The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-26
Another Wanton Tragedy in the Vicin-
ity Where Druggist Eyster Was Killed.
Ora L. burst, Young White Man. Shot and
Probably Mortally Wounded in
Scnfne with Negro Lads
Eugene Griffin, Who Did the Shooting,
Confesses to the Crime.
Whole Raft of the Boys Arrested and the
Facts Ferretsd Out in Very
Short Order.

Another tragedy. likely to result in case
of murder. occurred last night, within
square of where druggist Charles L. Eyster
was killed recently. and by an unfortunate
coincidence oysters widow was brought
INTO close contact with the affair.
About o O'Clock in the evening Ora l..
burst. q young white man. aged about
twenty-five years. was walking along How
ard street in company with two girls.
Lulu West and Maggie Perry. As they
passed Lawrence's grocery. near Howard
street, they were annoyed by group of
young negro boys ranging IN age from
twelve TO fifteen years. Warm words
were passed. there was scufiie and scram-
BILE. and q shot was fired. burst fell. badly
wounded, and the small negroes scattered
in every direction. The screams Of the two
young women attracted assistance, and
Waterman Morton led him TO oysters
drug store. at Third and Mississippi
streets. The sight of the wound
ed man. so soon after the murder of
her husband. served as O cruel shock To her.
DIR. Edwards was called and dressed the
wound. The ball had entered the right
breast. passing between the first and sec
ond ribs and penetrating the right lung.
So far as could be seen il did not sever any
important blood vessels. and. though the
wound was very serious. Ii was not neces-
ssrily fatal Durst was in too much
agony to talk much about the
trouble. About all he could say
was that two young colored boys
had attacked him and that while one had
struck him with club the other had shot
him. The city ambulance was called and
burst was removed Co the City Hospital,
where he was given medical attention. He
IS an unmarried man, boarding at No. Oh
Torbett street. and employed at the En-
caustic tile works. He came here some
months ago from ShelbyvIlle.
As soon as the police heard OF the case
patrolmen Simpson anc Richardson went
Co work on IL. They learned that small
son of ex-Councilnan Henry Sweetland
was about the grocery at the time. They
went to Sweetland's house and In tervlewed
the small boy. he was badly frightened,
but said that Harry Robinson and Sonny"
Hinton were the boys mixed up in the
affair. though he did not know
declared that he had just come
out OF the grocery when burst passed. One
of the boys had said something to him. and
IN another moment there was a melee and
the shot was fired. The two pstrolmen. IN
company with couple of white citiZens.
started out after the two boys. Harry
Robinson, lad OF fourteen years, was
found at the home OF his father. Jim Rob-
inson. 1S6 Anderson street, OF Webber's
alley. AS the house was being sur
rounded patrolmen Hart and Carter came
up and assisted In the arrest The boy
stoutly denied having been mixed in the
trouble but admitted he was there. When
closely questioned he admitted that he had
struck the white man with little stick"
and said the latter had kicked him and
hurt him. His story was very incoherent
and did not hang we'll together. and no was
told 20 dress and come along. This did not
require much time. as he was sleeping with
his trousers on, In the expectation, the pO-
lice believe. of catching the O'clock train
TO Louisville. where he formerly resided
Patrolmen Hart and Carter had in the
meantime interviewed the two girls. Their
story was that as they were walking past
the grocery one of the colored boys had
caught Maggie Perry by the arm. burst
had commanded him to go away or get his
face smashed. when another boy came M,
aud burst asked him what he wanted. He
replied BIZ striking him with q club. where
upon there was q scuffie aud the first boy
fired. They did not know tho lads. but
were positive that they could identity
them.
After arresting Robinson the party of
patroimen went after sonny" Hinton.
whom they found at his home on Roanoke
street. near First He denied any
tss !. OF TIE Eugene A s0a
and Walter Jones. sometimes called Walter
Campers. as others mixed in the row. He
got little mixed in his story as TO his
own whereabouts. and could give no par
tioular reason TO why he should have
run when the shot was fired. The police
compelled hln also to dress and come alon z
while they went after the other boys i'm
pllcsted.
The police next went to she homo of the
Jones boy. on Fifth street. and took him
in. Jones proved u valuable witness, and
said the shooting was done by Eugene Grit
fin or Dickerson. The wagon was then
called and a trip was made after the Grlffin
boy. ut 20 Ellsworth street. He was found
at home. and soon he con-
fronted with what the others had
said. confessed to the shooting He
was very cool about il and said ne had shot
because burst had kicked the Robinson
boy. As soon as he shot. he said. he ran,
throwing his revolver away. The other
boys were then released, and Griffin and
Robinson were brought TO the station
house and locked up.