Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-11-09
.AIexan0ria Gaze1tr.
BOY MURDERERS.

Walter f. Basseit, II years old, of Taun-
ton, Mass, yesterday shot and instantly
killed Peter Clark, an | year-old school
mate. The tragedy was the outcome OF
quarrel between the two little fellows.
1t appears that the Clark boy, with two
companions. called Saturday afternoon
at a cobbler's shop situation in barn in
the rear of the Bassett house for the pur-
pose of leaving pair of shoes, and that
the Bassett boy ordereu them to leave the
yard. While The two boys never had
any trouble before, hey soon became in
vOlved in an alteration, which ended
this zine in Clark's departure. He le-
turned for the shoes an bouro or two later,
still with his Two friends, and this time
Bassett, who apparently was on the
watch, became 50 angry that ne told
them that if tbey did not get out he
would shoot them. Becoming still iur.
ther enraged at their lingering in the
ward. he seized an old cavalry saber
which was ia the woodshed and tried 70
draw it from the scabbard, but the blade
was too firmly rusted in lis sheath. lie
then went into The house and re-
reared wi h his fathers shotgun, which
was loaded. He returned to the house
aud soon reappcared with three cartridges
in bis hand. Without pausiog an in-
slant he thrust two Of them in
to the two barrels Of the gun,
and pointing the weapon at the Clark
boy, who STOOD 10 feet away, fired.
Young Clark dropped 10 the ground,
iuslaGtly killed. The top OF his head
was blown completely OF and brains
we're spattered over The side OF the house
near which he bad been sanding. See
ing the result of. his shot Bassett hid
himself, but was later found by the po-
lice. Whe0 taken toto cos.ody the boy
admitted shooting his schoOlmaie, but
iurlher than that made no statement.
On account Of his youth District At.or-
ney Swift permi,e ed his release on $l0,-
600 bail, but not before Mr.. Clark, he
father OF the dead boy, had called at the
police station aud expressed The hope
that the slayer Of bis son be set
at liber.y. BE said that he felt certain
the sad AFFAIR had not been theou growth
Of coy criminal tendency
Enraged over a name applied to him,
Earl Flory, a l3-year-old boy, shot and
Instantly Killed James Murphy, aged y
years, and wounded John johnson,
aged II years, in Monogahela, Pa, yes
terday. Flory is in Jail and Jobnson
was taken to ahospiial. The three boys
for sometime have been boon compan-
ions. end yesterday werc ont hunting.
The only gun in the party was owaea
by Flory, who allowed the others t.
share in the shooting from time 10 lime.
A dispute arose as TO whose turn 1t Wa
to use ibe gun, and Flory settled the
question by aking it himself, whereupon
Murphy said: 'Your old gun is no
good. It's like you, you dirty pup
The words were scarcely outof Murphy
mouth when Flory fred at him point
blank. The charge took effect in Muf-
phys abdomen, almost disemboweing
him. johnson was severely wounded
about the lower part Of the body by
part Of the charge which went by
Murphy. Flory fed, leaving the
wounded johnson TO hobble to the
nearest habitat;on for aid. When ar
rested last night Flory said TO the
officers. eyes, he called me names and
| shot him" Later, he said johnson
told him the gun was empty and ne
only wanted to scare Murphy.