Evening star., 1937-03-27
Shooting
Continued From First Page.)

cartridges"
The jury deliberated only five min
utes before returning verdict Of 'ac-
cidental DEATH
Richard owned at least IL guns
purchased from mail order houses
with checks given him by his mother,
it was testified.
Richard is the son of William F.
Ham, 1921 Woodley road, chairman of
the board OF the Potomac Electric
Power Co.
The first witness to appear before
the coroner's jury was Detective Sergt.
jeremiah Flaherty of the homicide
squad. He testified that Richard had
said he didn't know the pistol was
loaded when he playfully pointed the
weapon at his friend and ordered him
to stick 'em up"
Flaherty showed the jury the guns
he found in Richards room. They
included two automatic pistols, ap-
parently of .32-caliber, one old-type
revolver, the fatal gun--a .22-caliber
revolver-one 38-caliber automatic,
one nickel-plated revolver, which also
seemed to be OF .32-caliber, and 4
single toy pistol.
He also had four muske6 and 4
shotgun, 1t was brought out.
Got Weekly Allowance.
He said Mrs Ham told him the boy
was given regular weekly allowance,
out Of which he saved money to buy
guns from mail order house When
he had accumulated enough to make
purchase, according to Flaherty, he
turned the cash over to his mother
and she would give him = check to
cover the price Of the nrearm.
The detective said Richard told him
he examined the gun after the Rus
sell boy had been shot and found 1t
fully loaded. Richard. Flaherty said.
then unloaded the weapon. In re-
sponse to 4 question from Coroner A.
Magruder Macdonald, the detective
said he had been unable to learn when
and by whom the gun was loaded.
The victim was the only son Of DR..
Albert E. Russell. 1870 wyoming ave-
nue., physician of the United States
Public Health Service. The shot was
fired In the front bed room Of the
third floor of the Ham home at 1921
Woodley road.
Investigators were told that young
Ham had been inspecting the gun COL
lection with Russell and Richards
brother, Patton Ham, TO-
When the gun went of the Russell
boy slumped to the floor with q wound
in the abdomen. He was pronounced
dead few minutes later by DR.. Harry
NJ kaufman Of the Shoreham Hotel.
Robert. Richard and Patten Ham
had attended Mrs. Cookies School,
2344 Massachusetts avenue, yesterday
and then went to the Ham home for
dinner. It was Just after dinner that
they went upstairs to look over the
gun collection.
Robert celebrated his 11th birthday
last Monday. He was born in Barre
Vt.
The boy was in the sixth grade at
Mrs Cookies School and would have
graduated this Spring. He excelled In
his studies, his father said, and also
played the piano well. Fishing was
one OF his greatest hobbies.
Father Brought Him Gift.
In 1927, when he was only = year
old, Robert was taken by his parents
to the White House Easter egg rolling.
His photograph was carried In Wash
ington newspapers and national
news magazine at that time. President
Coolidge played with him for 4 few
moments
Robert had gone with his mother to
Good Friday services at noon yester-
day at ST. Stephens Church. His
father was to have returned at 1857
pm. from Barre, VT, but missed
train in New York and did not arrive
here until 5:45 pm.
Meanwhile. Robert went to the Ham
home to play. and his mother rested
in the Russell apartment, awaiting the
doctors arrival.
Robert telephoned here at pm.
and asked if he could remain for
dinner with his playmates. She con-
sented reluctantly. because she wanted
him to be home when his father re-
turned. DR.. Russell came later from
the train, bringing rod and reel a.
gift for his son.
DR.. and Mrs. Russell were stricken
with grief over the tragedy.
DR.. Russell Silicosis Expert.
DR.. Russell, who Is attached to the
Industrial Hygiene Division OF the
Public Health Service, is on his fifth
tour of duty here. having returned
almost two years ago from Knoxville,
Tenn, where he was assistant health
director OF the Tennessee Valley Au-
thority.
He came into prominence through
his work in industrial hygiene, par
ticularly in the study Of stlicosis. He
has investigated the results OF sill
sosis in mines, quarries and various in
dustrial establishments in all parts Of
this country, and has represented the
United States in conferences abroad
on industrial hygiene.