The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-31
THE WIFE N
SHOT DEAD BY OFFICERS.
A Murderous Asssait on Colored Family by
a Numbez Of Armed Law officers.

DALLAS Te,., Jan. 30.-The shooting affray
reported from here yesterday proves to be a seri-
GUS affair Only three persons were shot, but
the developments are sensational, and attracting
almost universal attention. All the parties shot
were colored-Jesse Bonner, a middle aged man;
Margaret Young. his step daughter, aged five
years. and Henry johnson, aged eighteen years.
Bonner was instantly killed, and the other two
fatally wounded. Detective Duncan. of Dallas,
and Deputy Sheriff Seely, of Freestone county,
who did the killing, will stick to the statement
made by them, that they went to Bonner's house
to arrest him as horse-thief. and were fired
upon by parties inside with shotguns and pistols,
and that they returned the fires; that the killing
was done in self defense, but the remarkable
feature of the tragedy is that neither of the off,
GERS received scratch. Officers who have made
thorough investigation of the premises assert
that all the bullet-holes found in the house show
that they were made from shots fred inward
grom the door OF the cabin, through which the
officers entered. and that no evidences were dis
covered of shots fired outward by the occupants
of the cabin. The evidence taken before the JUS
tice is yonminous, and the jury returned q YER
diet that Bonner's death was caused by gunshot
wounds inflicted by shots fired from weapons in
the hands of one Seely and two other parties, to
the jury unknown. Duncan admits being with
Sceiy, and shooting, but the witnesses from
among the occupants of the house only
was is q mystery. The story of the
negroes with surrounding circumstances, makes
IL appear credible, and is far different from the
statements of Duncan and Seely. Robert John
SON said he had just returned to the house from
work, with his brother Henry. whom two men
rushed in and began firing without saying a
word. Bonner fell, as did also the little girl
johnson and his brother ran outside. and there
Henry was shot down by another man. Joseph
inc Davis. who was in the house at the time Of
the shooting, testified TO the same effect Dun
can and Sesly are still in custody at the county
jail. and the grand jury, now in session. is in
vestigating the tragedy. The opinion prevails
that indictments for murder will be returned
against Duncan and Seely. Public opinion. as
expressed on the streets and in public places. is
net complimentary to them in connection with
the tragedy.
Another report says: IA good deal of excite
ment was created here to-day on the announce
ment of new and horrible theory touching the
killing of Jessie Bonner and other negroes.
Thursday night, by Deputy Sheriff Seely, of
Freestone county, and Detective Duncan, of
this city. who surrendered themselves A visit
to the scene of the shooting shows that Bonners
fveyear old child was shot through the fore
head. and Robert johnson, colored was shot in
the knee. The evidence at the inquest thus far
tends to show that the shooting was entirely
unprovoked. Bonner was sitting in his cabin,
with his child on his knee, when the officers
burst in and began shooting. The negroes had
weapons. Witnesses testify that there were
three white men in the party. One
stood outside and shot johnson as he ran
away. The belief is growing that the killing was
cold blooded murder. The colored population are
agitated. Constable Miller says that the state
ment of the negroes is corroborated by the ap-
pearance of things The officers have ascertained
that just before Duncan and Seely gave them
selves up Duncan took breech-loadine shot
gun to the Brothers saloon at Main and Syca-
more streets, and requested Joe Black to keen it
until called for, remarking Il guess we've made
a bad killing" Late last night the sheriff ar
rested as the third aggressor, detective Of
Jack Duncan's corps known as Loosely" Dun
can and Seely are locked up in one cell, and
Loosely in another. 1t is the impression that
Loosely" will turn States evidence