The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-14
BOY FISHERMAN
IS KILLED BY
HUNTER
Nine-Year.OId Charles Ault
Shot by John Oswald, II,
While at Play.

The 9 o'clock public school gong
was not answered by two young
Washington boys today.
One Of them, Charles Ault, nine
years old, son Of Policeman Ray
G. Ault. Ii dead.
The other, John Oswald. eleven
years old. is preparing to appear
before q eoronef's jury this after
noon in Falls Church, Va, to tell
the story of young Ault's death.
John Oswald shot Charles Ault
with q .22 caliber rifle while the
two boys were playing on the banks
Of a creek near West Falls Church,
Va. yesterday afternoon. Shot
through the abdomen, young Ault
was rushed to Georgetown Hospi-
tai, but died within an hour Of ar
rival.
Immediately after the death,
young Oswald was taken into
custody, questioned by Justice Of
the Peace John r. Moling and
ordered to appear this afternoon at
coroner's inquest.
Their First Meeting.
The two boys, living In widely
separated sections Of Washington.
met for the first time yesterday.
Both were visiting in different
homes near Falls Church.
Early in the afternoon Ault left
the home Of q relative to go fish.
ing along the banks Of Horseshoe
run, near West Falls Church. Not
many minutes later young Oswald,
armed with O .22.ca1iber rifle, left
the home Of his aunt to go hunt.
ing" with several other boys.
Later in the afternoon Oswald in
his warderingS through the woods
came upon Ault. Oswald was try.
ing out his rifle and it fouled. He
then told his companions he was
going to ''break" It. He warned
the others to get out Of the way.
Oswald broke" the rifle. It ext
ploded. Ault, sitting near by and
| watching, jumped to his feet, then
toppled over on his face. Then he
got up again and fell down.
Rushed to Hospital.
The boys became frightened and
ran for help. Charles Collins, llv.
ing near by, heard the shot and
young Ault's outcries. He rushed
to Ault's aid. Finding the boy was
shot, Collins carried him to the
home Of c. v, Shreve, city coun.
Gilman of Falls Church. Shreve
placed him in his automobile and
they started for Washington.
On the way they met Coroner
c. A. Ransom. They slowed down
and told him what happened. A
second later and they were on the
way again, rushing at q great
speed. Deputy Sheriff J. b. Dow
den saw the speeding car and gave
chase. He called on. them to stop,
Another explanation was given and
the car was on its way again.
Coroner Ransom, when he reached
his home, telephoned DIR. Tullv
Vaughan I'M Washington and he met
the boy at the hospital.
Died Under Operation.
Young Ault died on the operating
table in Georgetown University Hos.
pital.
Oswald was arrested and then
questioned by Justice Moling. An
inquest was arranged for this after.
noon and the boy released in the
custody of his mother.
Young Ault lived at 1922 Military
road northwest and Oswald, son
Of Mrs. Minnie Oswald, lives at
1852 Bel Air road. Langdon. Ault
was visiting Ms. Mollie Ault, his
aunt, in Falls Church, and Oswald
was visiting at the home of Fred
erick Vassu, where county officers
took him into custody.
Young Ault is survived by his
mother and father, two brothers
and a sister, John, Ray, jr., Ed.
mund and Dorothy. Mrs. Aunt is
Frustrated.
Father Won Hero Medal.
Ray Ault, the father, Is well
known along the shores Of the
Potomac. where he patrols winter
and summer. It Is his duty to
mark dangerous spots in the river
and warn canoeists. Through his
work, Ault has saved many lives.
Several years ago, Ault was dec.
Grated with a gold hero medal, pro.
vided by The Washington Times,
for a rescue In the river. He
saved Frank Bauer, a fellow police.
man.