The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-02

real name Is Charles Moss we'd
ster. But didn't kill Richard.
The man who killed Richard IL
Robert Hawkins, q cOlOred la
bOrer at the college"
Ross then stated that he had a
wife and children in Ohio, where
he had been arrested for house
breaking. He had served three
months in the Bucyrus county jail
and mad escaped from the Ohio
State farm the previous Febru-
airy after serving six months, &C.
cording to the statement he gave
Kelly.
Both Hawkins and he knew
Richard Duvall was going to buy
clothes and had some money, Ross
said. Plans to rob Richard were
laid in Ross room the night be-
fore the killing, Ross added. Ross
said he had told Richard he could
get work in Cumberland, Md. Ac-
cording to the plan, 1t was ex-
planned, all three were to hop a
freight train in Brookland and
when aboard would take Richards
money away from him.
Ross Story
Saturday night, Kelly was told,
Hawkins met Richard downtown
at Ninth Street and the two re-
turned to Brookland where they
Joined Ross. The three then went
to the railroad track near the col
lege and waited for a freight train.
Although two passenger trains
went by no freight had appeared
by 10 p. m, Ross stated, and 1t
was then that the decision to rob
Duvall at any event was made.
Ross said he had a revolver, but
gave It to Hawkins. Then, Ross
said, they walked with Richard
into the woods, between Catholic
University and the Soldiers Home,
and Hawkins aimed the revolver
point blank at Richard and pulled
the trigger. Ross said he pulled
off Richards Shoe-he knew that
was where young Duvall's money
was-and removed three IS bills
and IA ST.. Richards total wealth.
BY this time, Ross declared,
Richard was breathing very hard
and moaning so Hawkins placed
the revolver against the wounded
boys head and fired another shot.
Ross concluded his statement
with:
81 had planned to kill Richard
myself. But I gave Hawkins $14.SO
of the $29. I'm sorry we didn't rob
him without killing him."
Hawkins was taken into Gus
tody for his version Of the affair.
The colored, worker. who was 10
years of age, admitted going down
town that fateful Saturday eve
ming, but denied being with Ross
or Richard and claimed as an
alibi that he had attended a movie
that night.
Detective Sergeant Kelly, to test
Hawkins veracity, accompanied
Hawkins to the same movie which
he claimed to have seen while
Richard was being murdered.
From incidents during the picture
and from other developments,
Kelly was satisfied that Hawkins
was telling the truth.
Faced by these facts, Ross told
Detective Kelly he would tell all.
Ross Regret
In a full confession, Ross ad-
mitted that he had convinced
Richard that he could get a bet
ter job If he came with him
(RoSs) instead Of going to Bal
t1more. Ross said he knew Rich
ard had some money, so he Dor
rowed the revolver from Hawkins
for the purpose of robbing the
boy. While they were walking
through the woods, ostensibly to
get to the railroad tracks, Ross
said he shot the boy twice and
robbed him Of the $40.
Ross said he left the boy to
die in the woods and then made
his way to a Jackson Street re-
sort, where he spent the night
in drinking and carousing with
Richards money. Next day, he
said, he returned to his room
on the college grounds.
The revolver was found where
Ross told police he threw it
under the steps of one Of the
college buildings. The empty
shells and unused bullets were
recovered from a hedge on the
premises.
Tried and found guilty of muir
der, Ross was sentenced to hang
for his crime. Before the moose
was applied, however, the sen
tence was committed to life i'm