The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-19
vENABLE TELLS HIS STORY
Supplies a Strong Bit of Circumstantial
Evidence in the Eyster Case.
Declares He Saw Parker and McAfee Running
from the Store After the Shot-Crank
Claims to Have Done Ii.

Charles Eyster, the Mississippi-street drug
gist, continues with renewed fever and in
police circles no efforts are being spared to
seek every item of intelligence that may
tend to tighten the coils around the two
negroes in the county Jail. The murdered
man did not recognize the men who shot
him down. but gave his friends TO under
stand that he would be able 10 identify
them. That opportunity was denied him.yet
the officers hope and believe that after the
Frustrated widow has recovered from the
first acute shock brought about by her hus-
bands untimely end. she may be able to
recognize something about the prisoners
which will lead to evidence more than cir
cumstantial. Mrs. Eyster cav two negroes
III the store less than two minutes before
the fatal shot was fired. and. although she
gave them but q casual glance. it is posi-.
BILE that their faces may have been photo
graphed upon her memory.
Yesterday some new evidence was cleaned
from the rumors which have become rife
among the colored population in the vicin-
ity of Third and Mississippi streets. but
whether or not the source is reliable enough
to stand the final examination by the court
remains to be proven. For several days
past John Venable, q colored man who
holds the position of barkeeper at How
ards saloon. on Third street. has been in
dulging in q series of mysterious remarks
in the presence of the Off ce rs in that dis
trict. Although not openly avowing
that he knew who committed
the murder. he had insinuated
that he could perhaps throw some
light upon It and was finally persuaded to
open his lips. Yesterday evening he came
down town and went tc police headQuar-
tiers. where he asked for the chief of po-
lice. Superintendent Colbert was not in
his office. and he was invited to
leave his message or talk TO some
of the subordinate officers. lie declined
to do either. and patiently awaited
the arrival of the superintendent.
than passing import. He began by the AS
sertion that he knew John Parker and Ed
McAfee as we'll as his own brother, and
could recognize either of them in the dark.
On the night that Eyster was killed he was
on duty at the saloon and near the hour of
10 O'Clock he stepped outside the door O
moment and stood looking in the direction
OF the drug store which Is but half a block
away. While he was standing there he
heard o shot fired the sound emanating from
the corner of Third and Mississippi streets.
Then he heard q woman scream, and saw
two men run from the store and dash int
the street. They ran east on Third street,
and as they passed under the gaslight he
recognized them as Ed McAfee and John
Parker. He was positive of Parker, be-
cause he wore q pair of light trousers, hav-
ing noticed them earlier In the evening.
AS Venabie concluded his statement Super
intendent Colbert cautioned him about the
matter and saId:
John. you must understand that this is
q very serious affair, and you must DO sure
you are right before you make a statement
like this"
John replied with some vehemence: Il
know just what I'm talking about. / saw
John Parker and Ed McAfee run out of that
store. and Will swear to it,"
street, has his story to tell and adds an
other link to the chain of evidence which
hourly points stronger toward the two
prisoners. Gabler 10 pretty well acquainted
with the negroes in his section of the city
and claims TO know McAfee and Parker. at
least by sight. He says that he met both of
them together within q half hour of the time
o. The murder on Friday night. Then there
is Mrs. Mil lie Scott. the Rosnoke-street col.
O.ou woman. Who Sent word To the officers
that the accused prisoners passed her house
between y and 10 o'clock on Friday night.
They were together. and looked in at the
window.
Yesterday afternoon there came to the
superintendent q postal card. written in q
woman's hand and bearing the postmark
Seymour, Ind. The letters were cramped
and distorted. and had evidently been IN
dited under a nervous strain. The strange
missive read as follows:
Chief OF -Police-Release the men which You
have in under arrest for the killing or Eyster.
You have got the wrong persons. | did 1t my
self. No man had any thing to do with il. L am
a woman. You will never know who did it.
LIB.
The superin fendent evinced no particular
surprise at receiving the information, and
tossed the card into the waste basket. lie
consider it q mad freak OF some crankish
woman. and is doubtless correct in his
surmise.