Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-16
|JuveniIeCourt
Commits Youth
In Beating.Case

DUWsuAS WV
One of four teen-age youths
involved in the beating and rob-
berry of a 50-year-old widow was
committed to the Welfare De-
partment yesterday by Juvenile
Court Judge Edith Cockrill.
A new story of the December
~ robbery came out in court
from another youth who con-
feSsed the crime two weeks ago
in Juvenile Court. He was COM
United to the Children's Center
at Laurel. Md.
Mrs. Viola Mae Moseley of ia
Tuckerman street NE, the
widow of a Mount Savage. Md,
doctor. suffered a fractured skull
and punctured eardrum when
beaten and robbed of her purse
and $42 at Eastern avenue and
Sligo Mill road NE. ~
A 17-year-old Hyattsville.
youth who joined the Air Force
last week was the chief assailant
in the robbery. according to the
16-year-old Laurel youth and the
l6-year-old Hyattsville youth on
trial yesterday.
Coin Story Confirmed
The youth on trial confirmed
the Laurel youths story of flip
ping a coin to decide who would
take the blame when they were
arrested. The Air Force youth
told them he was on probation
and would be sent away" if
caught. they said.
The youths who appeared in
court yesterday claimed they
first realized how serious the
robbery attack had been after
reading newspapers. Apparently
the chief factor in their decision
to change their story was the
fact that the youth with no
record who confessed was "sent
away" to Laurel anyway.
Police are working with the
Air Force to get the assault
suspect back to face trial here.
81 remember patting myself
on the back for getting home
early to wrap Christmas pres
ents," said Mrs Moseley who
did not see her assailant. THE
next thing ] recall was waking
up in the hospital"
The fourth youth, Who is is
years old and who lives in the
District. also appeared in Juve-
nile Court yesterday charged
with the robbery His case was
continued to Monday.
Just Driving Around
I'VE were just driving around
trying to figure what we were
going to do that night" the
youth on trial told Judge Cock
rill. The four youths saw Mrs.
MoSeley walking up Eastern ave-
nue.. he said. and the air Force
youth said I'm going to get
some money-Stop the car"
The three youths in the car
did not see the attack, the youth
on trial said. but when the Air
Force youth ran back to the
car with a purse they knew he
got it from Mrs. Moseley. Each
youth in the car got $40 and
the youth on trial, the owner of
the car. got the extra 50 for
gas" he said.
Il knew where it had come
from but I didn't know exactly
what had happened" the youth
said.
His mother sat weeping with
a handkerchief to her face as
the youth told his story in a
barely audible voice.
From Solid Family
A welfare worker said the IT.
year-old on trial came from a
solid, stable. church-going FAM
lily. This is a far cry from his
usual pattern. he added.
you've had better opportu-
mites than most boys who APP
pear down here" Judge Cockrill
said. you tried to get your girl
friend to tell untruths to protect
yourself"
The youth probably will be
sent to Children's Center at
Laurel. After the Judge found
him guilty, the youth asked if
he could go into military service
instead of going to Laurel.
I'VE do not use that as a sub
Stitute for responsible living in
the community" Judge Cockrill
told him.