The Indianapolis journal., 1893-10-28
FIRED A FATAL SHOT
James w. Eubanks Mortally
Wounded by Patrick O'Keefe.
Victim Had Betrayed His Slayer's
Daughter, but Was Still Toler-
ated About the House.

Patrick OKeefe, aged and gray. is locked
in cell in the station house, tremblingly
awaiting to be charged with the destruc-
ton Of life that hangs in the balance.
Incoherently and with broken sobs the old
man attempts to assure himself that the
act he committed yesterday afternoon was
in defense of his home and the honor of
his little family.
At o'clock yesterday OKeefe shot and
fatally wounded James w. Eubanlxs. The
shot was fired in O'Keefes own home, at
No. 260 West Washington street. The
trouble was of family nature and of the
most distressing sort. Eubanks invaded the
sanctity of home and paid the penalty.
Such is the explanation given by OKeefe in
defense OF the deed. The latter is one of
the janitors at the courthouse, a position
he has held for many years. With his
wife and three daughters he resides at No.
260 West Washington street Yesterday
just before noon, he felt i'll and went
home to remain the rest of the day. He
sought his bed and remained asleep until
about o'clock. At this hour he was
awakened by loud voices in the kitchen,
and heard violent quarreling between his
wife and a man whose voice he recognized
as that Of Eubanks. He arose, and as he
did so heard epithet applied to his wife.
He walked into the kitchen and interfered
in the trouble. He ordered Eubanks from
the house, but the latter did not go,
and, 1t appears, started toward the old
man. who walked to a drawer where he
kept pistol, and, taking up the weapon,
fired at Eubanks. The ball entered the abb
domen and, in the opinion Of the physi-
clans. will prove fatal. Drs. Eisenbeiss,
Cook and Cary, an hour after the wounded
man received the bullet, performed an op-
Grafton which 1t is thought may perhaps
bring about favorable results.
The trouble between O'Keefe and EubankS,
it seems, has been developing for more than
year.. and although at times threatened
serious demonstrations, the tragic culmina-
tion yesterday was unlocked for. Eubanks
Is about thirty years of age, and boarded
with the O'Keefes. He occupied a room In
the block near by, and spent much of his
time with the family. He has been living
pears that two years ago he was on in
innate terms with the entire household,
and left here a year ago intrusted with the
old daughter Of O'keefe. The father in his
statement since the shooting accuses Eu-
banks with having betrayed his daughter.
"Eubanks was to marry the girl, but in
stead blighted her life. He went away to
Illinois, married another woman and came
back here. Keeping his wife Secreted from
my family, he renewed his familiarity with
US, much against my, wishes. He gave my
he extorted from his wife. Some months
ago his wife left him and then brought
suit against Grace for the money her hus-
band had given her. He came into our
house when he was not wanted, and
could not tolerate the nuisance longer
Before L shot him / heard him use the most
pro1,fane words to my wife. words which
Immediately after he had fired the shot
the old man came down town, and after
enable him to keep his courage, he walked
into the courthouse, and, hunting up
Michael Laughlin, one of the janitors, told
Laughiin, O'Keefe started to find Attorney
Pritchard, but met him as they were leav-
ing the building. While in conversation
Wilson appeared and placed o'Keefe under
arrest The prisoner Informed the officers
that he was about to surrender himself,
and without demur walked to the station.
The wounded man was carried to his
room near by and placed under the influ-
ence of opiates while the physicians oper,,
ated upon his wounds. After he had
frightened up he was able to talk, and
Coroner Beck was summoned to take his
ante-mortem statement. He stated that
just after dinner yesterday he missed from
his room a photograph Of his wife, and as
Mrs. O'Keefe kept his room in order he
supposed that she had taken the picture.
found her and Grace. Quarreling in a loud
tone followed and O'Keefe opened the
door. EuDankS asserted tnat the old man
had been drinking the night before and had
come home intoxicated. He stated that
O'Keefe fired without warning, and that he
made no move to go toward him: but that that
her father presented the pistol In his
statement Eubanks claimed that he had
known the O'Keefe family for five years.
and that OKeefe was jealous Of him and
Mrs. OKeefe. He furthermore made a
statement of his intimacy with the daugh-
ter Grace, and attributed her fathers anger
to this
Mrs. OKeefe has but little to say of the
affair. She says that Eubanks called her q
id liar just before her husband came in.
Grace O'Keefe. a handsome young woman
of good manners, is terribly prostrated
over the unfortunate occurrence, and re-
fuses to converse upon the trouble at all.
The charge against the prisoner is assault
with attempt TO kill. Should his victim die
the charge will be changed. OKeefe is
nearly seventy years old, and is we'll known
about the courthouse He was a mild-man-
nered old fellow. and well liked by the
county officials.