The morning call., 1894-04-18
MILLER IN DANGER.
Harrison's Attorney-General Had
a Close Call.
A Shooting Scrape in His Office
Which Was Almost
Tragedy.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. April 1.-THE law
office of Miller. Winter & Elan was the
scene of a sensational shooting at noon.
w. B. Copeland of Madison, Ind, shot
Addison C. Harris in the arm, inflicting
painful wound. He also shot w. H.
BruniDg of Madison in the fare. Mr..
Harris is one of the most prominent law
yers in the State and is one of the Iron
Hall attorneys.
A conference had been arranged In the
offices between William B. Copeland and
William B. Bruning. rival litigants of
Madison, Ind, Bruning. his attorney,
Hon. A. c. Harris and Ferd Winter being
already in the room. Copeland came in
without saying word and began shoot
ing at Bruning. The first shot struck him
in the arm, and the second near the mouth.
w. Fl. Miller attempted to seize Copeland,
who. maddened by the interference, tried
10 shoot the ex-AttOrney-Gen but was
prevented.
In the meantime he had used his weapon
as club and beaten Bruning frigbtfully
about the head. Men in adjoining offices
prevented further shooting and Copeland
was arrested.
Harris is not dangerously wounded and
Bruning will probably recover. Several
suits are pending between him and Core
land and very bitter feeling existed. In
the suits which caused the shooting Clara
Copeland is the plaintiff and William II.
Bruning defendant. The question is over
the division of the estate of John F. Brun-
ing, father of Clara Copeland and William
II. Bruning. Copeland married Bruning' s
sister in opposition to her family, and bad
blood resulted.
Copeland, in an int erview, stated that
Bruning had brought undue influence to
bear upon his aged father and induced
him to make will almost dislnheriting
the daughter.
He also says the brother took his sister
to New York with him and tried for four
months to compel her to leave her hus-
band. On another occasion. while she
was visiting relatives at Point Pleasant,
Ohio, the brother visited her and threat
ened to kill her husband unless she signed
a deed turning over to him property
valued at $4,000 in Evansville.
She was afraid he would keep his word,
and signed the deed, and it is to gain pos
session of the property that she has the
suit now pending in court. On another
occasion he said the brother went to his
home during his absence and made an eff
fort to break into the house. but was
finally induced to leave.
Ex-Attorney-General Miller, who was In
back room. said that as soon as he heard
the firing he ran into the room and made
an effort to take the revolver from Cope
land. The latter was very much excited.
and was trying to shoot everybod in the
room who interfered with him.
Mr.. Miller finally managed to get Cone
lands hands to his side. and with the as
slstance of others disarmed him. He was
covered with blood but escaped uniniured.
Mrs Copeland arrived and spent the en-.
tire evening trying to secure bonds for her
husband. She will get him out tomorrow
She confirms her husbands story that on ly
that morning she had told her husband
that years ago her brother had attempted
10 assault her.
Attorney Harris and Bruning are not
dangerously wounded.