Evening star., 1952-07-19
Father Of II Shot
To Death by Son
AT Waldorf
Youth, Is, Fired to
Protect His Mother,
Police Informed

OIlly o WCCkS Olu-WdS SllOJ W
death by his 16-year-old son at
Waldorf. Md. last night, when
the boy and a younger brother
came to the defense of their
mother.
Maryland State police said Les
ter Elmer Roberts, Al. was killed
by a shotgun blast fired by Rus
sell Lee Roberts few moments
after the youth broke baseball
bat over his fathers head.
Police were told that Mr.. Rob-
Ierts had-been drinking heavily
and tried to choke his wife, Violet.
Russell ran for a baseball bat and
hit his father several times on
the head until the bat broke.
Mr.. Roberts then turned on
Russell and chased him through
the house. The father grabbed a
shotgun from its hooks on a bed
room wall and was trying to load
it, police said, when 14-year-old
Lester Roberts, jr., ran downstairs
with another shotgun and handed
lit to Russell.
Hit in Chest and Shoulder.
Russell was said to have fired
while his father was still trying to
ram shells into his gun. The blast
struck the elder Roberts in the
chest and shoulder. After he was
shot, police said. Mr.. Roberts
chased his son into another room.
and then dropped on the kitchen
floor. He bled to death despite
efforts of neighbor to save his
life with turniquet.
State Trooper Allen B. Coleman
said Russell was turned over to
juvenile authorities at La Plata,
Md.
The tragedy occurred in a two
story frame tenant house on the
farm of Carl Berry about two miles
west of Waldorf. Mr.. Roberts was
shot at II pm, and was pro-
nounced dead by DR.. Edward j.
Edelen, Charles County medical
examiner.
Other Children Asleep.
The Roberts children. all Of
whom live at home, range in age
from six weeks to 10 years. Po-
lice said that with tne exception
of Russell and Lester. jr., the
others were asleep in various rooms
during the violent quarrel.
Mr.. Roberts, a tenant tobacco
farmer and part-time carpenter.
had been drinking for several
weeks. police were told. Mean
while, they said, he had done
little if any work.
Mrs. Roberts is 80 years old.
Her children includes eight boys
and three girls.
Twelve hours after the tragedy,
the widow answered the questions
of a reporter in a listleSs voice.
She appeared dazed.
Had Feared Trouble.
Mrs. Roberts had feared trouble
for months. The family had moved
to the farm only year ago, and
set out to grow tobacco and corn.
About the first of the year. how
ever. the head of the household
began to drink in spells.
In recent weeks the bouts be-
came more frequent. Mrs. Roberts
said. After that "our family fights
got to be a regular thing" she
said.
Yesterday the drinking contin-
ued. About 6 o'clock in the AFTER
noon, Mrs. Roberts said. my hus-
band took his 12-gauge shotgun
and got in his car. He said he was
going over to nearby farm and
shoot the man he used to work
for"
Mrs. Roberts was referring to
the dairy farm owned by Attorney
w. Gwynn Gardiner of Washing
ton. Mr.. Roberts had been a ten
ant on this farm until he left after
an argument with Mr.. Gardiner,
according to Mrs. Roberts.
Unable to Give Warning.
The widow said she doubted If
Mr.. Roberts really intended to
carry out his threat to kill Mr..
Gardiner. She hoped it was the
whisky doing the talking" Be-
sides, she had neither transporta-
ton nor a telephone to help her
warn the people on the other farm.
Mr.. Roberts returned home
about 9 o'clock last night. His
wife met him in the front yard.
and he told her, she said, that he
was unable to find Mr.. Gardiner.
When she took him to task for his
threatening attitude. Mrs. Roberts
said, "he opened a long -bladed
knife and grabbed for me-"
Mrs. Roberts broke away and
(See SHOOTING. Page A-2O