The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-13
VICTIM OF A KNIFE
Weston b. Thomas Killed by Win
ME Smith at Brighton Beach.
A Young Blood of This City Cuts the
Throat of a Prominent Anderson Man
in a Drunken Brawl at a Resort.
EARLY MORNING TRAGEDY
Smith Seemed to Have Little Pro-
vocation in the Affair.
Victim the Secretary of Anderson Wire
Nail WOrks-A Woman of the
Town Smiths Companion.
EARLY MORNING TRAGEDY

Beach, a notorious resort on the west DdnK
of the canal. south Of the aqueduct, yes
terday morning, at 4 o'clock. winifred
f. Smith. of this city, brutality murdered
Weston Berkley Thomas, a wealthy and
well-known citizen of Anderson, this State.
The instrument used was a small. pearl
handled pocket knife. The two men. it APP
pears. had never met each other until they
came together in the saloon at the resort.
Smith and a woman named Myrtle Over
turf. after drinking at a number of road
houses during the night, drove to the
Beach. The woman remained in the buggy
while Smith welt into the saloon. He was
under the influence of liquor, and stag
gered rather than walked AS he entered
the place he saw several men ordering
drinks. Among them was Thomas, who was
also intoxicated. Smith and Frank Hunt,
the bartender. talked about a score which
Smith owed the bar. when they were in
terrupted by Thomas, who requested Smith
to take a drink with him. Smith refused,
but Thomas, who was in a maudlin con-
dition. pressed the invitation. Again Smith
declined. this time applying a vile name
TO Thomas. Thomas then suggested that
perhaps the woman in the buggy would
like TO nave a drink. This angered Smith,
and he drew his poke knife, opened the
largest blade, two inches in length, and
attacked Thomas. The latter had sufficient
control of himself 10 know that his life was
in danger and attempted to get out of
Smiths reach. Smith, however, was the
less intoxicated, and this gave him a de-
cided advantage over Thomas. He made
several unsuccessful lunges with the knife
at the other man. but finally cut him in the
wrist and also inflicted a slight cash in the
body. Thomas started to run towards the
east door, opening out on to the veranda,
that extends entirely around the building.
Smith followed him up, and just as Thomas
was stepping over the door sill he swung
the knife with all the strength of his right
arm. and sunk the blade UP to the handle
in the right side of Thomas's throat, cut
ting the jugular vein and the carotid
artery. Blood spurted in thick streams from
the wound. Thomas weakened, and slowly
sank TO the floor of the veranda. As he
fell he clutched vainly at objects before
him for support. but he could not reach
them. With a final effort he attempted to
keep his feet, but his exertions caused a
greater flow of blood. and he sank to the
floor unconscious i'm a pool of blood.
The men in the saloon stood by appar-
9ntly Indifferent to the affair. Smith
gazed for a moment at the form of the
murdered man. then left the saloon quick
ly. He went to the buggy and got a whip,
then returned 10 where the body lay and
struck II a Number Of vicious blows. at the
same time uttering the most vile language.
After satisfying his bloodthirsty impulse
he hurried from the saloon. jumped into
the buggy. where the woman was awaiting
him, and drove south. He left his hat, and
- v~ao aru ann rnIor tho nm
dered mans body. In a few moments the
men in the saloon heard buggy wheels APP
preaching from the south. and it was
thought that Smith was returning to fur
Their carry out his bloody work. The men
showed no disposition to do other than
stand idly by. As Smith and the woman
arrived opposite where the body lay on
the veranda the woman exclaimed: win
ME. YOU have murdered him." This
brought forth a laugh and further vile Ian
guage. Smith then whipped up the horse
and disappeared toward the north. The po-
lice were informed of the affair, and the
officers set plans to capture the murderer.
| Later he was found in a room with the
woman at Broad Ripple and taken to the
police station.
THOMAS'S ILL-FATED SPREE.
Thomas, the murdered man. was connect
ed with the American Wire Nail Company,
Of Anderson. Wednesday afternoon he. in
company with l.. Ii. Gedge, president OF
the company. and Thomas J. Lowell. of
Cincinnati, came 70 this city on a business
trip and registered at the Bates House.
They were given rooms Nos. 16S. 100 and
10. Godge occupied the first, Lowell the
second and Thomas the third. The after
noon was spent in transactins business.
AT Z O'Clock the three. instead OF eating
supper at the hotel. went to Henry Smiths
restaurant, No. 81 North Illinois street.
Drinks were served during the meal. After
eating the three sat around until about IL
o'clock, chatting with the customers and
employees of the restaurant. During the
time Thomas took a number of drinks.
During the stay at the restaurant Thomas
seemed DESTROYS of going TO a summer
garden or other like places, bu,
he was held in check by his compan-
ions. About II o'clock the three returned to
the hotel, and each went directly to his
room. Gedge babe the others good night.
Lowell also retired. Gedge undressed, laid
himself down on the bed, and was smoking
and reading until, as he was doing, he
heard a knock on the door. He opened it
and admitted Thomas. Gedge was very
much surprised. and asked Thomas what
was the trouble with him. Thomas replied
that he was feeling all right. but that he
Gid not feel like going to bed He said he
had been told during the day something
about "A road house at Brighton Beach, and
he was DESTROYS OF visiting it. lie suggest
ed to Gedge that the two go out there, bui
the latter refused. Thomas seemed very
much disappointed, and rose 10 90, saying
that he guessed there was nothing else fol
him to do but TO go TO bed. Gedge babe
him goodnight. When Gedge last saw
Thomas he was going, apparently, toward
his room. Thomas. instead of going to hi:
room, left the hotel and went on Illinoi:
street along the ~'lsvee." In front Of June
restaurant II. =. Lynch, baseball player
and Larry McKeon, formerly a ball player
but now "a bartender. were standing. lie was
introduced TO them, and then Thomas told
of his desire 10 see Brighton Beach. Tbs
three resolved TO so TO the Beach, and go
into a hack driven by Harry Whitman am
were taken there. They reached the roa'
house shortly after midnight. and had takeI
a number OF drinks before the arrival o
Smith and his companion. The three wer'
all under the influence OF liquor soon afte
their arrival at the saloon.
Smith. who has been assoclating viii
Myrtle Overturf for some time. called 70
her at her rooms on Indiana avenue aoou
s o'clock last night. The two visited
number OF saloons in the downtown dis
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