The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-25
SHOT BY A POLICE OFFICER.
A Negro Receives a Fatal Wound While
Fleeing from the Police.
Charles Travis. Driver of the Patrol Wagon,
Fires the Shot-A Probable Murder at
"Sleigho" Early this Morning.

Robert Smith, a negro who has frequently
figured rather conspicuously in the police courts,
was shot this morning shortly before 2 o'clock,
by Charles Travis, the driver of the patrol wag-
on, and his wounds will probably result fatally.
The patrol wagon was called to the northwest
ern section of the city, about half past
l o'clock, to convey "Curly" Williams,
a notorious female character, to the police
station. She was held at the engine-house, in
the neighborhood, and when the wagon
arrived she requested the officers
to drive over to her home to get
her child, an infant of two years, which could
not be left alone during her Imprisonment.
This they consented to do, and while Oh
the way to the place, cries of Help! Murder!"
were heard. Travis left Officer Stout on the
patrol wagon to look after the Williams woman,
and started out to learn where the
cries come from and what caused them.
out locating the trouble, the Williams woman
said that she knew where the cries came from.
and directed the officers to the house of
John Rounds, No. 20 Darnell street.
When Travis reached the place,
he heard the cries for help repeated, and the
noise made indicated that there was a desperate
fight in progress inside the house. AS Travis
approached, a man ran out of the rear door,
whom he at once started to pursue,
calling out to him to halt The fellow, however,
paid no attention to his command. Travis fred,
without aim, as he declares, and with his revol-
yer pointed downwards. The fugitive was
a - 1s-z-I Ia. lit H. z-a - ~-z-1I
according to his story, have been we'll
nigh impossible for the shot to have
struck the fleeing man without passing
through a stable which was between them in
their relative positions at the time. The fugi-
tive jumped a fence after the
two SPECTATORS. William Petty and William Will
son, followed after him, finding him lying on
the opposite size, whore he had fallen. The fell
low was carried to the patrol wagon and brought
to the police station, where he was identified as
Robert Smith. Police Surgeon Hodges was
called to attend the wounded man and found, upon
examination. that the bullet had entered in the
back just below the shoulder. and passed through
the body, lodging in the flesh in front,
was unconscious from the time that
he arrived at the police station,
and DR.. Hodges said at half past 2 o'clock that
he was dying. He doubted if he would live un-
til he could be removed to the hospital.
According to the statements made at the
police station by Travis, the officer, who did the
shooting, and Petty and Williams. who wit
messed the trouble. there is some
probability that Smith received his
death wound inside the Rounds house,
which, the police claim, is not a very reputable
place. Smith is a disreputable fellow.
and has been under arrest frequently.
He was acquitted Of the charge of
assault and battery with intent to kill a colored
woman named johnson, on last Monday, owing
to conflicting evidence which failed to establish
his guilt.