The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-06
THE MURDER OF PITTS.
His Wound Is FataI-Ante-Mortem

His Wound Is FataI-Ante-Mortcm
Statement Taken by the Coroner.
Pitts fell at the first fire of Stokes He
was standing In small alley that runs
into Washington street few feet from the
Big Four crossing. His father-in-law, Peter
Cutsholl, and DIR. o. S. Deitch were only
short distance away. The wife of Will
liam Neal, fireman on the l., d. G. S.,
was standing at the mouth of the alley di-
rectly in range, between the car contain
ing the nonunion men and Pitts. Pitts
was leaning against fence Just before
Stokes fired Mrs. Neal stepped toward the
school children who were waiting for the
train to pass so that they could go on
their way westward. Her escape was
narrow one. Several heaps of dirt, thrown
up from gas trenches, were also covered
with youngsters. At the first appearance
of Stokes with a revolver in his hand many
in the crowd sought safety in the alley.
When hit. Pitts fell over into the arms
of a man standing near him and ex-
claimed: MY God. 1 am shot" DR..
Deitch rushed to his assistance,
and with several others helped
him to the office and drug store of DIR.
Deitch, a block to the east The physi-
clan administered morphine to the injured
man, and then began a cursory examina-
ton. 1t was found that Pitts struck
in the lower portion of the abdomen, the
ball probably entering the liver or stomach.
PittS'S wife was summoned She came run
ming to the place bareheaded. Her cries
when she found her husband was injured
were heartrending. crowd of several
hundred had gathered on the outside of the
store, and one or two rash men suggested
that the shops be burned down for such
a cruel and unprovoked shooting. The city
ambulance was called and the patient
taken TO his home, at 80 Wright street
about three blocks from the scene of the
trouble. His physician was unable to To-
cate the path of the bullet, for Pitts's con-
dition was too serious last night to under
take an operation. He had number of
internal hemorrhages as was evident from
the quantity of blood he coughed up. Dr.
Deitch did not think Pitts could live and
Coroner Beck was summoned. The coro-
ner went out to Pittss house and took his
ante-mortem statement. The man was in
great agony as he briefly told tEe story to
the coroner. He said that he was coming
towards his home with his father-in law at
the time of the trouble, but couh not cross
the tracks as the train had blocked the
street. When he saw that there was apt TO
be trouble he stepped back into the alley
and leaned against a fence. He was in
this position when shot He said that he
had no revolver with him, had not ieered at
either the deputies or the nonunon men. He
did not know the name of the man WHO
fred the shot, but stated that he would be
able to identify him if he ever saw him
again. He described the man as a large
fellow wearing gray mustaehe. He
form at the time the shot was fired. The
rest of his story is substantially the same
as that given in the account above. Neither
Coroner Beck nor DR.. Deitch thought at 8
o'clock that Pitts would live until mid
night. A narcotic was given the patient to
quiet him.
Pitts was married in the early part of
the year, and since then has been living
with his father-n-law. He is a fireman on
the Peoria e. Eastern, but was given a
fifteen days lay-off a few days ago. He
said that his lay-off was due TO the fact
that the pilot of his engine was injured I'm
the yards account of the fact that the
company did not have sufficient engines to
send out since the strike. He is twenty
six years old and of splendid physique.
Every one speaks highly of him.