The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-07-04

MRS. IDA NAY ALEXANDER.
jubilant over the refusal to grant new
trial, shouted to the prisoner:
"Stand up and take your medicine"
The prisoner then slowly arose and
Judge Irwin sentenced him TO two years
at hard labor in the states prison north
for the crime OF forgery. He accepted the
result coolly and was at once taken back
to the jail
Johnson's manner in the courtroom
was such as to cause apprehension lest he
would again attempt to take Alexander's
life. He looked wild and excited, and
kept muttering something constantly. He
finally left the courtroom.
During the afternoon and early evening
Johnson was seen at downtown resorts
and was drinking heavily. His conduct was
strange, but not unusually so. One
moment he would be rejoicing over Alex
ander's conviction and the next
he would talk half incoherent-
" about his ''wife" He was
at the Bates house bar after supper for
short time and before leaving the hotel
went into Merchant Tailor Williams
place and said to him:
"Good bye; you will not see me again"
at the same time extending his hand.
Mr.. Williams paid little attention to
the incident at the time, thinking that
Johnson had simply been drinking little
too much.
Shortly after supper, Mrs. Alexander
formerly Mrs. Johnson), accompanied by
her sister, Mrs. Kistner and little daugh-
ter, went out for a walk. They were on
Westinghouse. and in that vicinity until
about $500 clock, when they started home.
Mrs. Kistner occupies the old English
residence on the Circle, adjoining the
Hotel English, and, leaving Washing
ton-st., the party went north on Merid-
ian-st. to the Circle, and then started
around, going past the Brunswick. As
they neared the Circle hall building Mrs.
Alexander shrank back in abject terror,
and turned quickly. In the shadow of
the old building stood Johnson, watching
and waiting for her. He caught sight OF
his former wife Just as she turned, and at
once pursued her.
AS Mrs. johnson passed the Ross block
corner with the infuri ated man close be-
hind her she shrieked:
Don't let him kill me-"
Those who heard this appeal did not
know what she meant but il they had
understood the full meaning it would
then, no doubt, have been too late to rem
der assistance.
A moment later a shot was fired and
then another and another in rapid success
sion. The first shot, it seems, struck
plate glass window of the office OF the Iron
Iall ha a,rfx NIL cfrr Nr
D. r. Barrett, travelling man, who was
sitting in front OF the Brunswick hotel, in
flicting a painful flesh wound in the
shoulder.
The third shot struck the terrorized
woman in the back, and with an awful
shrek that was heard a square
away she fell TO the sidewalk. The
would-be murderer was so close in pur-
suit that he stumbled over her PROSTATE
form. Then there was a momentary
pause which was broken by the fourth
and last shot, which Johnson fired into
his own body, aiming at his heart. Mrs.
Alexander struggled to rise and was on
her knees when help arrived, but john
son lay on his back as if dead.
1t was about :45 o clock when the shoot
ing had occurred, and in ten minutes all the
wounded persons had been removed
Mrs. Alexander to the home of her sister,
Mrs. Kistner, with whom she had been
living; Mr.. Barrett 10 the Hotel English,
and Johnson to the Brunswick and sub
sequently 10 the city hospital. Great
crowds congregated at the scene of the
tragedy and there was intense excite
ment.
Umpire T. J. Lynch, who is stopping at
the Brunswick hotel, gives very graphic
description of the shooting. He says that
as soon as the first shot was fired he and
his wife rushed TO the window and were
just in time 10 see the white skirts of a
woman disappear in the Iron hall en-
trance, while little girl was fleeing for
her life toward the hotel. Another shot
was fired almost Immediately, and
simultaneously there was the crack
of a plate glass. Mrs. Alexander
rushed out, closely pursued by Johnson.
He rapidly gained upon the unfortunate
woman, and just as she got in front OF the
saloon entrance of the Brunswick he fired
again. He was only about four feet be-
hind her at the time and Mrs. Alexander
fell upon her face. Johnson, unable to
check himself, tripped over his victim and
fell upon the pavement with face up
turned. Mr.. Lynch says that the scene
presented below was a most tragic one,
and never TO be forgotten. AS the fren-
zied and wronged husband lay upon the
pavement he slowly stretched his neck
backward and, cooking the revolver, placed
the weapon over his heart and fired.
Hundreds of people, attracted 10 the spot
by the sound OF the weapon, then blotted
out the sight.
The stories with regard to the shooting
are very complicated, and no one seems
TO be able to give a correct account OF it
from beginning TO end. Some spectators
say that johnson was sitting on the steps
OF the Ross block waiting for Mrs Alex
ander to put in an appearance, and that
as soon as she saw him she attempted to
yetraee her steps, but was headed off and