The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-11
TWO ATTEMPTS AT MURDER
A Vicious Negro Shoots a Companion
Four Times.
Two CoIored BARRIERS Bring Their RazorS
Into Play, and Carve Each
Other Freely.

Yesterday afternoon shortly after O'Clock
fight occurred in the saloon of Pat Ward, a dis
reputable resorJ at No. 6s4 North Mississippi
street, in which Daniel Reed was shot four
times by Oliver Wilson, young desperate who
has used his revolver with murderous intent On
several occasions before. Wards saloon is 6. u
ated in the rear OF small grocery
store, and is the resort of bad
class OF negroes living in Llo "Sleigho-
underline hill" region. Yesterday afternoon
Daniel Reed, an old colored man of sixty-six
years, engaged in game OF cards with some OF
the loafers about the place, which was broken
up by Oliver Wilson, Quarrelsome young negro
who is known as one of the worst of the class
that frequent the place. Reed objected to the
interference, and Wilson at once opened quar-
re-, in the course of which he drew his revolver
and honrished it with threats of shooting. Reed
boosted that he was not afraid OF Wilson, the
weapon, or both, and dared him TO shoot.
Exasperated by the defiance OF the
old man, Wilson fired at him.
the ball passing through the muscles
of the neck. The TWO then came together, and
Reed made very lively fight, but claims that
his adversary was aided by the loafers about
the room. Several times he raised his cane to
strike Wilson, but some one in the crowd would
catch II in time to prevent the blow,
SHOT FOUR TIMES.
During the fight three more shots we're fred
one entering Reeds mouth and lodging behind
the ear where it still remains. third shot
struck him in the forehead and rebounded with
out injuring the skull, and fourth pene-
trsted the clothing and made slight
wound in his breast. colored man
named Darnel finally interfered, and declared
that the eombatants must either be parted or
nprmitta6 n 10 tha Aoh without
taking any part in 1t. 1t the meantime Ward,
the proprietor of the saloon, remained In his
grocery store with the door securely locked, and
made no effort to quell the disturbance.
Reed was taken to the Surgical Institute,
where his wounds were given attention, and he
was then taken to his home on west sixth
street, between Howard and Lafayette streets.
His injuries are of a very serious nature, the
wound in the mouth being the most dangerous,
but the physicians think that with proper
care they will not result fatally. How
ever his advanced age renders his condition
Immediately after the shooting, Wilson disap-
peared, and the police have been unable to find
him. He is known as desperate character,
and has been under police surveillance for some
time. About two years ago he assaulted Officer
Thornton with knife, when placed under ar
rest, and last summer, at a hod-carTters picnic
held at the Fair grounds, he shot a colored man
in the arm, besides making an attempt to shoot
officer Wells when he interfered and underworld
to arrest him. About ten days ago, he raised
a row at Wards saloon and gave a colored man
rather severe beating. The police have been
looking Tor him 1Of some Tine, intending 10
place him under arrest for lettering, but he has
carefully eluded them.
A CARVING TOURNAMENT.
Another difficulty occurred about o'clock
between two colored BARRIERS employed IN the
shop of Brown & Porter, at the corner Of Wash
ington and Blake streets, in which the razor was
brought into use and very ugly carving done,
Shortly after noon George Russell, q crippled
"tonsorial artist" began drinking pretty freely,
and, to use the language of the man with whom he
had the trouble, Holm Dckerson, a brother
artist, che wound up at the shop considerable
under the 'huence of liquor" Both men wire
drinking and begun chafiing in aorimo uiS1S
words and rude eptthets. The two finally came
together Russell with his razor drawn, and
upon coming within reach Dickerson knocked
him to the floor with chair. While still stand
ing over him Russell succeeded in crawling
within reack of Dickerson, and cut cash four
inches in length in his right leg, just
above the knee, which laid the
flesh open to the bone The two were then sepa-
rated, and Dickerson was taken to the Surgical
Institute, where his wound given surgical
attention, after which he taken to the no
lice station and registered on the charge of as
sault with intent to kill. Russell was taken to
the City Hospital, but an examination shows
that he was not seriously injured at first
supposed. Besides scalp wound, he was rather
severely bruised about the shoulders, and is
probably disabled for tiIhe, but Dickerson is
the most seriously injured OF the two.