Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-11
TEN YEAR-OLD YOUNGSTER
SHOOTS BABY PLAYMATE
Infant Refuses to Obey Or
der to Help Cleanup Play
room, and Is Instantly
Killed
BY MAIN GRUTE
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal.)
l

NNOpSAA Sht' AOS-'J
CINCINNATI, May 10.-What
shall be done with little Robert
Lutkehaus, who, last Thursday,
shot and killed his baby playmate,
Richard Abram?
That problem is puzzling Cincin-
natl, officials and citizens alike.
Shall the laws applying to juvenile
delinquency be enforced here? 1t
was not the usual case of did not
know it was loaded" Instead, al
though Richard was killed while the
two boys were playing, there is evil
dence that, in the eyes of the law
the act was premeditated and car
ried out with careful elaboration.
Robert, ten, and Richard, four,
were in the Lutkehaus apartment
along with Roberts brother. George,
seven. Both parents were at work.
Before leaving to take her sisters
place as a hotel stenographer for
the day only, Mrs. Lutkehaus told
Robert lse must not bring any of
the neighbors' children into the
home. Robert did not heed.
After playing throughout the day
the floor of the apartment was lit
tered with toys and games. To
avoid his mother finding out he had
disobeyed, Robert ordered Richard
to aid in clearing up the rooms.
Nf Il -, h. R@11
the four-year-old went ahead play
ing.
you do as I tell you or 1 will
kill YOU" said Robert sternly. The
little tot assuming this all was in
play simply laughed.
Without another word Robert ran
into an adjoining room occupied by
P. w. Wright, a boarder. He knew
that Wright kept a revolver on top
of his bureau. Procuring this weap-
on he returned to the kitchen, press
ed the pistol against Richards breast
and pulled the trigger. There was
a sharp report, a frightened cry,
and little Richard crumpled to the
flOol.
Little George stood Mortified. Turn
ing to him and warning him that if
he made a noise, "I'll beat your
brains out" Robert half dragged,
hale carried the limp body of Rich
ard down the stairs which led to
the front porch. There for an hour
he stood panic-stricken, gazing out
of the glass which made up the up
per half of the door trying to make
up his mind what TO do.
A workman entering to perform a
task, opened the door and Robert
dashed pellmell down the street.
George followed in abject horror.
He ran across the street to the
Abraham home and screamed to
Mrs. Abraham that Dickie was dead.
Meanwhile the workman, discover
ing the body, lifted it as the mother
entered. He placed it in her arms,
stopped a passing auto, and the child
and mother were rushed to the Gen
eral hospital, where a hasty eXani-
nation showed death had been almost
instantaneous, the bullet entering
near the heart.
Hours later Robert was discovered
by his grandfather wandering about
afraid to return home. Yet since
then, in the juvenile detention home,
he has romped and played, appar.
emily unmindful of the tragedy.
That fact has puzzled the authori-
ties. Ie has shown no remorse,
neither has he seemed to care one
way or the other. Asked why he
shot he replied:
81 did not think the revolver
would go off so easily"
Determination of Roberts fate
rests with Judge Charles w. Hoff-
man. head of the juvenile court, who
has wide reputation for humanity
and broadness of vision in dealing
with children. He has a nationwide
reputation for commencing a case
by addressing a boy accused of
murder of his entire family with:
Look here, young fellow, you
amt been acting right
He will act after the coroner has
returned his formal verdict. Mean
while Robert will be examined by
the psychological experts of the
state bureau for juvenile criminals.
1t is not thought that person I'm.
der eighteen years of age can be
convicted of crime but held as de-
linquents.