The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-24
WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE FUN.
The white Elephant" Proprietor Shoots
Stranger, and Gets Roughly Handled.

Yesterday, L. Fl. Van Marter, proprietor Of tie
White Elephant saloon, on Massachusetts
avenue, near Alabama street. went to the
knights of Labor picnic at Emerich's grove
James Owens accompanied him. and they had
supplies in the bottom of their buggy that told
of purpose to get the most out of the day at
any cost. They had plenty of whisky box of
cigars, and a 81 caliber seven shooter About
9 o'clock in the morning they reached the
grounds, when Van Marter began to make him
self conspicuous. He said II came out here to
have fun, and will get it if have to kill some
body" He mingled with the crowd, and seemed
deslrous to let everybody know that he had on
him for the occasion particular wildness of dis
position. Owen supported him, resulting in
numerous quarrels, with the two on one side and
persons who had nerve enough to resent
their insults. Nothing serious occurred until
about half past o'clock last evening, when
Van Marter came in contact with belligerent
stranger. Owen sitting in the buggy wait
ing for his friend, as the festivities had closed,
and parties crowding to the express
wagons for their return to the city. The
stranger resented an assertion of Van Marter by
knocking him down: young man helped the
proprietor of the White Elephant" to his buggy,
and, turning about, had gone short distance,
when he heard pistol shot, He ran back and
found the stranger with a shot through the calf
of his leg In the meantime, the firing was
kept up, and resulted in Silas Eaglen, of Hills
saloon, receiving wound in the lower part of
the left thigh. The wounds in both cases were
painful but not serious.
Owen, it is said fired the first shot, and then
Van Marter, taking the revolver from him.
jumped out of the buggy and continued shooting
at the crowd The buggy was overturned by
Owen in his attempt to drive away from num-
Der of people who rushed toward him and his
companion Van Marter was caught by the
buggy falling on him. Part of the assaulting
party dragged him out and gave him an ugly
beating on the head with sticks, fists and clubs.
Another party, having captured Owen, gave him
the same treatment An active committeeman
or two persuaded the heaters to desist. Van
Marter went to another part of
the ground, and escaped arrest until
superintendent Lang and Sergeant Lowe
started out to look for him. They passed him
in the road near the picnic ground, hatless and
badly dazed. "eturnng the officers found him
lying under tree, suffering from his wounds.
Van Marter told who he was, and seemed anx
lous to be taken somewhere to be cared for. At
the station house Dr. Hodges attended to his
wounds besides putting his arm in place. 1t
had been dslocated while the crowd tried to
tear him to pieces. He was locked up for shoot
ing with intent to kill Owen, arrested by Ser
geants Travis and Sauer. also received the Doc
tors attention, after which he was placed in q
cell to await trial for assault and battery The
stranger was brought to the city in Van Mar
ters buggy, but when nobody knew. Eaglen
got home without assistance.