Charles Hawley injured by insulator thrown at Hemingray

MOSCOE SAYS HE

DID NOT MEAN TO

Admits Hurling an Insulator-It

Struck Charles Hawley, Per­haps

Fatally Injuring Him.

CLARENCE MOSCOE UNDER ARREST

Says That He Merely Desired to

Frighten Men and Boys Who

Were Snowballing Him.

STATEMENT OF CLARENCE MOSCOE

I did not intend to strike anybody when I threw the Insulator

out of the window, and I do not now know that I did Injure

Hawley. If I did so, I am sorry, but of course that doesn't help it. I

wanted to frighten the crowd that was snowballing me; that was all.

Clarence Moscoe, an employe of the Hemingray Glass company, was taken into custody by the police this morning on the nominal charge of assault and battery that he might be held pending the outcome of injuries to Charles Hawley, a boy of 14 whom Moscoe is alleged to have struck in the head with a glass insulator while working in the Hemingray plant about 10 o’clock last night. Moscoe has not been placed in jail as yet but will be as soon as formal charges are preferred against him.

Hawley’s chances of recovery are not good. He is still unconscious.

Last night a number of boys and men employed in the plant went outside the doors of the factory and it is said a umber of snowballs were thrown into the factory, three of which struck Moscoe. In retaliation he picked up one of the large insulators, weighing about two pounds, and threw it out the door, it is said by other workmen. A piercing scream followed and Charles Hawley, one of the boys employed in the place, was picked up in an unconscious condition, his skull being crushed in the rear, and later was taken home by his father, Robert Hawley, residing at 203 Koontz avenue. Dr. O. I. Reasoner on investigation found that the skull of Hawley had been seriously fractured and a long gash had been cut. Several hours after the assault, the police were called, but by that time Moscoe had left the factory and gone to his home on Seventh street where he was later arrested and brought to headquarters. The condition of Hawley is extremely critical. A charge of murder will be filed against Moscoe should the boy die.

When the insulator was thrown Hawley had on his head a new felt cap, of considerable thickness. The missle [sic] missile struck him on the cap else, according to Dr. Reasoner, death would have been almost instantaneous.

MOSCOE TALKS.

When seen in police headquarters this morning Moscoe said, substantially:

"I was working in the factory when persons outside began to throw snow­balls into the shop, three of which struck me. I picked up an insulator after the third one had hit me and threw it out the door through which the snowballs had come, not intending to hit anybody but merely to frighten them. I did not know, even, that any person had been struck for probably an hour after and at that I do not know that the insulator I threw struck Hawley. I intended no injury and am sorry the affair occurred."

Moscoe came to Muncie with his wife from Lexington, Ky, some time ago. His reputation in this city is said to be good. Hawley, with his parents, removed to Muncie from Ronoake, W. Va., several months ago and the father and son have been employed in the Hemingray factory almost continuously ever since. The boy is said to be of a peaceable disposition. It is not known that he threw any of the snowballs that struck Moscoe.

HAWLEY RALLIES.

Dr. Reasoner reported this afternoon that Hawley had rallied somewhat and that there is now a chance of his re­covery. If he continues to improve until this evening bond will be prepared for Moscoe, who will be released from cus­tody. As yet no specific charges have been filed against him.