The San Francisco call., 1905-04-05
STUDENT KILLED
BY CLASSMATE

Frank Allen, a student at the Lick
School of Mechanical Arts, was acci-
dentalIy killed yesterday afternoon by
hammer thrown by Arnold Brown, a
fellow student. The heavy leaden mis-
sic struck the boys skull near the base,
crashing through the bone. He was
taken to the Central Emergency Hos
pital, where he died without regaining
consciousness.
What makes the tragedy most pitiful
is that Allen was the only son of his
mother, widow. Mrs Allen arrived
at the hospital just a few moments be-
fore her boy passed away. Her grief
was terrible. Her cries chilled the
hearts of all who heard them. At
taches, hardened TO the sight of death
in ugly forms and to the sound of sob
bing, could not bear to hear the moth
er's broken hearted cry.
Mrs. Allen lost her husband when
Frank was a baby of years. Ever
since that time she has struggled to
keep her son with her and to give
him an education. He was all she had
to live for.
He grew from a prattling baby to a
merry, sturdy boy. Every day she
grew more proud of him. 1t was worth
the struggle and the self-sacrifice to
have such a son. When she grew old
Sne WOutu nave MS sturdy arm 10 lean
upon.
HE WAS GRATEFUL.
Watt Some day l will pay you
back for what you have done for me, .
he would say And she would stroke
his head while tears OF pride filled her
eyes.
God had given her a great comfort
in him.
Yesterday morning he kissed her
Goodbye and with his books under his
arm hurried out of the gate on his way
to school. She watched him till he dis
appeared with the wistful mother love
in her eyes.
In the afternoon she received a mes
sage that chilled her with terror Her
boy was hurt and she must come to
the hospital Immediately. With all
the fervor of her soul she prayed as
she hurried to his bedside.
No, oh. God, no" she muttered, "It
cannot be that. He is all 1 have.
Surely you will not take him from me. .
When she reached the hospital she
read the awful truth in the doctor
face. A piercing shrek, broken
hearted mothers cry rang through
the wards. She tried to speak, but,
though her ashen lips moved, no
sound came from them.
She tottered to where her idol lay.
His head was swathed in a bloody
bandage and his breath was a forced
gurgle. The end was very near.
Frank" she moaned, "oh, my boyi
You cannot diel Oh, God, you can
not let him diet"
NO ANSWER CAME.
But the still form on the bed made no
reply. He would never speak again
She pressed her lips to his cheek, but
he did not know. He would never feel
her encircling arms again.
She prayed as only an agonfZed
mother can pray, but his breath grew
more labored, and he hung limp in her
arms. The gasping ceased and the
self-sacrifcing widow was alone in the
world.
They tried to take her away, but she
refused to leave the inanimate thing
that was her boy. When they took him
away in the rude coffin her sobs be-
came wilder, and it was feared that she
would loose her reason.
Arnold Brown, who threw the mis-
sile that killed the boy, was arrested
shortly after the occurrence. He was
later released on s25 bail. The AFFAIR
was purely accidental.
Brown was practicing throwing the
hammer in the athletic grounds near
the school. He flung the missile over
the fence and 1t struck Allen upon
the head. Brown is the son OF
Brainerd c. Brown of Alameda.
Frank Allen was IL years old. He has
oeen living with his mother at 1922
! Turk street.
ALAMEDA. April 4.-Brainerd c.
Brown, the father of Arnold Brown,
said for his son Tonight:
Arnold and some classmates were practicine
with an athletic hammer when the accJdeni
occurred. Arnold had thrown the hammer sc
Iar tnat t went over q fence. striking Alier
on the head. My did not see Allen at the
Time and did not know what had occurred un-
"a some time afterward. The accident was All
the more distressing because Allen and my
son were close friends The Lick School sn5
tne police authorities investigated and both
pronounced the case ar wholly accidental