The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-02-27

LINDSEY Is ANGRY
Regards the Shooting as Un-
called For.
Wounded Man Neglected ia
Heartless Manner

One Of Governor Lewelling's police
men shot one sc Governor dwellings
tramps at the Rock Island junction, in
North Topeka, about III o'clock today.
The too free use of a revolver in the
hands Of Policeman Capron resulted in
the vounding OF James Brogan, a young
man who admits he is tramp but de-
nies that he is criminal.
Officer Capron, whose precinct is in
the western part Of North Topeka, when
approaching the Rock Island junction,
about IL o'clock this morning, saw a
crowd Of tramps sitting on large pile
of ties near the junction. The presence
of these tramps al this place was moth
ing unusual as most of the tramps who
60 through Topeka catch outgoing trains
at this place, where the engine always
runs slowly on account of the railroad
crossing
When Officer Capron got almost to the
junction two of the tramps left the crowd
and started down the track towards the
city. The officer stopped and talked To
the tramps that remained sitting on the
ties few minutes. and then started after
the two who had left the crowd. He
called t9 them to halt but tney started to
run and turned Iown an alley when the
officer was about 100 feet from them
When the two tramps refused to stop
at his command Ofncer Capr0n pulled
his revolver from his pocket and fired at
the smaller one 0f the two who was max
ing the most active effort to get away
and who stopped down as though he
were going to pick mp a rock.
The ball went whizzing past the head
OF the teeIng tramp but the officer was
"olt for game and he Immediately fred
q second shot. this time at the other
tramp and with better aim. The ball
went straight to the mark and the tramp
fell shot in the left hip.
When the wounded man fell his com
panion stopped and went 70 his assist
ance- They gave their names % the
officer ats Frank Brogan and James Har-
vey Brggan is tile name 0f the wounded
man.
The patrol wagon was telephoned for
and the in jured man was taken t0 the
police station and messenger was sent
for Acting City Physician Geo. j.. Beers,
who when he arrived did not have -his
surgical Instruments with him and for
that reason could not find the ball which
seemed 20 be loc ged near the hip bone.
0lbcer Capron in reporting the affair
to Lhlet of Police Lindsey said he was
notified that gang of tramps was at
pck Island junction and that they
1fe ering fer sale some goods which
#f-h9ught to have been stolen. He
saIe when he arrived at the junction two
Of the tIamps started to rum. but that he
stopped to search rhe others when one of
them said to him. '.Why don't you get
those 1eLowss There are the ones with
the stuff"
Capron said he tllen started after the
two framps and when they refused to
stop he fired at them, butt says he did not
intend at first to hit them; he says the
man who was shot put his hand to bis
hip pocket as though he intended to pun
gun. w hen the tramp did that he fired
at him and bit hm
Chief Lindsey deplOres the shooting
and says he has given his men the most
explicit orders never To use revolver
unless It is absolutely necessary. and
never to pull 2 revolver from their pOck-
cts unless IT was intended for instant use.
lie says Capr6n has always been consid-
cred good officer but he is too hasty;
and this morning. work is a terrible In
stance.
Brogan the wounded man. who is about
90 years OF age. says he arrived in IOpe-
ka yesterday morning from Atchison and
that he Intended going to Kansas City
this morning. He slept in the Rock Is
land sand house last night His parents
I've il Philadelphia His companion
James Harvey boy only is years old is
his cousin whose parents reside at 1886
Market street. St Louis.
Brogan as he av on one OFF the hard
pine board benches in the police court
room this afternoon was all object ZIG pitv
Als clothes. though coarse, We're good
and he HAS an Intelligent face although
AA1 ffrA~ SUN AtA- AAtAtA AElIl LllE wound.
which d ad not been dressed al that time
In telling his story To the reporter he
saids II ran To get away from the officer
Just because i did aot want to %
on the rock-pue. I did not want
TO work Tor the city for nothing.
] am used TO work but don't like to work
unless i get something for it. I am not
q criminal and If was not because of any
guilt that I ram There is a law against
reckless shooting and that policeman
had no business to shoot at me. He did
not even see my face until after he shot
me.
At 1870 O'Clock this afternoon. Acting
City Physician Beers when asked to 90
at once and dress the mans wound re-
piled that he would attend to the matter
at 4 o'clock Tie was informed that that
was not satisfactory to Chief Lindsey, who