The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-25
THE CONAUGHTON MURDER.
Merchant Policeman Isaacs's Prelimina-
ry Trial Results in His Acquittal.
Contradictory Stories Told on the Witness
Stand as to Who Fired the Shot
That Proved Fatal.


The first that ne was innocent. When Mr.. Isaacs
came into court he was accompanied by his son
and grown daughter, who took seats beside
him inside the bar. Before the taking of evil
dence began, the charge was changed from
shooting with intent to kill to murder.
The witnesses examined during the morning
were Captain Campbell, Sergeant Sauers,
Patroman Slate, Constable Reinhold and spe-
cial Waterman Elmer Mcclure. The exam
ination of the police developed nothing more
than has already been published. Reinhold and
Sauers disagreed on having seen Isaacs at the
scene of the shooting. Reinhold said the man
whom he supposed to be Isaacs came up to
Sauers and himself while they were talking,
and they both talked to him. Sauers said he
saw nothing of Isaacs. and was of the opinion
that he was not on the ground at ALL
Patrolman Slate followed Sauers on the stand.
He was the first to assist the wounded man,
and when ne approached him, Conaughton said:
II am shot through the heart"
''You are not; you are only drunk" was States
reply.
NO" answered Conaughton, II am shot, and
1t tall man wearing a mnstache who shot
me. He went toward New Jersey street.
Slate started to walk Conaughton out to the
avenue, out naQ only gone q Few steps WneH ne
discovered the really shot. and, meet
ing Captain Campbell, the patrol wagon was
called, and the wounded man taken to the sta
tionhouse
Reiuhold. in his testimony, after giving the
facts relative to his attempt TO arrest Conaugh-
ton as previously stated said that he MAD just
fired two shots when Conaughton climbed the
fence, when he met Sergeant Sauers. Sauers
had just asked him what the trouble was, when
TWO more shots were fired from down the ave-
L. -. ~ NJ ofA0 Nav
started to run, Sauers taking the lead and after
they had entered the yard some sixty feet, they
stopped to see which wav the sounds came from,
and it was at that moment a man came up who
ne thought, was lsaacs The man. whoever he
was. said, THE man is back here under some of
shese cars At no time, he said, did ne point his
sevolver at Conaughton.
Elmer Mcclure, the night clerk at the c., H
IL l. freight depot, relates the circumstances
that called him to the scene, and az he ran
toward Conaughton he saw man leaving him.
Conaughton told him the man who was walking
away was the one who did the shooting The
man WAS walking toward New Jersey street. and
be ran and overlook him. The man. he was posi-
tive was Isaacs. Witness said to him, "Hold
on. who did that shootngT and Isaacs replied.
1.-THE man has gone up New Jersey street"
"Why don't you arrest him." said MCGUIRE. to
which Isaacs replied, ''Reinhold did the sh oot-
ing" To relieve any Doubt that he might have
as TO the man being Isaacs, Mcclure says he
conversation with him.
On cross examination Mcclure admitted that
he did not know who he was talking to at the
time save that the man was dressed as police
officer, and that when he returned to the scene
of the shooting and described him. Sci geant
Sauers said it was Isaacs Afterwards he iden-
titled him At the police station, and in answer to
direct question by the State. said he could not
have been mistaken in the man. lsaacs, he
sad wore slouch hat and carried a slim cane.
Dr. Hodges who removed the ball from the
body of .Conaughton, testified that it was from
41-caliber revolver, and was fired from the rear
of the dead man.
Patrolman Wilson, who was coming to roll
call was diagonaly across the street when the
first two shots fred. He saw the fash of
Renhold's revolver. and was running across the
street when two more shots were fired. The last
shots came from Virginia avenue. He saw the
flashes of the revolver, and he thought the shots
had been discharged in the air He saw all the
other persons mentioned on the ground, but did
not see Isaacs. While they were moving the
wounded man he asked Reihold who did the
shooting. Renhod replied that he thought it
was Isaacs. He and PatrOlman Slate arrested
Isaacs on his beat, on Illinois street When ar
rested he wore An overcoat and fur cap and
carried cane He had no revolver with him
and said no had left IL at Lewarks livery stable.
Isaacs claimed he knew nothing of the shoot
Ing when they arrested him. and was greatly
surprised when they told him for what they
wanted him.
Henry Meyer, residing at No 103 East Wash
ingten street. testified that he was coming up
Virginia avenue, and was in front the house of
Mrs. Fresher when the shooting occurred. He
stopped when the first two shots were fred, and
in about four seconds man about twenty FIVE
feet in trout of him. on the avenue, fired two
Shots put his revolver in his side coat pocket,
and passing him, walked briskly down the ave-
nue.. The mau stood directly in front of the
scale sheds in the yard. and shot through them
into the yard where Conaughton was running
The man who did the shooting was not over Ave
feet six inches high, young-looking wore a sack
coat, without any overcoat, and SLOUGH hat
He did not try to stop the man. because he was
scared himself He afterward went over to
where Conaughton was, and heard him say that
it was the last shot that hit him.
Superintendent Travis was called TO the stand,
and compared the ball that came out OF Conaugh-
tors body with Isaacs's revolver. He gave il az
his opinion that the bail did not come out of
Tsaacs's revolver as 1t too small, the gun be-
ing ~ and the ball evidently 4lcaliber.
Captain Colbert was also requested to make n
comparison and agreed with Travis that the ball
was a different caliber from the revolver belong
ing to Isaacs
j. W. Billinesworth. who resides out on the
Madison road, testified that he was in Lewarks
livery stable on Wednesday evening about
o'clock. when Isaacs came in, and APP
peared TO be greatly excited about some
thing. He called the man in the Of
Gee out. and talked with him some time, and
Wncn Lney uHu UulSfltu ut Nedru lSaAcS saw
''Don't you give it away" On cross-examina-
zion he didn't know but that it was Monday
evening he was at the stable
Katie Isaacs, daughter of the accused. said her
father left home about o'clock for his beat
He wore his cap. and his SLOUGH hat is still at
home.
Beck the gunsmith, was called in as an expert
to compare the bullet with Isaacss revolver, and,
after making careful comparison. he gave it as
his positive opinion that the ball did not come
out Of Isaacss revolver.
Eighteen witnesses. business men on Wash
ington and Illinois streets, testified to the fact
that lsaacs was on his beat continually from g. 10
o'clock until he was arrested. He was in
their stores, and they were able to
hx the time by their clerks going
20 supper, they having regular hours to come
and go. Mr.. lsaacs was traced from Lewark 8
stable, where he arrived few minutes past 6
o'clock, and where he left his rubber coat and
revolver, TO Sim Coys saloon, where he took q
drink at 6:30. and from there to the Occidental