The Indianapolis journal., 1888-12-10
JAMES BRUCE'S ASSAILANT
A Letter Gives Detectives an Easy Clew
to George Hackers Whereabouts.
He Is Found on Shelby County Farm, Where
He Went Directly After Leaving the
City-A Socialists Idea of Right.

George Hacker, who tried to kill James
Bruce, the virgina-avenue baker, last Monday
morning. was arrested yesterday and placed be-
hind the bars at the station-house. on the
charge of attempted murder. The arrest was
made by detectives Thornton and Joyce. AS
Hacker went away on the morning OF the as
sault without taking any of bis effects with him,
the officers thought that in u few days he would
be writing to his landady to send him his
clothes, and so made arrangements that In case
any letter came they should be permitted to see
it Saturday evenings mail brought e letter
addressed to the woman with whom Hacker
boarded. 1t was signed Theodore Fisher and
asked that Hackers clothes be sent to Henry
Fisher at Waldron, Shelby county. The mana
writing was compared with that OF Hacker, ana
the detectives sew at once that the letter was
from him, and that Theodore Fisher was an
assumed name Detectives Thornton and joyce
took the o'clock train for Shelbyville yester-
day morning. Arriving there they procured
carriage and were driven TO tho little village OF
Waldron. where they arrived just before day
light. Henry Fisher, they ascertained, was
farmer living mila from the town. Driving
to his home they found Mr.. Fisher had
just got out of bed They ssked him
if there was a man stopping at his house named
Theodore Fisher, and he said there was. but
where the young man slept, the ofncers
recognized George Hacker, snoring as
soundly as though he had not been guilty OF
any crime. He did not seem to be surprised
when be was aroused, and he said he was ready
70 go back 10 the city. Farmer Fisher was
greatly surprised at the arrest. however. he
had not suspected that be had been harboring
would d-be murderer. Hacker was good at husk-
ing corn, and the farmer had taken quite fancy
to him, as had ell the members OF his family
10
prisoner at noon yesterday, and during the
afternoon many people called at the station
house to see the young man. he does not nave
this appearance of a man who would commit
crime He is OF spare frame, fair complexioned.
blueeyed German and has rather kindly and
intelligent expression on his face. He talked
freely about his attack on Bruce and his former
life. He said he was born In Bavaria, Ger
many, twenty-sour years ago, his father mold
ing the position of tax collector. The pris.
came TO America six years ago ana
has been in Indianapolis nearly ever since. he
attended a German college Six years, ana MS
conversation leaves the impression that he Is
we'll educated. He is Socialist of the most
radical type. When Journal reporter asked
him if he was not Socialist his face lighted
up he replied: "Yes, and am glad of it. L
studied socalstic books all the time was In
college. and have been studying the question
ever since came to America. have friends in
Germany who regularly ient me all the latcst
books on the subject"
"You are not bslisver in anarchyp
!. II ~. am bi.v not that radical eod Anarchists IN
President or any laws. They believe man
should be free agent to do and act rs he
pleases. We do not 60 that far. We believe IN
some laws, but we believea q man should have
what is due him if he has to get it by force"
"Why did you attempt 90 murder MIR. Brucef'
because he owed me money. He was pay
ing me $10.50 q week when he ought TO have
paid me Sl3 so. He ought to have paid me that
much every week for year and half which
made over 5000 that was due me. was the
best baker he ever had and he didn't pay me
enough. Much of the time did the work of two
mon, but he only paid me for one. Bruce was
too religious do not like these religious people
They turn money over in their hands too many
times before they give it to man who does
their work. / made up my mind would 90 TO
the bakery at midnight, and when Bruce went
to work to demand the 5000 from him, and il he
refused to give IL to me- TO 40 him. sat up
Sunday night waiting for the time to come, and
at midnight hid in the bakery. When he came
in I told him he owed me $500. He said he
didn't and struck him with the hatchet had
brought with me. 1 think when q man owes
you something that's yours, and wont pay you,
you ought to make him"
Ibid you ever have any trouble with Mr.
Bruceln
.No 1 always liked him and all his family;
but he was too religious and wouldn't pay me
what he owed me-"
was to pay you sl3 so q week instead Of slOP
''No but that was what was worth, because
did two mems work"
The prisoner said that after Mrs. Bruce bad
caught him trying to kill her husband, he went
to bis boarding house, and taking an overcoat
belonging to another boarder started south into
the country. He walked the remainder OF the
night, and all day Monday, and Monday night
slept in corn. field down in Shelby county.
Tuesday night he was directed to farmer
Fishers house, and the thought struck him TO
assume the name Of the man to whom he was
going to apply for WORK. The farmer was to pay
him $S per month. He was not hurt in the
fight with Bruce, as was supposed. His face
was bruised ir one or two places, and one Of his
hands was cut. When arrested he had on the
same shirt he wore on the night of the assault,
and the bosom still spotted with blood.
Several persons, he says, asked bim about the
blood, and be told them his nose had been bleed
ing. He says be has plenty of friends, and will
get out of the trouble all right.
Mr.. Bruce is slowly recovering from his injur-
les. but he will not be able to be in court for
several weeks. He said last night that he did
not desire to appear against his assailant.