Evening star., 1941-04-12
.Co|ored Youth
To Face Charges
In Attacks Here
Confession Claimed
From Boy Who Fled
Troining School

Police planned today to press sew
eral charges against Elkin Hender-
son. 18. colored, who confessed, they
said. that he broke into two apart
ments the night of April and beat
a man and a woman over the head
in futile robbery attempts. and that
he fractured the skull of a Fails
Church VaD woman year ago
in another burglary.
The youth, who escaped from the
National Training School for Boys
April 2, was arrested by Park Po-
iicemen c. A. Mellott and j. T.
Wirth in Meridian Park. The po-
licemen, at work in plain clothes,
took the boy into custody on suspi-
cion.
Late yesterday, according to po-
lice. Henderson signed confess
sion to the three robbery attempts,
Taken TO Crime Scene.
The prisoner was taken to the
apartments where the recens crimes
occurred and, detectives said,
showed them how he beat his sleep
ing victims and was frightened
away without loot.
First, he said, he broke into the
ground-f1oor apartment of John S.
Long, 81, at 1921 Belmont street
NV, about 2:30 am. April 4. He
went into Mr.. Longs bedroom.
Hearing signs that Mr.. Long was
awakening, Henderson struck him
over the head with a brick and ran
out.
Next, according to the confession,
he forced his way into the apart
ment of Mrs Evelyn Kneeland. 30,
at 231l Fifteenth street NV. When
she awoke and screamed, he beat her
on the head with heavy stone. and
again ran away without obtaining
anything.
After that, the police said the
youth told them, he went to Falls
Church, Va, where he had made a
| previous robbery attempt, climbed
| to second-story window and
entered. He took S34, he said, and
WCllG DdIh W w lOAi. dlLS
Church police had no report of such
robbery.
Robbery Year Ago Recalled.
About a year ago Sergt. W. H.
Glenn of the Falls Church police
recalled Mrs. Frederick Wright of
1l9 Columbus street was beaten with
hammer and her skull fractured
by colored youth who sought to
rob her home. Although she was
badly injured, Mrs. Wright managed
to wrest the hammer from her as
sailant and run out of the house for
help
This crime Henderson also con-
fessed, the police said.
Last November he was sent to the
training school on an armed robbery
charge. He got away while serving
in the dining room.
He told police that after obtain
ing the $34 from the Falls Church
house the night of April he rented
room on Vermont avenue NV. and
stayed until his money ran out. He
went to Meridian Park Wednesday,
he said, in hope of snatching a
pocketbook
Returned to Training School.
Park police turned Henderson over
to Metropolitan police, who returned
him to the training school. Capt.
Ira G. Keck of the Detective Bureau
said today, however, that the Juve-
nile Court would be asked to COM
NIT the youth to the District Jail as
an incorrigible juvenile prisoner.
Although the authorities had not
decided on the measures to be taken
against Henderson, his indictment
probably will be asked on several
charges of assault and attempted
robbery.
Mrs. Kneeland and Mr.. Long said,
when the youth was brought to their
homes yesterday, that they could not
identify him, because they did not
see him in the light, but they pointed
out that he showed knowledge of ex-
actly how their apartments were en-
tered and they were beaten.
! Both victims required hospital