BOY GUNMEN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 45, 15 October 1931, Page 6

BOY GUNMEN

TWO YOUTHS CONFESS AUTO THEFTS, MURDER, AND HOLD-UPS.

BEAVER (Utah) . Two youthful Oakland, Calif., gunmen to-day had poured into the ears of County Attorney Abe Murdock a. detailed account of a three-weeks career of crime, inspired by hunger for thrills, which included the theft of numerous automobiles, hold-ups of filling stations and buses, and the murder of Policeman William Kohler, in East Oakland on July 2. Joseph Gasparich, 17, ex-grocery clerk and comissioner officer in the R.O.T.C., and Lewis Hurshell Downs, i 17, former boekstore clerk, related how they had been surprised by Officer W. P. Hendrickson while stripping a stolen automobile in Alameda, had shot the officer and stolen his gun. The bullet struck Hendrickson's badge, which deflected its course, saving his life. Slaying Detailed. The next day, according to the story told Murdock, the boys were practising shooting when they were surprised by Officer Kohler. "He asked what we were doing," Downs told Murdock. 'I said we were just looking around. He said we had better come with him, so I got out of the car and told him to put up his hands. He said, "Yes, I'll put 'em 'Up,' and went for his gun. "I fired my gun and Gasparich fired his. The officer fell and we fled." Gasparich and Downs were eaptured in Beaver, Utah, by City Marshal John Huntington late on Thursday attempting to steal an automobile from Warren Neilsen, Beaver garage owner. At the time of their arrest, both boys were armed with 38 speeial revolvers and were wearing clothing purchased in Oakland.