The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-01-06
A VILLAGE TRAGEDY.
Luther Cline, Of Broad Ripple, Puts Very
Efsetual Stop to Robbery.
A Would-Be Assassin and RObber Meets a
Deserved Fate at the Hands of
PIncky DrugGist-FuII Account
Of the Tragedy.

Broad Ripple, little hamlet on the banks
Of White River, eight miles north of the
city, the scene of the l., n. A. and c. bridge
disaster, in which several persons lost their
lives TWO years ago, witnessed a tragic oc-
cnrrence between and Z o'clock last even
ing, IN which one man lost his life, and, ex-
cept for the poor aim of a quiet ciJizen's re-
yOlver, another might happily have been
added TO the scOre-
About 80 O'Clock Luther Cline, the only
druggist in the village of Broad Ripple,
closed and locked the front door OF his store
and made his way 10 the dining room, which
IS situated at the rear end OF the building.
bed room being between it and the store
room. While in conversation wish his wife
a rap was heard at the back door, and for
sOmo reason which he himself can not ex-
plain Mr.. Cline placed revolver in his
pocket before opening it. When the door
was opened two men were standing upon the
outside. and when asked what they wanted
replied that they wished to get some
tobacco Cline invited them in and led the
way through the dining-rOom 10 the store
room and bed-roo into the store. Upon
reaching the door which leads from the bed
room to the stOre-I DOM, and being but fairly
into the latter Cline noticed that but one Of
the men was following him.
Where is your partner said he.
Ga, SCOT the tO0thache, - responded the
stranger.
At this moment Mrs Cline was heard to
scream and her husband noticed that the man
for whom he had inquired. had his hand
upon Mrs. Cline's throat, and a moment af-
leIot = sI,a -,
slant Cline drew his revolver and fired at the
man whose hands were upon the throat of
his wife, and just as he did so the party near
est him presented his pistol and fired, the
ball passing close to Mr.. Cline's face. Cline
then cooked his pistol again, but being in
sassin, the latter threw his arms
around Cline's neck and attempted
to grab his pistol hand. Disengaging his
arm in a moment, Cline turned the revolver
squarely 10 the face of his assailant. There
was fash, and with a groan the man fell
backward into the room, where his partner
was struggling with Mrs. Cline.
With the fall OF his companion, Mrs
Clines assailant rushed toward the rear door,
and was followed by a ball from the pistol of
the husband but whether or not it took
effect is not known. Certainly, how
ever, he was not so seriously wounded as to
impede his flight. The several shots aroused
=
entire village was coDgregated in and around
the Cline domicile. Mrs. Cline was almost
Frustrated by the shock, and the house pre-
sented a disOrdeTed appearance, owing TO
the struggle which had taken place
An examination of the dead man showed
that the ball had entered the inner corner
of the left eye and had passed
directly through the brain. caus-
ing instantaneous death. He was
recognized as one of two men who had been
looking around the village during the day.
and who were strangers to the inhabitants
OF the village. He was evidently lot more
than twenty-five or twenty-three years old,
stout heaYy-Set. dark complexion and dark
hair and eyes He wore stiff hat and a
dark sack coat and there was nothing upOa
his person TO indicate his name or place OF
residence.
The building IL which the tragedy Oc-
Cured was recently erected by Dir. Cline,
and is directly opposite the l., ~.
A. and &. passenger station, 'front.'
ing East. The ground floor, con-
taiDs three rooms, the first being the drug
store, the next family room. and immedi-
ately 20 the rear of this the dining room or
kitchen. The doors are so arranged that one
can readily see from the store room into the
kitchen, but the rear door is not on a line
with the Others, being little to the south,
but in the west end OF the building. The
following diagram drawn from necessarily
hasty visit will help the reader to under
stand the situation: