Evening star., 1909-02-05
JURY SAYS ACCIDENT
Renders Verdict as to Shoot.
ing of Vivian BoWdoin.
WITNESSES Relate FACTS
Tell How Denniston Charlton Fired
the Fatal Shot.
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TRAGEDY
Lad Who Held Revolver Says He
Thought the Cartridges
Had Been Removed. 4

The shooting of Vivian Bowdoin al the
Western High School yesterday after
noon, which resulted In death less than
an hour later in Georgetown University
Hospital. was accidental. A jury which
served in connection with an inquest
conducted by the coroner today so de-
clared in its verdict.
: United States Attorney Baker, after
hearing the facts. last evening directed
the release of Denniston Charlton. In
whose hands was the weapon from which
the fatal shot was discharged. The cor
oner, however, declined to issue a GER
tificate Of accidental death, deeming an
inquest necessary.
Vivian Bowdoin was fourteen years OF
age and Denniston Charlton two years
his senior. The shooting occurred shortly
after O'clock. Judge Paul Charlton.
father of Denniston. is law officer in the
bureau OF insular affairs and resides at
1712 H street. The father of the deceased
is j. S. Bowdon, connected with the
Southern Railway Company. He resides
at PIP 0 street northwest.
Judge Charlton hurried to the school al
soon as he was advised of what had oc-
CURED, remaining there until Capt.
Schneider Of the seventh precinct directed
that the boy be taken to the station. The
father rode with his son to the station in
an automobile. Then United States Attor-
ney Baker was consulted and DenniSton
was released.
Prof A. T. Stuart superintendent OF
public schools; Miss Edith Westcott. prin-
cipal of the Western High School. and
several teachers and pupils were at the
inquest.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook performed
an autopsy this morning. He found that
the bullet penetrated the brain and In
fiicted wound which was necessarily
fatal.
Charlton Boy Explains.
-Dennfsroh charlton had recovered from
nervous shock sufficiently to enable him
to appear before the jury and tell the
story of the shooting.
Il just took the pistol out, turned
around, pulled the trigger and shot the
| boy he said in response to a question
by the coroner.
Denniston explained that he had pur-
chased the .38-caliber revolver about
three days ago from a friend, paying 81
for it. He had had some experience with
firearms.
Ibid you know it was loaded?" he was
asked.
II thought I had taken all the car
tridges out as I ran down the steps," he
responded.
How many did you take out?"
Il didn't take any. but thought 1 did"
Denniston declared he and young Bow
doin were always good friends.
Had you been talking about wild
west'?"
The boy answered in the affirmative.
Teacher Hears Explosion.
Miss Emma Won Seyfried. teacher in
the Western High School. was the first
witness. She was in room 13 yesterday
afternoon when the boys departed. They
had had time to leave the building. she
| supposed, when she heard an explosion.
She thought 1t had occurred in the chemi-
cal laboratory. Looking toward the labora-
tory she saw nothing unusual. Shortly
afterward she learned of the shooting.
| 1t was explained by the witness that
! there was no excitement about the build
ing.
Miss Westcott, the principal. testified
that she e>waS in the office OF the superin-
tendent Of schools when the shooting oc-
CURED. She was notified by telephone
of the shooting, the Janitor telling her
the affair was an accident. Witness tele-
phoned to Judge Charlton and then hur-
| ried to the school building. Near the
| front entrance, she said she met Judge
Charlton and his boy. about to start for
the police station in an automobile. The
wounded boy had been removed to the
hospital before she reached the building.
Dr. William B. Hudson. 916 10th street.
physical instructor In the school. was in
the gymnasium when the shooting oc-
CURED. He hurried to where the boy
was lying and assisted him into the Ia
dies retiring room. Witness realized the
| serious condition of the boy. he said. see
ing brain tissue issuing from the wound
He cared for the patien' ''ntil the latter
WAS removed n the hOSUffal
DR.. Elmer s. Newton. l~lcher Of chem
| istry in the Western High School, testi-
fled that he saw the wounded boy. and
assisted in caring for him until he was
removed to the hospital. He knew noth-
ing Of the circumstances Of the shoot
| ing.
| DR.. Thomas Z. Neal resident physician
at Georgetown University Hospi al. told
| the jury that the patient reached the
hospital shortly before $3.50 o'clock. The
boy died before 4 o'clock, death result
ing from cerebral hemorrhage and shock.
| Witness noticed that the boy had been
| shot, but was given no history of the
case at the time he reached the hospital.
Brother Of Deceased Testifes.
| Raymond Bowdoin, thirteen years OF
age, brother of the deceased, testified that
his brother and other boys were kept in
yesterday afternoon to make up some
work. They started from the building
together, and were on the stairs when the
shooting occurred.
What was said just before the shot
was fred" the witness was asked.
| HE just said Hold up your hands, and
my brother held up his hands and
| laughed
| Denniston Charlton, witness said. pulled
| the trigger and it clicked. He pulled 1t q
| second time and ii was discharged.
| Did you ever see the weapon before?
| Il saw 1t the day before the shooting
| He showed it and said he had bought 1t
| for 81" .
And" added witness. "he showed 1t
several times yesterday"
| What did you think of it,?
| Il just thought he was proud OF having
it"
| "Are there any rules OF the school
against carrying revolvers?" the coroner
| asked.
They say SO. but I don't know just
what they are
Witness said his brother and Denniston
Charlton and himself were good friends,
and had never had any trouble.
Lawrence E. Hoover. Hpl Connecticut
avenue. a pupil in the school. testified
that he heard the report of the revolver
and thought 1t had been made by the ex-
plosion OF blank cartridge. He heard