The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-01

MARION, Oct. 25.-Special.-The town
of Summitville was the scene last night
of a wholesale attempt at plumber and
destruction.
About six weeks ago a man named
George Straud went to Summitviile from
Orestes, near Alexandria, and secured a
position as night Waterman. About ten
days ago he divulged to a number of
merchants a well-pianned scheme fn'
burglarizing and burning number Of
business establishments at that place.
He had been admitted to their councils,
and was thoroughly informed as to their
plans. What was his original purpose
in joining the gang is said to be in
doubt, but at any rate he gave the
scheme away.
Different dates had been set for the
raid, and the general stores of Wilkins,
Rosebaum and McNabney, three differ
ent establishments, We're selected for
pillage. After they had been depleted
as far as possible of their contents, they
were to be burned to conceal the crime.
At each time set for the raid up TO
last night one obstacle or another APP
peared, and the attempt was postponed.
The merchants had been on the alert.
and it is supposed that the surface III
dications were not encouraging TO the
marauders.
Last night, however. they appeared.
All the foregoing establishments were
well guarded, but the Wilkins store be-
ing the first to be visited. Amos Coburn,
deputy sheriff, stationed himself there
and awaited the onset. Pat Harmon and
d. Fennimore were also present.
About 1 o'clock a window in the rear
of the building was raised and the body
of Frank Goodman was half through if
when Deputy Sheriff Coburn ordered
him to throw up his hands. Instead OF
that Goodman began to pour the con-
tents of a revolver in Coburn's neigh
borhood. The latter had two revolvers
and the three were empIied before the
burglar retreated. When he did retire
he carried a bullet wound in the aldo
men, from which he is not expected C
| live Coburn also received a shot, which
| sxirted the abdomen, inflicting a trifiins
wound. Coburn was hit by the first sho
! fired by Goodman and it is the first dis
/ charge Of his revolver that is supposed
/ to have struck Goodman.
Back Of where Coburn stood are njnt
/ bullet holes in the wall in a Horizontal
/ line not over six feet in length. Tn,
\ window at which Goodman entered il
/ i'm the side of the building near tn,
] rear. The room is but eighteen feet II
4 width and between the walls Of thi.
room directly opposite each other thes
/ men emptied their reNolVerS IN one a.
+ the most desperate encounters on record
J The wonder is that either escaped alive
. The walls and the furniture near thu
window are filled with bullets, and TIN
/ window is perforated. over twenty
shots were exchanged at range Of les
than eighteen feet.
! Goodman was accompanied by Thomas
/ May. who contributed his part to tn
| fusillade, firing a number Of shot
| through the window. He was pursued
/ by members of the Horse Thief de
tective association, whose services ha'
! previously been. procured. He wa
| captured after hot chase and the ex
change Of a number of shots, in which
nobody was hurt.
The prisoners were Immediately start
ed on their way to Anderson, though
Goodman was not expected TO live 4
| complete the journey.
| The rest of the gang escaped in
wagon. There are near a dozen in tn
organization. according to the statemen
| of the night Waterman.
About ten days ago, he says, the,
| burglarized and burned a dry good
| store and saloon at Dundee. The plum
| der was hid in a strawstack on a farm
belonging to Goodman's father, who, b.
the way, is known as a reputable citizel
and who is supposed to have no con
nection with his son In his thieving pro
clivities.