The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-02
DRUNKEN MANS CRIME
JOS. A. MICHAEL FATALLY SHOOTS
JOHN HUMPHREYS, A BOY.
An Affair i'm the Courthouse Yard
Wholly observation-disclosures of
Arrest.

A sixteeen-year-old boy, John Hum
phreys. was shot, probably fatally, about
$50 o'clock last night. by a drunken buck
ster. Joseph A. Michael. With a dozen other
boys young Humphreys was playing on
the Authenticated sidewalk of the court
house just opposite Court street. They had
a piece of a board which they were using
in some of their games, and Michael, in
passing, stumbled over this board. He was
drunk and ugly, and it seemed to irritate
him, as he turned around and came back,
ordering the boys away Some Of them
started TO go, but stopped and told Mich
ael that he had no authority to order
them away, whereat he reached in the in
side pocket Of his coat and pulled out a
good-sized revolver, saying, III show my
authority" With the weapon in his hand
he chased the boys, who scattered in all
directions, Humphreys alone remaining
seated on the courthouse wall.
Michael turned around, and seeing him
there ak back and, swearing at him,
ordered him to clear out. The boy climbed
to his feet, and turning about started to
cut across the courthouse yard in the d.
rection of Market street. He had gone
scarcely a dozen feet when, with the re-
mark It'll just take a shot at you any
how" Michael rested his arm on the court
house wall and fired at the boy. Humphreys
ran possibly forty feet and dropped into
the grass, shouting for help. Michael put
his revolver in his pocket, walked up into
the courthouse yard, through into Delaware
street and disappeared, having been seen
by a score of people. who did not. however,
seem to realize that anything serious had
happened. Casper Memerring and Edward
Eaton, who works at Pray'S barn, were
the first TO respond to the boys cries.
They picked him up and carried him out
to the sidewalk, and it was but a moment
till the ambulance arrived and the boy
was taken TO the police station.
There he was made as comfortable as
possible until the arrival of DR.. Kahlo,
who probed unsuccessfuly for the bullet.
Humphreys appeared TO be suffering con-
siderable pain, but underwent the probing
process with a good deal of nerve. The
doctor found that the bullet, which entered
the boys back just at the edge Of his
left shoulder blade, had taken a slightly
upward course, gone to the right of the
heart and perforated the lung, having
narrowly missed the spinal column. After
working for some time trying to locate
the ball the doctor gave it up and the boy
was taken to the City Hospital, his father
thinking that he would get more careful
nursing there than at home, his mother
being dead. The chances are decidedly
against him, the wound being a very
dangerous one, and, although cases of re-
covery where a bullet has penetrated the
lung are not rare, it is probable that
young Humphreys wound will prove
fatal. He was sixteen years old just a
month ago and is of good, strong physique,
SO he has that much in his favor. At a
late hour last night he was resting easily.
The police all over the city were notified
to look out for the man who did the shoot
ing, who was at that time unknown, but
w. described as being a tall, powerfully
built man, wearing a sloucn nat, a black
mustache and a rough voice. The first one
brought III was a short, Misunderstanding
in any way answer to the description OF
the man who did the shooting, bur who
was somewhat intoxicated and needed a
brlef season in the station to straighten
him out. Those who saw the right man
shook their heads at olce. They had but
patrol trI wagon M1gofeib brought % Tdii in h Nov }. Who oh proT tee
TO be the individual sought. He was taken
at once to Superintendent Powell's room
tests was searched, the first thing taken
from him being a wad of money amount
ing to $50. He had been arrested at the
corner of Illinois and Maryland street by
Merchant policeman Walker for firing
within the city limits. Walker knew MOTH
ing of the shooting in the courthouse ward.
but arrested him for firing his revolver in
the air. The officer took the gun away
from Michael, rung up the patrol wagon
and sent him in, turning the weapon over
to the wagon men. 1t is a 3S-calfbre, and
two OF the five Shells were found empty.
In a few moments half a dozen boys, who
were in. the crowd which Michael had
scattered, were brought III and at once
igent !tied the man as The one who did
the shooting. Edward Eaton, the man who
helped carry humphreys 20 the wagon,
came in soon afterwards and without hest
tation told the superintendent that Michael
was the man who shot the boy. MlchaeI
was also identified by Lewis Emlck, Casper
Memerrlng and several others. The boys
VINO recognized him were John Steely,
Jasper Brady. Herbert Martin and Mack
Michael did a good deal of talking. first
evincing concern about the disposition of
his none and then insisting that some
one telephone for his wife to come down
and bail him out, He said he could get
bail for a thousand dollars, and in reply to
several people who identified him. he said:
We'll, you're telling me all 1 know about
it." He talked in an aimlesS way about
making some one suffer for, his arrest
end making them prove it," The man
was drunk and it is probable he had very
little recollection of the shooting, or, If so,
was cunning enough to disguise the fact.
He was taken down stairs and locked up,
ton. He said his name was Joseph A.
Michael and that he was a vegetable
man." 1t was afterwards learned that he
Merchant and Metropolitan police force of
Cincinnati: He served in the
street, OlVer-Street ana BLOODY tOurth"
districts there. His father has for sixty
years been a resident of that city. Season
before last Michael was the policeman at
the Empire Theater here, and it will be
recalled that his appearance on the 'levee''
in uniform one night while on a spree
gave rise to publications concerning drunk
enness on the police force. In reference
to the shooting, Michael declares that he
fired but one shot and that was when his
pistol dropped out of his pocket. In appear
ance he answered the descriptions almost
perfectly. One man had stated that he
had no vest, and, when arrested. 1t was
readily seen why this impression was
gained. The vest he wore was Of thin,
black material, like the coat, and was un-
buttoned, giving Michael the appearance
at first glance, of having no vest. He is
of powerful build and has a brown mus
tache.
Humphreys lives at 25 East Vermont
street with his father, who is a member OF
the firm of NJ. En- Humphreys & Co., tin
ners and cornice manufacturers on South
East street. The boy worked for the firm.
Late last night Michaels wife visited the
station house and talked with him. He
again insisted upon getting bail, but was
informed that until the result of Humph-
rovS'S p;r1r;aS uvas known no p0n1d not bOna