The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-13
BEFORE THE CORONER.
Piano Player Suss Gives Most Damag-
ing Evidence Agninst Smith.

ing Evidence Against smith.
Coroner Beck reached the scene Of the
ARRAY a short time after the death of
Thomas Later in the day he took tes-
timony of several witnesses. Frank c.
Hunt, the bartender at Brighton Beach,
was examined. He said he resided at No.
1880 North Capitol avenue and was on duty
all night Wednesday night. He said he
was acquainted with Whine Smith. and
that the latter came to the Beach the
first time between IL and l o'clock. He was
accompanied by the girl and went into the
back room. At this time he only remained
about a half hour. He came back again
about 4 o'clock in the morning. He came
in alone the second time The hack
driver Cripp, the baseball man Lynch,
Thomas, Luss and the witness were all
that were in the room. when Winnie
came in said Hunt, II told him there
was 60 and 40 cents. which made a dollar,
and he answered that it was all right.
Thomas said: Pay the man and let's take
a drink and Smith asked him how he
got in 1t. Thomas said: why. / know
you. Smith; let's take a drink Smith said
he didn't want anything TO drink With him.
Thomas turned around and. l think, put his
hands on Smiths shoulders right i'm the
doorway. Next they went outside. l
jumped on top of the bar and saw that he
was all covered with blood. Smith was
jumping into the buggy and struck at
Thomas with the buggy whip and drove
away. Thomas fell just as Smith got in
the buggy. If he struck him with the butt
end of the buggy whip 1 did not see it.
George Suss handed me the knife and said:
There is the knife it was done with
/ saw Smith strike at him with the knife
in his hands" When Thomas got out of
the hack he came straight into the saloon
and did not stagger. Hunt says the buggy
came up in front of the hack in which
Thomas went TO the resort, and Thomas
and his party came in the front door,
while Smith came in the back door. He
says he did not see Thomas strike Smith.
He said he telephoned for the police.
Myrtle Overturf. the girl who was with
Smith. said she lived at No. 1O1 Indiana
avenue. She has lived there for about two
months and told where she had lived be-
fore that time. About three months ago
she lived with her mother at 123 Geisendorf
street. She said she had known Winnie
S,ntth for about two years and had been
year and a half. She started from her
house on Indiana avenue with Smith about
They went to Kissers. where they re-
manned till about midnight. She said she
about i've. glasses. smith did mot drink
any more than this. From KisSels thew
went to Thompson's where they drank
they drank a few glasses of beer. From
Thompson's they went to the Beach and
was out of the buggy at the Beach the
FIRST time and was in a back room with
Smith and drank a couple of glasses of
sons the second time they remained about
a half hour and went from there to
she said: Il do not know what occurred
between him and these people. When 1
fTn fhnNF GAnnan m hn 4 1fn N
the door in pleasant conversation, and then
one of these men, Dan Lynch, a friend of
to this man and MIR. Thomas pushed Mr.
Lynch away. Then | could not hear any,
thing seemed to be going on all right.
This fellow hit Mr.. smith. / think he hit
him with his fist. l do not know where he
1 do not know what happened then" She
said she had to take care Of the horse
him. She said smith then came towards
the buggy and Thomas followed him. She
thought Thomas had something in his
hand Smith told her to let him in the
buggy and she put out her hand and as
sisted him. She said she did not know
gy whiD or not. They drove north to the
river and Smith got out and washed his
face and hands. This was northwest of
the Beach. They then turned around and
drove back TO the Beach. She told Smith
he might have hurt, the man and he said
they might go back and see. When we
G-tNt IhGk nt IL NlC iidl was HuT
! ard Lynch said he was sure he was dead.
The girl says Smith did not make any
answer. but simply turned his head. He
then drove TO Broad Ripple, TIE girl says
he did not talk much and did not say
anything about killing Thomas. She
thought he said ne had never seen Thomas
before. She saws he did not say anything
TO her about going away nor about giving
himself UP. on the way 10 Broad Ripple
they stopped at a friends house on North
| PENNSYLVANIA street. Smith said he would
stop and ask the friend what was best
for him TO do. He told the girl he had
lost his knife and seemed to be worried
about il. She said she did not know
whether or not he telephoned 10 friends in
the city after he went TO Broad Ripple.
George Suss. the plano player, made the
| following statement to Coroner Beck:
II live at Brighton Beach. | am the piano
player there. | was there last night and
this morning. / work all night there and all
the afternoon. 1 know Winnie Smith. 1 saw
him last night for the first time about IL
o'clock, between IL and l O'Clock, at the
Beach. He had a young lady with him and
stayed about one hour and a half. lie and
the girl We're in the piano room. They had
several drinks OF beer; / can't tell about
whisky. Smith was not drunk. He had me
PLAY some tunes. He left about 100 and
said he was going to ~Thompson's and