Evening star., 1938-07-04
VICTIMS 'SFAM|LY
COMFORTSSLAyER-
OF CLOSE FRIEND.
Accept Story He Mistook
His Service Revolver
for Toy Gun.
POLICE RELEASE HIM;
INQUEST is DOUBTED
Nearsighted Man, IS, Fires After
Going to Office for Boys
Cap Pistol.

Thinking he had only toy cap pis-
tol in his hand as he playfully ordered
close friend to stick 'em up" near
sighted Justice Peter Boyer, IS, pulled
the trigger of his 38 caliber service
revolver yesterday and sent fatal
bullet through the heart of William
Henry Green, 81, his fellow worker for
25 years.
The shooting occurred on the front
steps of the Security Storage Co., at
1l40 Fifteenth street NV, where
Mr.. Boyer is employed as night watch
man and Mr.. Green worked as a truck
driver. Among those who witnessed
the tragedy were Mr.. Green's two sons
and several passersby bound for the
neighboring St. Augustine's Church.
The loaded revolver had been lying
on desk beside cap pistol and
Mr.. Boyer picked it up by mistake
when he reached for the toy to give
to his old friend, whose 9-year- -old son,
Robert, had left it in one of the COM
pany trucks the night before, the
broken-hearted watchman told third
precinct police.
Cohforted by assurances from Mr.
Green's family that they knew the
shooting was accidental, Mr.. Boyer
was released by police pending action
oy Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald,
who said he doubted if an inquest
would be necessary.
Boy Forgets Toy Pistol.
Mr. Rover ond tho NJ fr,o
sons, Robert and William Edward, %.
were to appear at police headquarters
today to submit detailed statements
concerning the shooting, after which
the coroners inquest was to be de-
termined.
The prologue to the tragedy began
Saturday night when Mr. Green took
his family with him to watch for
awhile over house which was being
fumigated by his employers Robert
went to sleep playing in a truck and,
when awakened to go home, forgot
his cap pistol in the truck seat
The youngster remembered and
wanted the toy yesterday, so his father
telephoned Mr.. Boyer and asked him
to see if he could find it. The night
watchan said he sent Charles Owens,
another employe of the storage COM
pany, to look for the pistol.
Mr.. Owens found it and took it to
Mr.. Boyer, who laid the toy gun beside
his service revolver-carried in his
capacity as watchman-on a desk in
a first-floor Office.
Orders "Stick EN- Up."
Shortly thereafter, William Edward
Green drove his father and young
brother to the office The two sons
sat in the car while Mr. Green walked
to the grilled gateway entrance and
called for Mr.. Boyer.
The watchman. whose failing eve
sight requires heavy glasses for read
ing. went to the desk at the call and
picked up the toy pistol-he thought.
In Jovlal mood, he walked to the
doorway and pointed the gun in his
hand at his old friend and ordered
stick 'em up" As Mr.. Green started
to raise his hands in the same jovial
spirit, Mr.. Boyer pulled the trigger.
The sound of shot stunned every
one for moment Then Mr.. Green
stopped over, stumbled backward and
screamed He shot me, he shot me-"
as he fell to the sidewalk.
Mr.. Boyer looked at the revolver in
his hand unbelievingly, hardly able to
realize that it was not the toy pistol
he had thought he had picked up.
Rushes to Friends Side.
Mr.. Green's sons jumped from their
car. Mr.. Boyer rushed out to the side
OF his friend and they put him into a
taxicab which took him to Emergency
Hospital. He was pronounced dead on
arrival at l0:45 am The bullet had
passed through his uprising hand to
his heart.
Mr.. Boyer waited for police to ar
rive and accompanied them to the
third precinct alton to tell his story.
L didn't mean to do it thought
1t was the cap pistol" he sobbed, near
collapse from grief.
Mrs. Green later went to the station
to assure him she knew the shooting
was an accident Mr.. Boyer was re-
leased in custody of company Off
cial pending possible further action
At his home, 912 Fifteenth street
Sc, Mr.. Boyer apeared still be-
wildered by the tragedy today. 1T was
an accident, it was an accident" was
about all he could say to reporters
Funeral services for Mr.. Green, who
lived at GAS Morton place NE, will
be held at pm. Wednesday from the
Lee funeral home. followed by burial
in Congressional Cemeterv