The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-31
A RICHLY MERITED DEATH.
AMurderous Burglar Shot and Instantly
Killed at RrOad Ripple.
and Property-A Scoundrel Suddenly
Transformed Into Good Citizen.

A burglar met richly -merited fate at the
hands of Luther Kline, at the latter's store in
Broad Ripple, about o'clock last night, being
shot and instantly killed Kline keeps gen
eral store, nearly opposite the depot at the
village, and lives with his family in two
rooms adjoining, and in the rear of the
store. The rear room is used as
kitchen and dining room. the middle one as
sleeping room, and this opens into the grocery.
About o'clock, there being no one about the
place, Mr. Kline closed his store, and, surrounded
by his family, sat in the sleepipg-room reading.
A few minutes after the doors had been closed and
the lights put out Mrs. Kline heard knock at the
to it, At her suggestion he took his revolver
with him in answering the summons. He asked
two three times before opening the door who
the visitors were and what they wanted, to
which the only reply was that ''me' wanted in.
After moments delay he opened the door and
was confronted by two men, one Of whom ex-
pressed surprise at finding the store closed SO
early. and said he wanted to buy some tobacco.
At kline's invitation one of the men came in
side, but the other declined to enter, and stood
outside the door. Kline and his customer passed
through the kitchen and bedroom into the gro
Gerry. After the tobacco was handed out the
stranger, evidently for the purpose of gaining
time, asked for some crackers. While weighing
them, Kline suddenly heard his wife and baby
scream and, springing to the door, saw the second
man who had entered, clutching his wife by the
throat with one hand while with the other he
held cooked revolver to her face. The man in
the store sprang at Kline, who drew his revolver
and rushed into the sleepingroom, firing twice
at his wifes assailant he did so, unfortunately
without effect. The scoundrel in his rear fred
one shot at him and then erappled him from be-
hind, forcing him to the floor, the other joining
While this struggle was going on Mrs. Kline
stood screaming and two shots were fired by
the burglars singularly enough without effect.
Mr.. Kline was bent almost to the floor by the
weight of the man on his back, but managing
to free his right hand, he thrust his revolver over
his shoulder and fired. The bullet struck his as
sailant fairly in the ball of the right eye,
and was instantly fatal, the burglar fall
ing lfeless to the floor. Seeing his
companion fall, the other man ran from the room,
Kline firing the two remaining shots from his
revolver at him as he fed. with no appreciate
result, although he thinks the man was hit.
The man who escaped wore a black mask,
which was tied around his face so as to leave
only the eyes exposed. According to Mrs.
Kline's story he entered the room after her hus
band had accompanied the other one into
the grocery. and Immediately presented
his revolver to her face. She was dumb with
terror and sat down on the bed, completely un-
nerved. The man kept repeating in an under
tone an order for her to keep perfectly quiet,
and in louder voice to his confederate said.
Bring him out, bring him out" meaning for
him to force Kline into the same room. 1t was
evidently their object to get Mr.. and Mrs.
Kline together, where one man could cover
them with his revolver, while the other
ransacked the store. The little boy, six years
old, came running to his mother, seeing the dan
ger in which she was placed and the scoundrel
Knocked him down with a rough slap. At this
the mother screamed; the burglar seized her
throat, and at this moment Mr. Kline ran to her
assistance
The two men were first seen at Broad Ripple
about yesterday Pd left there
IDENTIFY put off before having gone far,
however, as they returned in less than one hour,
and for the remainder of the day being about
the village. The dead man was about twenty
five years old, smooth faced, with hair of red
dish brown, and would weigh about ITS pounds,
being tall and muscular There was nothing
about his person to furnish any clue to his
identity, except pawn-check calling for re-
volver, pawned by Thompson" at Solomon's
loanoffice on Christmas day. In his
hat was mark indicating that
it was bought at Arcola III. The man who
escaped was smaller, short, but not particularly
heavy set, and was called Frank by the man who
was killed The dead burglar was allowed to
lie just where he fell, with his revolver on the
floor beside him, as it fell from his grasp. After
the fell Hines little baby crept to the life
less body and climbed about over it while Mr..
Kline was caring for his wife. Although both
the coroner and police were notified i'm
medately. neither put in an appearance last
night. Coroner Stratford, however. telephoned
that he would be there early this morning.
Mr. Kline was greatly excited and completely
Frustrated from the shock to his nervous system,
and when seen by Journal reporter, two hours
after the shooting, was scarcely able to give an
Ineligible account of the affair. 1t was neces-
sary for Drs. Light and Bates to place him
under the influence of narcotics to quiet his
nerves, SO great was his excitement
A Harmless Shot.
At Martins brick -yard, FIVE miles from the