The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-14
Trinity Youth Killed
For the Sake Of $50,
Farm Overseer Admits
Webster Confesses Part in Plot To Stay and Rot
Boy, But Says Hawkins Pulled
Trigger of Pistol.


more than $50. was the admission to-
day by Charles Ross Webster, alias
Charlie Ross. whose home is in Nor
ristown, Mimi, and who is formally
charged with staying and robbing the
boy.
But" he said, az swear before Al
mighty God that Hawkins shot and
killed DuvalL While l planned with
Hawkins to kill the boy for his money,
my only part in the crime was to
rob him. He had only 500. The
money was In his shoe, and / removed
it and pocketed the money, afterward
giving Hawkins half-$1450."
Protests Innocence.
Robert Lee Hawkins, eighteen years
old, also employed at the college, the
negro accused by Webster of com
plicity in the brutal murder, despite
rigid questioning by the detectives,
protests his innocence. His move
ments, however, on the night Of the
murder are being checked up by the
detectives.
ut was in Hawkins room at the
college where he and I planned to
kill Duvall." declared Webster. 1--WE
talked with Duvall and suggested
hopping a freight train for Cumber-
land, Nd. The boy agreed. 1 went
to the woods and awaited several
hours when Hawkins and sDuyall
arrived. had the pistol, handed 1t
to Hawkins. We missed the freight
and 1 decided the Job be done right
in the woods. After Hawkins had the
pistol, he hesitated. l elbowed him
and still he hesitated. Finally, after
l winked at him, Hawkins pulled the
pistol from his pocket and fired al
Duvall, the bullet striking him in
the breast The boy fell to the
ground.
"As he lay unconscious and grunt-
ing, l took off his shoe and pocketed
his money. Hawkins then fired an
other, the shot striking the boy in
the head. He died and we folded his
arms over his body, went away, and
divided the money. Hawkins re-
turned the pistol to me, and when we
reached the entrance to the college
1 opened the chamber of the revol
yer, took out the two discharged
cartridges, and threw them away.
That's the true story"
Doubt Hawkins Guilt.
Developments in the investigation,
however, have served to cause police
70 doubt whether Hawkins actually
had any hand in the brutal murder.
Webster says he borrowed the re-
volver from Hawkins-that after
reaching the woods, he returned the
weapon to Hawkins, who. he says,
did the shooting. Then, he says. after
Hawkins shot the boy, the negro re-
turned the revolver to him and threw
away the discharged shells.
The police don't believe this. They
figure that II Hawkins did the shoot
ing. as the revolver belonged to HIN,
he would not have given the pistol to
Webster, nor would he have return ID
It to Webster after the shooting. The
fact that Webster says Hawkins re-
turned the pistol to him after the
shooting and that Webster did rot
again return 1t, according to his own
story, until Sunday morning, h1s
caused the police to believe that when
Duvall was shot Webster had the pis-
toll. They believe he did the shooting.
This is indicated by the fact that
Webster is today charged with mus-
dering the boy, and that Hawkins IS
only held for investigation.
Man With WhIskers.
In placing Hawkins at the scene Of
the murder, Webster declared that
after young Duvall had been slain he
and Hawkins were seen coming
through the woods by a man who
wore wiskers." Detectives today are
searching for this man, who il is be
lieved might have been a priest OF
Marist College.
But Webster left no uncertainty in
the minds of the detectives that he.
duplicating also Hawkins, fully in
tended to kill DuvalI. He said it had
been planned to kill him in the freight
car.
1--WE were to entice him in the
freight car, kill and rob him,and then
leave the body in the car" he said.
I'VE were then to return to the col
lege and pretend we knew nothing OF
the boys death.
when we werc dividing the money
taken from DuvalTs shoe. We were
disappointed not to find more than
500. We were certain ne had more
money"
HaS S-Year-OId Daughter.
Webster told Inspector Grant that
he had an eight-year-oId daughter
whom he had not seen for five years.
since his arrest and conviction for
robbery in Crestline, Ohio, where he
vas SSHtChSON ~ ScINe tiBHAt'h
months for the crime. After serving
four months prison sentence, he was
released on parole. which he admit
ted he broke. He said the authorities
Of that city were not searching for
him.
He said he bought the revolver
while he was employed at the NUM-
tions plant OF the Poole Engineering
Company, at Texas, Baltimore county.
Nd, two years ago. He sold the pis-
toll TO Hawkins for So only two
months ago. when he came to Wash
ington and secured employment at
Trinity College.