The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-03-23
REVENGE.
THRILLING TRAGEDY.

THRILLING TRAGEDY.
VENGEANCE WITHOUT Law IN THE COURT
RooM-A DESPERATE boy SLABS HIS
BROTHERS MURDERER IN ST. LOUIS.
From several accounts of frightful affair
the Democrat of Tuesday: An attempt at
murder in a criminal court is not known in
the annals of crime; but, for deliberate in
tent and swift, terrible and daring execu-
ton, that of X. p. w. Boatwright upon the
life of Charles Woodson yesterday in the
criminal court, has never been surpassed.
The youth of both boys, for Boat
wright is but Is years of age, and
Woodson 10, makes the deed a start
ling one, and as the bloody act was done
under the very eve of the judge on the
bench, and before assembled hundreds OF
spectators, one can but wonder If human
life is ever massscred, especially before the
bar, whore the most exact justice is sup
posed to be- perfectly and accurately melted
out. Judge Jones was trying the case OF
the state VS.. Charles Woodson (colored) on
charge OF murder in the second degree. 1t
seems that the boy WoOdson on the 23d OF
September last, Vas on ono side of Morgan
street, near Sixteenth street, and on the op-
pOsite side Oscar j. B0atwrght and some
other boys were playing when taunts were
back and forth. and one hit Oscar in the
head. He was taken home and died on the
2lst of the next month, November. The
trial was call on yesterday at l o'clock. A
jury had been obtained, and the dead boys
rather, r. Z. Boatwright, had been called to
the witness stand to tell what he knew OF
his sons
SICKNESS AND DEATH.
His statements of the condition of his boy
when sick were questioned, as ne is not a
physician, and the jury were asked to retire
that they might not be prejudiced by the
telling of the story by so interested person
as the boys father. 1t was necessary that
the physicians who attended the boy during
his lest illness should corroborate the
fathers testimony. Then Mr.. Boat
wright called his son Robert, who was
among the spectators, and told him to go 10
the doctors Office and ask him to come to the
courtroom. The boy started of, and in
few minutes entered the room at the door
by which spectators are admitted. Walking
quickly up the aisle, he passed into the
space reserved for the carrying on of court
business. He was close to the prisoners
chair before any one observed him, and
even then it was supposed by all that ne
had returned with message from the doc
tors. Standing abreast of his victim, whose
head scarcely reached the top of the chair
DICK, ne STRUCK an attituue, InIeW
his head back, and pulled out long
knife. His eyes glsred tiercely, and his facs
was livid with rage and excitement. Not ten
feet from him, and facing him, sat the
judge. and around him were law
yers and court officers, among them
Judge Stumpf and James Hutchinson.
All were oTror-struck-even paralvZsd-
not motion was made to save the little fell
low. Boatwright shouted : You killed my
brother, and will kill you 7"
DOWN CAME THE KNIFE
into the abdomen of the boy. Before the
young assassin could strike again, Mr.. You'll
laire, the attorney for the state, seized his
uplifted arm, and Mr.. Clabby, clerk
OF the court, took the murderous
weapon from the now unresisting hand of
Boatwright. The entire court was in an
uproar. Judge Jones descended from the
bench, and with Deputy Marshal Horror,
took charge of Boatwright for the time.
The little fellow who was stabbed, not reali-
zing nor hardly knowing that he was
stabbed, stretched out his hands toward the
who was defending him, Mr.. Charles
p. Johnson, and crying "Oh, Godv' ran
forward and
SUNK INTO HIS LAWYERS ARMS.
He was laid on the floor. The spectators
had been spell bound while this tragedy was
but, all at once. its meaning
seemed to flash over them, and sudden
and simultaneous rush was made for the
spot where the boy fell. The officers had
their presence of mind, however,
aud pressed the crowd back out of the door
and down the stairs. The officers in the po-
lice department and in the coroner's Office,
On the first floor, had not heard of the oc-
,urrence in the court room above. AS |
he crowd ran and tumbled down the stair |
way, with great racket, Deputy Coroner
ran from mis- door with bis pistol
presented at the froot rank. He supposed |
hat there was new break from the Jail in
be rear, and compelled he throng to Jam,
into his Office, until he could
earn the cause of disturbance. Meanwhile,
n the Criminal Court room order had been
omewbat restored, but the trial and
urther business were stopped for the
lay. Deputy Marshal Klenien took
young Boatwright down stairs and
him to Chief Detective
)'Connor, who put him in cell No. 8, where
lie now lies. AS the grand jury is in session
le will be srraigned for trial in the Criminal
court room before the same judge in whose
he stabbed Charlie Wcodson. The