The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-13
GUS WILLIAMS IN CUSTODY
Tired ofAvoiding the Police He snrren-
ders Himself at the Station-House.
Ont of The City Four Days He Hid in
Barns and Suffered fer FOod-Why
He Killed VeEable.

Gus Williams. the murderer of Harden Vena
ble surrendered himself at the police station
last night at $50 o'clock, and twenty minutes
later his brother. Ben Williams who was mis-
taken for him and shot by police officers last
Monday night, died The police were hunting
for Williams all day yesterday 10 the woods near
Cumberland, east of the city and the few OFF,
GERS who we're at the station last evening
therefore considerably surprised when Timber
lake, the druggist on College avenue, telephoned
that Charley Williams, a brother of the fugitive,
had just telephoned from his store to Frank
Bird for hack, and had stated that he had his
brother, and was going to take him to the sta
tion-house Captain Colbert, who there
when the message came, went directly to
Birds stable, and accompanied the hackman to
house on Broadway, between Lincoln and
Home avenues. where Williams
to be met. When they reached the
place. however, they found that the
man wanted had gone with his brother
Before Captain Colbert got hack to the station
another message came stating that the fugitive
was hiding in the cellar of Nckum's bakery on
Christian avenue, and special officer Sorters
started out to investigate the report. Just
before he reached the corner of
Alabama and Washington streets he
met the fugitive murderer and his
brother. Gus Williams knew Sorters, and
greeted him with the remark, 81 am tired and
am going TO give myself up" Charley said that
when he first met his brother, at s o'clock in
the evening, the latter was afraid to 90 alone TO
the police officers house. and he had called for
the hack from T Undertakes store. Afterward
they decided to walk down street. He knew
nothing Of Guss presence in the city until after
o'clock last evening, when he received note
from him telling him that he would go to Ca pit.
RItter's house Broadway street ana ask for
something TO eat. and requested him to meet
him there at s o'clock Charley was there in
waiting when Gus came. and finally persuaded
him to surrender himself.
The fugitive. who has created so much inter-
est as to his movements in police circles during
the past week, did not look like dangerous
man as he STOOD before the turnkey while that
officer placed the charge of murder on the slate
against him. He had weapons him, and
said he had had none siucc the murder occurred.
All the stories about him being seen so often on
the streets, and about his making threats
against policemen were false. With reference
TO where he had been since the murder, he said
Immediately after the shooting he started for
the home of his brother Ben. The officers beat
him there however, but he was within square
OF the house when the shooting occurred He
changed bis course then, and went to Henry
Washln gton's an remained over night The next
morning he visited his vvonnoed brother and
then left the city. He went east into the
country and remained in the woods in the neigh
one meal in four days. and no officers hunt
ing him. He came back to the city Friday aft
ernoon. and on that night and Saturday and
Sunday nights, slept in Captain Rtter's barn.
No one knew he was sleeping there.
II came back for the purpose of giving myself
up,D he continued, but when heard the police
were hunting me with shotgups was afraid 20
venture out for fear thew would kill me-" Yes
terday afternoon he decided to consult his
brother to what best for him to do, and
accordingly sent him word TO meet him.
IN regard to the killing of Venable he said he
shot him because he had mistreated him, and
threatened to whip him. Venable, as the
prisoner tells it. in the habit OF visiting the
saloon. and wanted to manage il to suit himself.
ION the evening of the murder said he, EVEN
able was continually bossing me, and threaten
ing to whip me. and concluded to shoot him"
The death of Ben Williams was unexpected.
He had been apparently improving gradually
until last evening. when he suddenly grew
worse and died few minutes before 10 o'clock
Now that the shooting has terminated fatally a
fuller investigation to how it occurred will
be made. Just before his death Williams
stated that the shot that killed him
was not fred by patroman Spears A post
norton examination will be held this morning
for the purpose of learning from what direction
the fatal shot was fired. The grand jury has
already examined some WITNESSES in regard to
the matter.