The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-21
Boone Comfy Friends of the Murdered
Man Arrive and Talk of q Ly ynChing.
Brown Removed to Indianapolis in q Carriage
by Sheriff Taylor Last Niqht-Fsrd VIM
ter an Eye Witness to the Crime.
DUEL WITH KNIFE AND REVOLVER.

DUEL WITH KNIFE AND REVOLVER
Startling Murder at the Close Of Case in
the Hendricks County Courthouse
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
DANvILLE, Ind. May 20.-The Danville
court room to-day was the scene Of
startling tragedy. Mr.. Coley Brown. presi-
dent of the Lebanon Natural-gas Company.
shot Samuel Wesner. one of the leading at
torneys of Lebanon. Wesner 10 dead. and
Brown IL in jail charged with murder.
The sensation occurred just after IL O'Clock.
Mr. Wesner had completed his argument
in the case. in which he appeared for
client suing Brown. and court had ad-
journed for recess. and the jury and
attorneys were leaving the room. Mr.
Wesner was standing directly in front Of
the judges stand, talking with his associ-
ates In the case. congratulsting them over
the management of 1t. and saying that he
felt that it had been won for his client
George &. Harvey. noticing Brown stand
ing to one side. told Wesner that Brown
Was reported to be looking for him IVES
ner). and that it was said Brown had . To-
volver. Wesner replied that he was mot
afraid" and continued his talk.
Brown was standing about twelve feet
away, morose. and sulien, and muttering an
grily. He was heard to utter threats coupled
with insulting epithets. Suddenly he
advanced on Wesner. When he reached
the lawyer be said: 81 have just as good
reputation as you have"
Wesner replied that might be So and ct
once the two began q violent quarrel At
torney Ferd Winter. of Indianapolis. who
was standing there. lnterfered. re-
Questing them not 10 quarrel like chill
dren." but the contention continued, grow
ing warmer and warmer. until Wesner said:
wEsNER's FATAL DARE.
"If You have gun, pull 1t / dare you
tor
During tho dispute Brown was observed
to have both hands behind him. and some
say he transferred revolver from his left
pocket to his right. On Wesner's 'dare,"
Brown drew q revolver and quickly fired
twice.
Wesne- cried. Pm dead man, but 1
will kill your
With that he advanced on Brown with
an ugly looking dagger having q blade
fully eight inches long. He caught Brown
as the latter retreated, and when
about nine feet from whore Wesner
was shot. Brown fell to the floor.
Wesner was pulled off and Brown
was Immediately taken IN charge by the
great display of strength soon began to
fail. and he sat in chair until bed was
provided. His life was fast ebblng away,
and in forty minutes he died.
He talked after the shooting. telling his
friends that be was not the aggrsssor. and
sending his love to his family at Lebanon.
de died on a mattress laid on . table In the
courtroom, at the place of the shooting.
A crowd Of two hundred mon gathered
about. watching the feeble breaths Of the
lawyer. while by his side. her faco buried
In the sheet. was his nsiee o young lady.
who, singulariy enough. bore the name of
the murderer-Brown. Physicians did all
in their power, but the wound was neoes-
ssrily mortal, aud st O'Clock Wesner
breathed his last.
Coley Brown.or j. e. Brown. refused to
talk after reaching the jail. saying only
that Wesner was the sggressor. and that he
wished ho had loft the revolver st home.
Brown had deep wound across the palm
of his left hand, caused by Wesners dag.
ger.
The death scene at the courthouse was
very pathetic. The dying mans niece. a
young lady of twenty. whose name is
Brown. had heard Of her uncle being here.
and game up from her nome
in c0atssville' Coz ws.n., ten mile: M.. v.tS to
cool and asked that his boots be removed,
as he did not want to die with them on.
DE-. &. A. White got to- him about three
minutes after the shooting and found him
bidding the doctor good day he said. II
would like to get well just TO get revenge
on that t--" using wsll-known cpl
thet to end the sentence.
How do you feel, SamW asked the ply
| sician, to which he answered, Pm dying. 7
"Do you really feel that you are dyingP'
asked DR.. White.
yes" was the snswer.
WELL" said DR.. White. els there any
word you want to send to anybOdyp
wEsNER's LAST WORDS
A startled look came into the dying mans
eyes. and, proping himself up. he said
God bless little Ruth" meaning his little
granddaughter. To number of people he
remarked that he was not afraid to die
but that he would like to have revenge on
| Brown.
1t as evident that ne was euffering from
| inward hemorrhage. ss his breath come
| harder and bis abdomen was swelling. The
| end came few minutes later. AS soon ss
| Brown reached the jail he ordered dinner
| and sat down and wrote letter.
| A post mortem examination of the dead
lawyer was held Immediately. and 1t re.
| yealed the course of the bullet. The first
| shot struck Wesners left forearm, the ball
stopping at the elbow. directly under the
| skin. The second struck to the lett and
about an inch above the lower end
of the breast bone. IL ranged downward
| and lod ged near the spine. about four inches
| above the base of the spinal column. so as tC
| be felt through the skin. The weapon was
| a self-acting Smith IL Wesson. 80 aliber
| five-cham bered revolver. 1t is now in the
possession of the sheriff. and contains twC
loaded shells, two empty shells and one
| empty chamber. Wesner's dag ger was q
| two-edged, sharp instrument about eight
| inches long and was carried in q sheath
| which was picked up on the floor after the
atfray. The coroner's inquest will be held
/ Monday.
There are some contradictory statement.
as to which was the aggressor. but The
| above statements are virtually correct
| Brown came at least twelve feet TO W here
Wesner stood. and the majority of eye-wit
| nesses agree that Brown drew his revolv el
|. and hred before Wesner drew the dagger
The trouble arose in haven't broug here
h 0f NIx...-