New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-12
hoy KILLS BOY IN
FURIOUS FIST FIGHT
Aureed to Settle Quarrel Over
Game of "Cat" in Presence
of Rival Players.
SLAYER'S ARREST FOLLOWS
Frightened Spectators Carry
Dying Lad TO Drug Store
Fair Fight, They Tell
the Police.

In fight that resulted from quarrel
over a game Of "cat." James ". smith.
an Office boy sixteen years old, was
killed by a blow from = playmate. Frank
Burke tho same age, Of No. So Amster-
dam avenue. Yesterday in lot at Slst
street and Broadway.
With eight other Boys Burke and
Smith took sides in game AT Riverside
Drive and 18th street. Burke Was hit
ting a short pointed piece OF wood so il
rose in the air then batting II with 4
stick 20 the other boys. Smith was out
amorg tho nelders. and tho cat" fell
near his feet some of the boys said he
intcrfered with Il. and tho game ended in
row Smith and Burke were the lead
ers in the dispute and soon came to
blows. The other bows separated them.
and il wag agreed the fight should be
fought to 6nish in some place where
they would not he in danger Of being ar
rested The lot AT Sist street and Eroad-
way was selected as tho battle ground.
and charles Sulzer. ~ No 229 West Sad
street was chosen az the referee Both
boys took off Their coats rolled m thoi-
sleeves end started to fight With bare
fists. surrounded by the crowd or young-
sters.
Hnockous Blow ~ .l.e Jaw.
smith vas the taller Of the TWO. but
Rur',o seemed IN havo ths advantage ~
greater srrensrh. The boss fought
! fercely for -four minutes and then
cinched They continued - hammer
each other. until Burke landed a hard
right hand blow on Smiths jaw Smith
thcn 'oosened his grip and f,ll back
{ ward on the ground Unconscious. The
onlookers were badly frightened and
| hurried to get water ard no everything
they knew how to revive him. Smiths
face was almost white and his eyeballs
were becoming fixed
Headed by Sulzer. George Nelson. ~
No. s44 Amsterdam avenue; Albert Ebel-
ing. Of No Al Amsterdam avenue: Rob
ert Roberts. OF No 46O Amsterdam ave-
nue., and Rhenhart Cotteseon, Of No.
2272 Broadway. carried him 10 drug
store at S1st street and Amsterdam ave-
nue..
The druggist took one look az the boy
and ran TO telephone for an ambulance
from the J. Hood Wright Hospital He
worked over the boy. however. until Dr.
Smith. who arrived on the ambulance
said the lad was dead
Arrests Boy at Dinner.
Detective James Breslin, attached 70
the West 152d street station. was passing
at the time and he went In 10 see what
the trouble was. When he was told the
boy was dead he questioned his compan-
ions and learned that II was Burke with
whom he had been lighting. Burke had
gone home during the excitement. and
was eating his dinner when the detective
found him. He was told that he vas
wanted for fighting I'm the street He
did not know the boy With whom hs
fought was dead until he was told at
Police Headquarters.
Then he broke down completely. When
Informed that he would be held on
charge Of homicide Burke was so deeply
affected that il was thought for time
a physician would have 10 be called u
attend him. Smiths body was taken 70
the Morgue, where an autopsy will be
held this morning.
All Of the boy witnesses told the polics
the fight was fair one. James Sritn,
the dead boys father, said his son was
adept at boxing and recently tried TO
persuade him TO buy set OF boxing
gloves.