Police Charge Two Teen-agers
In Rifle Slaying Over Girl Feud

    A 17-year-old Clinton (Md.) boy was charged yesterday with the fatal rifle shooting of Harry H. Tolson Jr., 21, shortly after midnight in the 1100 block of I st. se.
    A second charge of first degree murder in the same shooting was lodged also against the juvenile's 18-year old companion, Richard E. Smithey, of 1350 Congress st. se., an unemployed gas station attendant.
    Police said Smithey obtained the weapon--a .22 caliber repeating rifle--and drove the younger boy, booked as Ronald F. Wynkoop, to the shooting scene.
    Tolson, of 1322 T st. se., was killed almost instantly as he fled a fusillade from the rifle police said Wynkoop began firing as Tolson emerged from a basement apartment at 768 11th st. se.
    Homicide Squad Capt. Lawrence Hartnett said detectives were still sifting several versions of the slaying last night but leaning towards a theory that it climaxed a week-long intermittent argument involving the dead man's 16-year-old fiancee.
    Hartnett said Wynkoop, who surrendered himself about noon to police who had been seeking him since shortly after the shooting, apparently wasn't even involved in the original dispute between Tolson and Smithey.
    This, Hartnett said, erupted in a wild fist fight a week ago today after a party both attended. Another youth, James Canady, 20, of 112 9th st. se., has been hospitalized since with injuries suffered in that free-for-all, which Hartnett said featured the use by Tolson of brass knuckles.
    The fight resumed verbally late Wednesday night at a drive-in in Coral Hills, Md., Hartnett said, and in the course of it Tolson is said to have threatened to beat up Wynkoop who had accompanied Smithey in the latter's car.
    Both Tolson and Smithey drove back to Southeast Washington from that encounter, bumping bumpers and exchanging threats and insults along the way, Hartnett said.
    Hartnett said Wynkoop told police they separated and he

went with Smithey to Canady's home to get a shotgun.
    They couldn't find the shotgun, Hartnett said, but obtained the rifle which they first test-fired several times near the National Guard Armory.
    They then drove to the home of Barbara Tice, Tolson's fiancee, spotting Tolson's car parked outside of it, emblazoned with his pet name for it "Night Train."
    Inside the house, Tolson heard the shout, "Night Train, come on out!" As he went outside, one of the youths inside heard a single shot and called police. Meanwhile, Tolson started running for his life around the corner followed by the rifleman, firing as they ran. In front of 1112 I st. se., Tolson spun around and fell dying between two parked cars. Police said he was struck in the back by at least two of the shots.
    Hartnett said Smithey drove off as Wynkoop opened fire, leaving Wynkoop to flee the scene afoot. Police found the rifle in a hedge near the Marine Corps Barracks at 8th and I sts. se. Smithey was picked up shortly after the shooting as he drove alone in the 1400 block of Alabama ave. se., and identified Wynkoop as the rifleman.
    United States Commissioner James F. Splain ordered Smithey held without bond pending a hearing Oct. 27. Homicide Squad detectives turned Wynkoop over to the Juvenile Squad which sent him to the Receiving Home pending a hearing before Juvenile Court Judge Orm Ketcham, probably today.

Source:

Unknown, "Police Charge Two Teen-agers In Rifle Slaying Over Girl Feud," Washington Post and Times Herald, Washington, D.C., Friday, 14 October, 1960, p. A3.