Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-23
CAUSE OF 4 TRAGEDY
Trouble About a Cigarette Re-
suits in Shooting.
YOUTH INSTANTLY KILLED
Bullet Struck Squarely in the Fore
head, Above the Nose.
DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS LOADED"
Son Of Proprietor Of Store Admits
Having Fired Fatal shot-Knife
Was Drawn.
YOUTH INSTANTLY KILLED
DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS LOADED

I1SAty oncff, tWetfc years u age, rs iclU
at the house of detention upon charge
of having shot and instantly killed Will
liam Fantroy. colored. nineteen years of
age, who lived at 8S Fenten street. The
shooting occurred in the store of Max
Sherr, father of the youthful prisoner,
SIS New Jersey avenue. John Richard
son, colored, nineteen years of age, who
was employed in the store, was arrested
for murder, but he was afterwards re-
leased from the charge and held wit
ness Sergeant Murphy Of the sixth pre-
cinct was one of the first policemen to
appear GA the scene. Because Of the con-
ficting statements he heard he deemed
1t advisable to hold the Sherr boy and
directed a policeman to take him across
the street to the station
'I didn't know 1t was loaded" was the
plea the boy made after admitting that he
shot the deceased.
Fantroy had dealing with the Sherr boy
two days ago about some cigarettes ana
todays affair was based on discussion OF
that transaction. 1t seems that two DAYS
ago Fantroy entered the store and wanted
two cigarettes, but there was only one OF
them in the store. Yesterday II IS aHege9,
denied today that he had received the Gig
arctic, and insisted upon being given one;
Then he walked to a box of cakes and
helped himself.
Hurried From the Store.
Henry Sherr told him not to take the
cakes; that they did not belong to him.
Then the trouble seems to have begun In
earnest The statement Is made that Fan
troy removed the revolver from the drawer
in the store. and after he had drawn a
knife handed 1t to the small boy. The shoot
ing followed. When the eoiored youth zen
dead the Sherr boy and Richardson hurried
from the store Henry Sherr ran to the
home of his father, 4o5 l street, and Ielo
him something of the occurrence "neh
the father reached the store and noted that
the weapon that belonged In the store mad
been used he said 1t did not belong to MIN
He was nervous and excited over the al
fair and he afterwards stated that the
weapon did belong 10 meniper VI iii'
family.
While Detectives Muller and Burlin-
game, Precinct Detective Yermillion and
several policemen of the sixth precinct
were making an invesusation hithaLo
son appeared at the store to get his nat
and coat. He was placed under arrest py
Sergt Murphy. The prisoner promptly de-
MED that he had shot Fantroy and claim
ed that the latter shot himself WINE en-
deavering to use the weapon upon Rich
ardson The weapon, a pearl-handied re-
volver was found where 1t was thrown
after the shooting.
lives at 625 Springmanns alley southwest
He was a newsboy until about two weeks
ago when he accepted position IN the
store of Mr.. Scherr. About the store he was
known only as Johnnie Mr. Scherr never
having asked him his full name.
Death Was Instantaneous.
The bullet struck squarely in the fore
1.@l, 8laa
nose Fantroy fell upon his back in front
of the counter, and so quickly did his life
end that his body never moved after 1t
reached the floor Members OF the family
of the deceased, who live at SIS Ferfton
street, were notified of his tragic death
and several of them were soon in the
vicinity of the store
HE was my cousin" a young colored
woman who appeared in the crowd shout
ed, "and he never harmed anybody IN his
life"
Several hundred persons gathered upon
the sidewalk in front of the store and a
score or more of vehicles were stopped
along the line of the crowd. Coroner hewitt
reached the scene before the body was re-
moved from the building. He made an ex-
amina ton of the wound and expressed the
opinion that the victim had not shot him
self He directed that the body be removed
to the morgue, where ne Will holo an m
quest tomorrow.
w. A. Lee living at 1893 Sth street. was
passing the store at the time, and he saw
Richardson when he ran from the store He
will appear as witness in the case tomor-
row.
Tried to Shield Young Sherr.
When placed under arrest Richardson tried
to shield the youthful son Of his employer,
and 1t was only due to close questioning
that he changed his story and admitted that
the small boy fired the fatal shot. Henry
Sherr did not admit that he did the shooting
until after he was told of the statement
made by Richardson. He then admitted
that he had not told of the circumstances
under which the shooting was actually done
and changed his statement. as related.
The inquest tomorrow will begin at IL
o'clock am.
Famous Painter Drowned.
John Mulvany, an artist OF note. who