan handling" as they termed It.
 All of the boys have youthful appear ance, Anderson the oldest of the four giving his age as twenty years. Harry Rivers Is II. Wilbourne Richardson lo' and Oscar Lee, the dead boy, was b.
 Boys Were Arrested.
 As soon as the boys had convinced the officers in charge of the body that they knew the boy they were taken to the office of the chief of police and closely in- terrogated concerning the shooting ana their previous whereabouts The testi- mony was taken in writing and given 10 Coroner Paris to be used in the preliml- nary trial of Richardson before Justice of the Peace Benners which will take place in the next few days. All three or the boys were then taken to the city 1ail and locked mp on charges Of attempts 10 commit felony. The police still hold to the opinion that the boys were trying 10 burglarize a store and will keep the Doys in jail pending a thorough Investigation
 Friends of Policeman Richardson who were present at the investigation In chiei of Police Austins office say the boys were examined separately and made con fiicting statements. as to where they were standing or sitting in the alley when the officer first discovered them.
 The Boys' Story.
 When questioned in the city prison the boys all told substantially the same story. Harry Rivers. who acted as spokesman said. Me and Ben Williams came to Birmingham last Thursday and met Wilbourne Richardson, Walter An derson and Oscar Lee here. Oscar said he had run away from home and was on hobo trip. was going to try and get a job here but these two boys (referring to Anderson and Richardson) were going on to Texas Anderson is q consumptive and was going for his health"
 Anderson who was standing near cor roborated this statement and added that he had no parents to assist him.
 Continuing the Rivers boy said Ion the night that Oscar was shot we had been walking around the streets and went Into the alley to try and pan handle from the sporting houses. We decided to walt where the cop found us. While waiting we sat down on a doorstep back of a store and were eating some apples.
 Ran From the "cop"
 About this time I saw the cop coming and said watch out boys here comes a Bull and we'el get jerked for vagrancy or something. We got up and walked fast towards the end of the alley. Looking back we saw the cop coming faster and we broke and run. I stopped at a stand or front of building while Oscar Lee and Richmond ran towards Third avenue. I then walked towards First avenue and went to a room we had rented in a lodg- ing house across the street from the Jef- ferson Theatre. The room cost us 75 cents"
 Wilbourne Richmond then took up the story and said he and Oscar Lee ran around the block and "ducked'' into Sec ond alley. "As we had gone about half way" the boy continued, T ran behind piano box and the policeman pulled his gun and shot at Oscar I saw him fire both times and was in ten feet of him"
 The boy said big crowd quickly gath cred around the dead boy and he went to the room mentioned by Rivers. They were soon joined by Anderson who had failed to get in the dlsorderly house.
 Boys Look Like Tramps. The trio of young tramps bore evidence of the life they have been recently lead ing. their clothing being soiled and torn. Two of them are cigarette smokers and ask all the visitors for matches. The fate of their little comrade has caused them much worry and they voluntarily gave themselves up. They say they never thought of committing burglary and have no fear as to the outcome of their trials. No weapons were found on either of them when arrested.
 Rivers and Anderson are orphans but Wilbourne Richmond has both father and mother. His father manages the Rich mond Hotel at 160 North Cherry street, ] Nashville. Tenn. Harry Rivers who comes from Memphis says Oscar Lees, father is Peter Lee of