The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-02
DEAD INSTANTLY.
SHOT
John A. Lyons Shot and Killed Yester-
dag Afternoon by Samuel Marley.
Fatally - Marley's Version of the
Difficulty and the Tragedy.

About o'clock yesterday afternoon while Patrol
man Edward F. Buscher was standing in front of
grocery square of the bridge
over White river he heard two pistol shots fred in
quick succession near the bridge. Looking round
he saw man standing the bridge with smoking
revolver in his hand, and another lying by the
walk struggling if in the agonies of death. He
to the spot The man with the revolver still stood
looking at the wounded man, through whose limbs
the death tremor passing The man
who had been shot was John A. Lyons for
many years well known resident of this city. anda
wholesale and retail dealer in glass and tinware and
general house furnishings ON West Washington and
South Delaware streets. The man who had done the
shooting Samuel Marley. lately the Dem
ocratc postmaster at Bridgeport In the
spring wagon which had brought Lyons to the place.
T. Peek of No. 416 West Washington street.
Marley at once surrendered himself to Patroiman
Rusoher and was taken to the stationhouse
Kregelo was summoned The body was conveyed to
the dead mans residence, No. 296 Virginia avenue
Coroner Stratford was at once summoned. On exam
nation he found bullethole in the upper part of
right nipple and little toward the breast bone.
The immediate by which the shots had
thirty six Old At the station house. last night
Marley made statement to the coroner,
giving among other things his version of
two weeks, and had been employed by him to
drive q wagon and buy old iron and rags since Mon
day last He had talked with him day before yester-
day, and their relations had been pleasant enough.
Marley had brought his team in, left it Friday
at Clark 81 Golfers livery stable The rule that
peddlers bringing in teams belonging Lyons should
take item to his stables at once. He. Marley, was
about the city all day yesterday and had started to
his home, in West Indianapolis, little after
o'clock. Beyond the bridge he met Major Lyons and
why don't you bring the team downs"
Marley answered that he thought he would leave it
till Monday morning. Lyons rephed
Il want you to bring it down. Somebody told me
you were trying to beat me-"
town and surrender to the police; but you will wait
till go home and get the money and bring it down,
or if you will pay the charges of the stable, will go
with you now and surrender myself"
Marley says that after saying this he turned, and,
starting away, said, II will bring the team down
Their" whereupon Lyons jumped out of the wagon.
and said You of a -" and struck him with
something. which knocked him senseless.
THAT is all understood" continued Marley II
think he must have struck me with the butt of his
whip. because he had the whip in his hand.
When to myself he was lying on me,
choking me. pulled pistol out of my hip pocket
and fired. | don't know whether shot more than
once. Lyons loosened his hold on me- started to get
up reeled and fell"
Once, while giving his statement Marley stopped
and asked if Lyons married man. He was told
that he not. II am glad of that said he, his
eyes filed with tears. He could not proceed for a
minute or two because of his emotions.
bad-looking scalp wound was found in the back
of Marley's head, where he said Lyons had struck
him. Marley, in his statement to the coroner said
he had shot about fifteen years ago, but on the
trial acquitted the ground that it was done in
selfdefense He had been in the penitentiary, when
BOY, charge of grand larceny, but had been par
doned the ground that he was innocent OF the
charge. He was appointed postmaster at Bridgeport,
last September and resigned in March, not by request
He is thrtyfve years old, lives at No. 107 Decatur
TnIi apoic and has uyifa and
children He is very harmless looking
The only person who heard all that said between
Lyons and Marley, and the fight which resulted
in the shooting, was Nathaniel I. Peck, cooper
living at No. 4l6 West Washington street. Hewas
carrying box along the road west of the river and
coming in this direction when he invited by Mr..
Lyons to ride with him. He accepted, and, when they
came near the bridge, saw Marley talking to some
women. Mr.. Lyons remarked: Wonder is man
want to talk to, and expect I'll have trouble with
him. for he is desperate man..
He drove up to where Marley and began talking
stable instead of to Lyons stable the peddlers
were always required to do Marley said he owed the
livery stable for keeping them, and could not then
get them out They talked there about of Lyonss
goods, which it appeared Marley had taken away and
had not properly accounted for. Lyons said "You
trying to beat me out OF them"
"Scr1ebody else took them, answered Marley.
'Thats too thin, said Lyons.
II haven't tried to beat you" replied Marley. Con-
Peek did not remember, had told Lyons lie him.
Lyons replied that nobody had said anything to him
about Marley.
Then" SAID Marley, IF he did not tell YOU no QUE
did,"
You are a liar" answered Lyons, now bring that
team home or will make it hot for you."
''You have threatened me twice, said Marley, now
get the team yourself if you want IT,
At this Lyons leaped out of the wagon, seized Mar
ley by the throat and struck him in the jaw with his
fist. Marley reeed and would have fallen.
but for the fact that Lyons held him
by the throat Then Mr.. Peck heard two
shots but did not who fred them. After the
of fho fvunYn fall Tn with
top and still holding Marley by the throat Then
followed the third shot, when Lyons relaxed his hold
tried to get up and fell. Mr. Peck at the beginning
of the fight got out of the wagon and had started
away before Lyon was killed