The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-05
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
A Murder, Suicide and an Accidental
HoGndiRg.
Win the Causes That Led
Thereto.

One of The most terrible tragedies that was
ever enscied in this city occurred about noon
Tuesday, and resulted IN the deaths OF
Jacob AlienbuTger and Jacob Bush, and the
dangerous il not fatal wounding of Samuel
Campbell, disinteresied bystander. The
swful deed forms another link in the chain
of murder and suicide which has disgraced
the CITY annals and sent a thrill of horror
throughout the length snd breadth OF this
community. The story Of the affair, as
cleaned from eye-witnesses, is substantially
es follows:
Just at noon Tuesday Jacob Bush, who
has been attached for some time to the law
office of Frank II. Wright. in the Parker
Block, fronting on Court street. near Della
ware, ves engaged with T. X. Mccormick in
a game of checkers when Jacob AItenbUrger
came into the Office and the two entered into
conversation. IS they both spoke in Ger
E1an Mr.. Mccormick could not understand
all they said, but he cleaned enough to
know that they were talking about damage
suit that bai been fled b7 Bash against
Altenburger, ard which would come up for
trial newt week. Bush appeared anxious to
avoid conversation with AlteDburger, and,
though be had just entered upon the game
with Mccormick, re arose and started out,
with the remark that he must go to dinner.
He was followed out of the Off b. Alien
burger, and the two started in q westerly di-
reetiOn. Bush walking in advance. The two
men had proceeded but a few steps when
Altenburger drew pistol and presented il
at Bush. At this time the men were not more
than eight OF ten feei apart and Altenburger
hesitated so long about firing that an eye-wit-
ness supposed he was not going to shoot at
all. Suddenly, however, the report of pis-
tol was heard, and Bush fell to the ground
and threw up his hand in deprecating man
ner Another shot was fred, and Altenburg-
er started across the street. IA he did so,
scme one called out, Arrest thst mani Just
at this time he was seen to place the pistol to
the right side of his head and make two or
thee Intellectual attempts to fire. Lowering
the pistol, he crossed the street and entered
the small yard in the rear OF kahn's dry
goods store, where he made another EFFORT ut
selfdesuuciion. At this time the pistol was
discharged, the ball entering his head just
above the Tigbs ear, and passing directly
through the skull to the opposite side, lodged
under the skin, and was alterwsrd extracted.
brains flowing out formed large pool upon
the ground. He was taken to Kregslo S, where
he lived in an unconscious condition until
shortly after l clock.
Jacob Bush, his victim, was carried into
WIight's office Immediately after the shoot
ing and physician called 10 attend him.
When the latter arrived il was plain that
Bush's wound vgs mortal, and that nothing
ccrld be done to alleviate his sulfsrings.
The wounded man was III the greatest
anguish, both Of body and mind, and fire.
quently appealed to those standing around
TO kill h.m and thcs end his sgifs'ing RE
made a request, thai some one would 90
! for his daughter, but this had haldiy been
/ done before lie breaihed his last An ex-
. animation OF the body showed that the oall
| had entered the back near the fifth vertebra
| and hsj passed entirely through. The
body was taken to the undertaking establish
ment OF s. G. Warner, where q large crowd
. had assembled TO see the remains and hear
. the oit-Iepeated story OF the tragedy.
Samuel Campbell was coming out of Pat
tersOn's livery stable when the shooting Oc-
CURED, and q stray ball hit him in the left
| side near the region of the heart. IL IS sail
! by S. G. Warner, who witnessed the shooting.
that the ball which passed through the body
| of Mr. Bush was the one that his Canoben.
. As the pistol was only Smith x Wesson
| tbjriy-two Der, il seems hardly possible
I that il could send a ball with such force.
| Another theory is that Altenbargsr's first
shot missed Bush, and the latter fell TO The
ground from fright only, bat this does nOs
appear reasonable.
The shooting caused the widest excite
ment, and large crowds gathered at the scene
and at the uDdertaker's where the remains
were taken. The police were early on hand
and did all in their power to keep buck the
crowd and give the immediate friends OF the
parties g chance TO see them. All kinds of
TQn0rts Worp in 1uri M tho
but the following account OF the cause
winch led to the shooting is reliable in every
particular
SQUIRE FEIELEMAN's STORY.
To Sentinel representative Squire Feible-
man related the following: About year ago
Bush brought suit III my Court against Alien
burger on a note for $50. Altenburger denied
the making of any such note, aad Bush was
equally positive that he did. The matter
was settled By my entering q judgment
against AltenbuTger for SO Upon the CON
clusion of the trial Alteoburger began to
abuse Bush, calling him swindler
and thief. This angered Bash and he fled
q SANDER suit against Alteuburger in the
Circuit Court. This case was ssT for trial
and was to have been heard next Monday. A
bad feeling was thus created between the two
parties, which bad never been silayed. This
morning Bush was in AR. Wright's office
u X Mccormick entered a few moments be.
game of checkers with him. Mr.
Mccormick replied that he had not
the time TO spare, and as he was
Speaking Altenburge- entered the Office. II
said 10 Bush, Hello, Jake, you know yoa
brought that SANDER snit against me-" Bush
made some res onse and arose from his seat
He passed ont OF The office and went along
the sidewalk here, tlward Pennsylvania
street. Alienburger followed behind him /
heard shot and looked out saw Bash ly-
ing on the ground, and as he was speaking
there came another shot. | say Alteaburger
fire il. He then stepped to
the sidewalk and leveled the revolver at his
own head. He pulled twice on the trigger
bat the pistol Jailed to go of. He then look
il in his hand and was evidently turning the
cylinder around. / called out TO the parties
near him: ARREST that man" Altenbur-
ger then pointed the revolver at me aud
lodged back into the Office. fearing lest
also would get shot. Altenburger then
slowly walked across the street and
entered the yard in the rear OF
LEON Kahn's dry goods store. The last shot
was fred at this moment When The Gro gd
arrived lin the yard Altenbarger was lying
about twenty feet from the gate in pool OF
blood and brains.
Samuel Campbell. the book binder, who
vas elOt accidentally bV Aitauburger livas