Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-18
SCUFFLE ENDS IN DEATH
FATAL woUNDINa OF BOY By HIS
PLAYMATE.
Raphael Aultman a Fugitive With
Murder Charge Against Him.
Probably an Accident.


what may be termed the epidemic of hemi-
eide in this city. Ernest Langley, fifteen
years old, Of 20 Virginia avenue southeast,
was the victim, and Raphael Aultman. a
boy Of the same tender age, was his as
sailant. Aultman made his escape imme-
diately after the tragedy, and at a late
hour this afternoon the police were stfll
without clue to his whereabouts Deputy
Coroner Glazebrook performed an autopsy
on the body Of Langley at the morgue this
morning and ascertained that death was
directly due to a stab wound Of the heart,
the blade Of penknife in Aultman's hands
having penetrated the right wall of the
vital organ.
Murder is the charge which stands
against the boy Aultman, and yet all
stories told of the occurrence seem to indi-
cate the fatality was largely the result OF
accident-the outcome of bit of rough
play between two comrades. AS far as the
police have been able to learn, and the
story OF an eyewitness of the tragedy af-
fords basis for the claim, the two boys
were in the midst OF an imitation sparring
match. lodging around a tree on the side
walk at New Jersey avenue and E street
southeast, and striking at each other, when
the fatal stabbing occurred.
Account Given by Witness.
Mr.. Bunting. foreman of a stable at Sd
and Canal streets southwest, was passing
the corner at the time, and he said one
of the boys-evidently Aultman-had pen
knife In his hand, and the other had
piece of brick as a weapon. Suddenly, Mr..
Bunting said, one of the boys cried aloud:
My Ged, lave killed him. And with
the words one of the boys fell to the
ground and the other stopped over raised
the fallen boys head in his arms and
began tanning him. Feeling sure that
anil bo trad
Bunting ran to nearby store and tele-
phoned for an ambulance. When he re-
turned to the corner Langley was lying in
the street and Aultman had disappeared.
A minute or two later p. L. DAVIS Of PIG
Sth street southwest drove past in q buggy
and the wounded boy was placed in his
vehicle and all possible speed made to the
Providence Hospital. The physicians, how
ever, pronounced life extinct and Lang
leyS body was taken to his home, whence
1t was later transferred to the morgue.
Coroner hewitt shortly before noon today
empaneled a jury to pass upon the evil
dence which will be adduced at an inquest
to be held after the capture Of Autman.
The jury consists Of William Healy, P. P.
Patrick, Joseph N. Alexander, Morris A.
Tanger, William H. Bunch and Claude A,
Gilman. After the jury viewed the body
this morning 1t was transferred to the
Langley home, and 1t is understood the
funeral will be held Monday.
1t Is said Ernest Langley and his brother
Bernie were almost the sole support of
their parents. Both were employed at the
grocery store of Proctor & Brother, on
LIST street southeast. Ernest Langley was
sent out to deliver a package yesterday
afternoon, and shortly before o'clock he
passed the Aultman home, 44S New Jersey
avenue southeast Raphael was sitting on
the front steps whiting on a stick, the
police say, and when called by his nick
name he got up and joined Langley and
they started down the street together No
one heard any sort of alteration be-
tween them, though several persons have
been found who, from distance, saw the
sparrtng match which Mr.. Bunting de-
scribed from near view.
Following the disappearance Of ANltman
and when the affair had been reported to
the police of the fifth precinct and to head
quarters, 1t was stated the boy had been
seen running in the direction Of the vir-
gln1a avenue tunnel. Capt. Matthews of
the hith precinct set men to guard each
end of the tunnel. and others to go through
the bore but the rumor was found to be
without foundation.
Was Seen in Depot.
Subsequently it was learned that Aultman
had been seen, about an hour after the
tragedy, in the Pennsylvania railroad pas
senger depot. A man who lives in the same
neighborhood in Southeast Washington
passed Aultman in the package room at the
station, and spoke to him, but at that time
the general alarm for Aultman's arrest had
not gone forth. His mother said he had
between s. and $40 in his pockets, and it Is
assumed he succeeded in buying a ticket
and getting out Of the city on one of the
early afternoon trains.
With this possibility in view the police
have sent descriptions of Aultman to all
cities and towns for a considerable radius,
with the request that he be arrested and
held for this jurisdiction. William Fretter
Aultman's stepfather, and his mother, with
whom he lived at the New Jersey avenue
address, have promised to aid the police
In every way possible.
Langley's mother was Frustrated by the
shock of having the body of her son, whom
she had last seen in his usual lively spirits,
brought to the house. One report-that
Langley, too, had knife in his hands
during the playful struggle with his bud
dy'-was set at rest this morning when
Morguemaster Schoenberger found Lang
ley's penknife in the boys pocket with all
blades closed. and it was said he could not
possibly have placed it there after receiv-
ing such a wound as that which caused
death.
Aultman either carried his penknife away
with him or else threw 1t away. The police
searched all the surrounding ground with
out finding 1t.