The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-16
BEEN DISCHARGED FROa CUSTODY.
The Mayor, After Hearing the Testimony Re-
garding the Killing Of Gill, AcQuits Him.

| PatrolmaI Beem, who shot and killed Charles
or Frank Gill, as his name now appears to be-
was arraigned before the Mayor yesterday morn
| ing for preliminary examination, formal charge
| of murder having been preferred against him by
Patrolman Hyland under instructions from Cap
tain ODonnelL He was defended by John s
| Duncan Mrs DR.. Atkinson who was at the door
of the drug store when the shooting oc
CURED was the first witness examined Her
attention had been attracted by the jumping OF
the horse, which was hitched to the curbstone.
She saw the two men struggling. and the negro
seemed to be beating back the patrolman She
saw Gill run past her after two shots had been
fired, and noticed that his clothing over his
breast was on fire.
In the afternoon the examination was contin-
ned. DR. E. F. Hodges said he Lad examined
the body, and found that death resulted from
the wound in the breast, the bullet having
pierced the great artery and the apex of the
lung, and come out lower down in the back
He thought Gill would weigh about $50
pounds, and that he was an exceedingly
powerful man, judging from his muscular de-
ve!opment He had found on BeemS neck an
abrasion. and blood. Acting Superintendent
O'Donnell testified to sending BEEN to the store
to watch. at Mr.. Langdons request BEEN,
after the shooting night before last, had. with
out hesitation, told the story of how it occurred
w. c. Langdon told of the thefts of money
from the grocery, of his complaint to the police,
and of BEEN having been shown the premises.
given key, and posted IN the store. He Lang
dom had thought that the thief came in through
the cellar. but had not suspected Gill;
E. Q. Wilson saw the two men scuffling, but
could not tell which was the patrolman or which
the negro. He heard two shots and saw one
man fall against the house He saw one man
run through Dryers drug store, with fire on his
breast, and saw the other man pursue him.
Oscar Schmidt saw the men, and thought they
were wrestling till he heard the shots. Coroner
Rocker testified that he had assisted Drs. Bren-
nan and Maxwell in part of the post-mortem
examination. Gill must have been powerful
man. as his arm, when relaxed. measured four
teen inches around. The third shot fired in the
alley was the one that struck Grill in the leg, as
the hole it made behind was smaller than the
one in 'front.'
Patrolman BEEN was himself placed on the
witness stand. His story was substantially
the same as that given yesterday II fired
the second shot," said he "to secure
the prisoner and project myself" The negro
after getting in the alley. had slowed
up in his running and given up without resist
lance, saying II won't run any more" John
Maxwell was examined, but testified to nothing
new.
The attorneys for the State and defense then
submitted their cases. the prosecutor stating
that there were other witnesses.
"Well," said Mayor Denny, if this is all the
evidence the State has expects to have see
no reason to bind the prisoner over. 1t is very
clear that no jury would convict on this testi-
mony, and | do not suppose any grand jury
would indict even for manslaughter, and GER
tainly not for murder. If, then, this is all the
testimony, gentlemen, have very little hesita-
ton in discharglng the prisoner"
The police were notified yesterday that Gill
had escaped from the Nashville penitentiary,
whore he had been sent three years ago. from
Gallatin, for grand larceny.
The police have found that he was the intimate
friend of the notorious bob" Chisholm, who has
given so much trouble to the authorities here.
The coored people yesterday were very freely
discussing the shooting and expressing them
selves to the effect that If Gill had been white
man he would not have been shot