The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-14
TRAGEDY In A COURTHOUSE
Thomas Jones Probably Fatally Wounds
Joseph Winters at Nashville.
Another Man Hit in the Abdomen by a Stray
Bullet-The Would-Be Murderer Pleased
with the Result Of His Pistols Work.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, March ia terrible
shooting occurred in the upper hall of the
courthouse shortly after l o'clock this
afternoon, in which Thomas Jones prob
ably fatally wounded Joe Winters and
another man hit by q stray bullet. Five
shots were fired, two of which took effect.
One entered just under the shoulder In
front and. ranging inward and back ward,
passed out to the right of the spinal coll
umn. This Is the most serious wound. The
other bullet passed through the feshy part
of the right arm. The other three shots
entered o bench near where Winters fell.
Some months ago one Jones. q ~tollgate
keeper. was shot from ambush and killed.
Andrew and Joe Winters were charged
with the deed. arrested and indicted. and
the trial for the murder of Jones was set
for to-day. There had been q long-standing
feud between the Joneses and the Winters,
and several fights between them before the
killing of old man Jones. The court room
was packed with witnesses for prosecution
and defense. Joe Winters was charged
with the murder and Andrew Winters with
being an accessory to the deed. Joe Win
ters was released from Jail the other day on
a 500 O bond. but Andrew Winters was
confined in jail. When the case was called
In the Criminal Court to-day before Judge
Anderson the defendants attorney success
fully pressed a motion for n severance. and
then the two cases were continued until
next term of court.
After the disposition OF the cases Andrew
Winters was taken back to the jail and
Joe Winters and his wife remained In the
court room to perfect q bond. By this time
the court room had practically cleared.
there remaining in the room and halls not
more than twenty people. The lower hall.
however. was filled with people who had
stopped there to discuss the developments
In the case.
Finally, when Winters walked out of the
door and was trying to 60 down the stair
way. Thomas Jones. who was standing near
the head OF the steps. opened lire on him,
using n hammerless pistol. The shots were
fired in rapid successiOn, and the reports
created the widest excitement. The shots
were followed by the screams or Mrs. Win
tiers, who stood over the PROSTATE form OF
her husband crying. Tom Jones shot him"
Officer Price was about the first to reach
Jones. The latter was standing nea: the
head of the stairway. with his pistol IN his
hand. Officer Price had hold of his arm.
Several men, in an excited manner, ran up
to Jones and cried: Don't let HIM ESCAPED"
To these cries Jones, in o cool and self
possessed manner, said: 81 am not going
to escape; / know what / have done. and
have no wish to flee." Jones was at once
taken to Jail by officer Price and Deputy
Sheriff McCampbell. Jones said TO the Of
ficers that he had no regret to express for
what he had done, and that he was willing
to abide the consequences. He told officer
Price to take care or his pistol. saying be
priced it above all else he possessed.
The shooting created the greatest excite
ment. and in q few minutes the courthouse
corridors we're thronged with people. all
trying to get q view of the wounded man.
but they were forced back. and the door to
the Criminal Court was locked.
James Bondurant. who was standing near
Winters. was struck in the groin. by one of
the stray bullets and quite severely
wounded, though his condition is not
thought to be very dangerous. Winters
was taken to the hospital. and the doctors
think the wound in the back was from a
third ball. BoDdurants wound Is in the
right side of the abdomen. The doctors
have so far been unable to ascertain the
course of the bullet. The hospital physi.
clans think that Winters. though shot three
times. has q chance for recovery. Bondu-
rant was taken home. and Is resting easy.