The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-03
A YOUNG DESPERATE KILLED
Alfred West, a Negro Work-House Pris-
oner, Murderously Assaults Guard,
And. After Desperate Fight. Is Shot Dead by
the Man He Tried to Kill. and Whose
Skull He Fractured with Stone.

Albert West. young colored man. until he
was sent to the work house. on Dec 80, caused
a great deal of trouble, not only in the family Of
his step-father. VIM. West but in the Yandes-
street neighborhood, where the latter lives.
The young desperado's mother, as well as her
husband, suffered from his abuse, and frequent
ly, without any provocation he would beat
them severely. The act that led to his arrest
arose from the step-fathers objections TO Albert
bringing to his house young woman with
whom he associated The last time this oc-
CURED was about the middle of December, when
Albert, in his fury, cut the step-father about
the head Just after the ARRAY. late at night,
the injured man and his wife went to Mayor
Dennys house and procured a warrant for the
sons arrest. But they did not appear in court
against the prisoner the next day, nor
on other days to which several con-
tinuances had been made. Finally
the prosecuting witnesses wsre brought
in TO court by an officer and gave evidence upon
which Albert was sent to the work-house for
thirty days, besides being fined $25 with costs.
The prisoners sweetheart was also q witness
against him and all gave MIN areputation OF
being dangerous man. The Mayor says he
ought to have been held for assault and battery
with intent to kill, but the prosecutor, no doubt
at the request Of the witnesses, confined the
charge to simple assault. The step-father.
mother and sweetheart were all afraid of the fell
low, who seemed to delight IL ARRAYS. After the
trial Albert threatened to kill the prosecuting
witness when he was released and this Mr.. West
dreaded. Day before yesterday West came TO
the Mayor to learn when Albert would be
leased and asked if some means could not be Ia
ken to keep the desperate from killing him. AS
far as as the father concerned he would like
to have had him kept in prison the balance of
his life.
Albert had about week more of his work
house sentence to serve and the officers the
were glad it was near end, they say he
had been troublesome prisoner. He never
worked willingly even at the lighte st labor and
he had such strong objection to breaking
stones that the guards were often compelled to
threaten him with punishment. Two gangs of
men are worked on the Stone-plle, one in the
morniu and the other in the afternoon. Young
West belonged to the morning gang, and
yesterday taken with the rest to the pile.
The guard, Ananas Stewart ordered him to
break into finer pieces the stone on which one
OF the afternoon gang bad been working.
West refused. Then I'll take you to the
dungeon said the guard.
81 yod try I'll break your d-n head with this
hammer, replied the prisoner.
Come with me" said Stewart as he caught
West by the arm. The prisoner did not attempt
to strike him as he had threatened. but quietly
walked along some distance Suddenly he
Jerked away from the guaro's grasp and ran to-
wards the gate with Stewart following and cry
ing out, stop, Til shoot:" West paid at
tention to the warning, but just as he reached
the gate Stewart caught him. West turned
about. and before the guard knew what the
prisoner after. the latter struggling to
get possession of the Winchester rifle Stewart
carried. Stewart wrested it from him. and step
ping back pace two, covered him with it.
West then threw several pieces of broken stones
at the guard, two of which hit him on the
head, cutting the temporal artery, and
the other fracturing the skull. Stewart.
then shot with direct aim. sending the bail into
Vests left side about two inches below the
shoulder. He dropped to the ground and died
within very few minutes Stewart then fell
and became unconscious, but under the treat
ment of DR.. Brennan and Coroner Wagner, who
had been summoned. he recovered suffice nty
to make ante -mortem sta tement in which
the facts, detailed above, given. His
condition is dangerous, but he has a chance for
recovery, if Inflammation does not take place..
He now lies at his home In North Indianapolis.
Vests body was taken to Ripley g Hedgs S
undertaking establishment. where the coroner
made post-mortem examination of the wound
It was afterwards, on being prepared for burial,
sent to the home of his step-father