The Washington herald., 1907-05-18
BOY KILLS COMRADE
Ernest Langley Stabbed by
Raphael Altman. .
JEST HAS TRAGIC ENDING
GOOd-naturcd Quarrel Over Tin Box
Results i'm Fatal Ahray-Neither
lice Unable TO Locate the Young
SIayer-Bore Good Regulations.

A boyish quarrel over a tlnseled box,
started as the lightest Of comedies, had
a tragic ending yesterday afternoon when
Raphael Altman, fifteen years old. stab
bed and killed Ernest Langley, also If
teen. then with desperate speed escaped
the police, and Hes IN some hidden spot.
a fugitive from justice.
a few drops Of blood near the corner
Of New Jersey avenue and + street
southeast are the only evidences OF the
tragedy, for there are no witnesses who
can tell the exact nature Of the quarrel
or the circumstance which led up To- Il.
Altman. with the knife clutChed tightly
IN his hand. rushed away and was last
seen entering the railroad tunnel near the
scene of the tragedy The body of his
victim lies n his fathers home. at -
Virginia avenue
II was after Q O'Clock when the two
boys, according To the testimony Of sew
eral witnesses. were seen coming along
F street together. with locked arms and
smiling faces Langley who was en-
pi0yed by "a neighb'ring grocer. and who
had been delivering some packages. had %
small box covered with silver paper in
his hand, and both seemed % be admiring
it.
stabbed Under Heart.
A few steps farther they stopped, ex-
changed what seemed 20 be angry words.
ana then locked arms in a wrestling
match. They soon separated. and Lang
ley, staggering from the sidewalk % the
car tracks, fell with a moan his hand
covering wound under his heart. For a
moment he rested on one elbow. then
dropped fiat 10 the street Altman bent
over him for "a moment and seemed u
watch for his victims breathing. then,
with a wild look in every direction. he
started toward the Capitol Grounds.
Those who witnessed the fight immcdi-
ately ran 10 the ooy and in a moment
several women had come with water and
towels, but g. l. Davis. who vas passing
in a buggy. had the body lifted into his
vehicle and set of fun speed for Pr0vi-
dcnce Hospital
a brother Of the dying boy also got into
the carriage and urged the horse with
pitiful voice. When the hospital was
reached the boy was dead. and his body
was Immediately taken % his home. Here
a sorrowful scene was enacted as his
mother came 20 the door and saw her
living son carrying her dead child In his
arms. Both she and the brother Of the
boy tainted before the story of his death
could be told her
Crowd Quickly Gathered.
IN the meantime a great crowd had
gathered about the scene of the tragedy.
and Altmanns home, at AS New Jersey
avenue. was beSieEed by policemen and de
tectives. who found the door locked and
the. occupants gene Capt Mathews, of
No precinct, and Detectives Mullen and
Berman were soon on hand. and secured
fraEmentary details OF the trgedy and a
description Of Altman from the few wit
uesses, none of whom could give much
satisfactory information. In a short tine
every policeman i'm the city had a look
ont for the escaped boy. and a number
of detectives were following up all clews
While the inquiry al the boys home was
still in progress. his mother. frantic with
anxiety. pushed her way through the
crowd and asked the reason for it all.
on being told 10y Capt Mathews. her first
thought was for the dead boys parents.
whom she set out to see as soon
as she had regained her composure
Her departure and the scattering Of the
police dispersed the crowd, and in
short while quiet was restored
Ernest Langley, with his brother Bernie.
had been the sole support Of his aged
mother and father for some time. and at
PrOCtOr's grocery store. where he was en-
ployed, his record has been an excellent
one. He was a member Of St Peter
Church and Sunday school, and was well
liked by ali his companions. who stood
outside his home. hardly able to realize
that he was dead. Three brothers and
two sisters. besides his parents. survive
him.
Young Altman has teen employed in
department store. and he, too, has been
popular among his playmates and elders.
who felt that only a sudden flare Of
temper cauged him to draw a knife. Some
think that the knife may have been open
in his hand. but the only witness 10 the
tragedy who was seen by the police,
Joseph Boulton, thinks that he drew the
weapon from his pocket
His mother and his stepfather are his
only near relatives, although he has sew
eral cousins. whose houses are closely
watched by the police in the expectation
that he may seek refuge with them.
At 5 O'Clock yesterday afternoon It was
reported that he had entered the tunnel
and would soon emerge near the Balti-
more and Ohio Station, but although sew
eral detectives went through the sup
posed hiding place, no sign Of the boy
was found. As all the bridges and out
let's from the city are guarded, it is prob
able that he will be apprehended this
Langley will be buried on Mon
day morning. the funeral services being
held. in St. Peters Church