The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-15
A BURGLAR SHOT ANDKILLE
The Fatal Result of q Negroes Attempt
to Escape from Police Officer.
Charles Gill Caught in the Act of Burglariz-
ing Store, and Shot by Patrolman
BEEN While Trying to Get Away.

Charles Gill. the colorei porter at the Stewart
Place, was shot and killed at $50 o'clock last
night by Patrolman Seth P. BEEN. The shoot
ing occurred 10 front OF Langdon's grocery IN
der Stewart Place. The people living in that
neighborhood were startled by hearing two
shots. one closely following the other. Gill was
seen to run around the corner and east on I'LL
nois street to the first alley running south. He
took down the alley closely followed by BEEN.
who fired one shot after they had got into the
alley. The regro, on reaching the intersection
of the alley with that running east from Illinois
street, ran east nearly to Meridian street, and
was there caught by BEEN, who led him back
to Illinois street. Before the latter street had
been reached. however, Gill sank to the ground.
a stretcher was at once procured, and he was
taken to Warmers undertaking establishment,
just across the street He died in few minutes
after reaching there. A large crowd was at once
attracted to the front of the Stewart Place, and
around the doors of the undertaking establish
ment. The body of Gill was laid out on board
in the back room, and BEEN remained in the
place for half an hour, when he was placed un-
der arrest by Superintendent ODonnell, and,
after putting on a citizens coat and hat, was
taken by three police officers to the station
house. The crowd Of negroes looked little
ominous at one time but attempt at inter
ference was made, although a considerable
crowd followed to the police station.
On Friday last the police were notified by
William @. Langdon, who keeps the grocery
store at the Stewart Place, that for four or FIVE
weeks some one had been stealing small sums of
money from a tea canister in the back part OF
the store, where a little change was always left
at night for the use of the clerk in the morning.
before the safe was opened. Altogether about
$50 had been taken. $50 at one time SIS at another
time, and smaller sums on other occasions It
was thought that no one except the clerk and
the colored man employed in the store knew
where the money was kept Friday night BEEN
thief, but saw no one On Sunday night the
tea-cannister was robbed of So cents. Last
night, at o'clock, BEEN vas again placed in
the store to watch. About $50, according to his
statement to the coroner. he saw the cellar door,
where he was sitting slowly raise and
Gill crawl up into the store The door was care
fully let down. 'and the negro crawled In the
direction of the tea canister. BEEN at once
covered him with his revolver, the negro threw
up his hands and cried, Don't shoot give up"
q.
but no weapon was found. At the door
BEEN put a, pair of nippers on ono of
the Negroes hands, keeping hold of one side of
the nippers with his own hand. He then COM
PEELED Gill TO unlock the door, and after they
had gone out to lock it. Thinking he would
have no trouble with his man, he put his revolver
in his pocket and started with Gill to the station
house. They had moved only step or two
when Gill struck BEEN in the side of the face
twice, staggering him. BEEN drew his revolver
and fired at the ground He caught hold of the
negros coat, and was hurled back against horse
standing at the side of the pavement He then
fired again at the negro, and the latter ran. The
second shot was the one which proved fatal. AS
was afterwards found, it entered the chest above
the heart and cut the great artery. The shot
fired at the ground made a flesh wound in the
negro's leg.
Gill was stalwart negro, about thirty years
of age. He lived at the corner of North and
Ellen streets, and leaves a wife and child, the
latter baby only week old. He was known
to some as Charles Porter. He had been en-
ployed for about year as porter at the Stewart
Place, and had been industrious and seemingly
honest He was somewhat given to drink He
had entered Langdons grocery by going down in
the cellar of the Stewart Place and crawling
through hole into Langdon's cellar, and thence
through the cellar door to the store
Patrolman BEEN has been on the force about
two years He is thirty-one years old, and UNI
married He is regarded as one Of the most
excellent one He is an extra" and has been
assigned by the superintendent to the class of
work in which he was engaged last night He
will doubtless be examined by the Mayor this
morning.