Evening star., 1953-11-20
Another Youth
Drawn into Quiz
OF Gang Fight
Accused Boys Face
Accusers AS Police
Hear Their Stories

drawn into the case.
The total number of juveniles
accused in the affair, in which
three girls saw their dates
mauled and kicked by a gang of
teen-agerS, now stands at seven.
1t was pointed out. however. that
a warrant has been issued for
an 18-year-old sailor from the
Patuxent River Naval Air Sta
ton in Maryland. Detectives
c. r. Roberts and Teddy Thanos
OF No. 6 precinct said the armed
forces police will bring this
youth in for questioning.
After a session at police
headquarters. during which the
complaining youths faced the
defendants and parents dis
cusSed the matter with de-
tectives, Sergt. William C.
Rasmussen told reporters that, so
far as the juvenile squad is con-
cerned, the case is closed.
The session was closed to the
press, but the policeman spoke
to reporters after it was over.
Continues Investigation.
In opening the session, Sergt.
Rasmussen told those present it
was being held ito determine
who struck who and why" and
that it was merely continual
ton of the original investigation
into the fracas in the 1900 block
OF Geranium street NV.
Present were the following,
who previously had been
charged:
Omar H. Khiel, Ia, of 1900
Thirteenth street NV, one
count of assault with danger
Gus weapon; Warren William
Halbritter, 16, of 1401 Fairmont
street NV, two counts of sim
pie assault; Alfonso P. Filloramo.
16, Of 4812 Kansas avenue NV.
assault with a dangerous weap-
on; Gerald Francis Tuttle. Is,
OF 5723 Colorado avenue NV,
simple assault.
Also Walter Jeffrey Newton.
Is, of TIC Farragut street NV.
assault with a dangerous weap-
on and obstructing justice. and
Paul Michael Vito, l6. of til
Kennedy street NV, assault
| with a dangerous weapon and
obstructing justice.
Denies Being in Fight.
Newly charged was Walter
II. Smith. 16, Of 10013 Kinross
avenue. Silver Spring, Md. with
a single count of simple assault.
Sergt Rasmussen said that. on
the basis of new findings last
night, he had reason to believe
the Smith boy. a MONTGOMERY
Blair High School student, had
been involved, although he did
not strike anybody. Smith. he
said, admitted being on the
scene but denied being in the
fight.
Absolved was 16-year-old
Wheaton (Md.) boy who. Scrgt.
Rasmussen explained, was "a VIC
tim of circumstances, who didn't
know what was going on, and
with no intent on his part"
This boy, whose name had never
been brought into the case, was
riding with Vito in one of the
three cars that carried the gang
to the scene of the beatings.
The police officer, with Juve-
nile Squad Detective John C.
Wilson also present, gave a brief
account of what occurred Sat-
urday night. The revenge"
beating involved these three VIC
Tins: David Fran, 16, a Cool
idge High School student; Mi
chael Hartman, IA, of 1901 Con-
necticut avenue NV, and Mel
win Mackler. Is. of $500 SIX
teenth street NV. The fight
grew out of the smashing of an
extortion racket at Paul Junior
High School.
Charged With RObmrey.
The alleged eXtorJfoniSt. police
said, is William Stramer, IA, of
the 1900 block of Longfellow
street NV, now in the Receiv-
ing Home under charges Of rob-
berry and carrying a concealed
weapon.
Although all those charged
were not involved in the actual
beatings, accusations stand
against them because, under the
law. they aided or abetted" the
beatings. Sergt. Rasmussen ex-
planned.
He asked that the names OF
the three girls, two Of whom
were present last night, not be
disclosed. They are l3 years
old. Sergt. Rasmussen said the
following parents were present
during the hearing:
Charles A. Khiel, Mrs. Eleanor
Fillorano, James Vito, Mrs. Wal
ter T. Newton, Gerald F. Tuttle,
Mrs. Grace Halbritter, Raymond
w. Smith, and the father Of the
boy who was exonerated.
Sergt. Rasmussen said the Hal
britter and Newton boys have
admitted striking the victims
during the melee, and that there
was reason to believe some others
participated actively. However.
the police officer said, this would
have to be a matter for the
Juvenile Court to determine. He
said Vito and Newton wanted
revenge. while the others prob
ably strung along to watch the
fight"
Charles A. Ford. the attorney,
was present at the session in
defense of Vito and Filloramo.
according to Sergt. Rasmussen.
He said another lawyer, whom
he could not identify. was on
hand in behalf of Michael Hant-
man who, police had reported.
passed a marked dollar bill which