The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-16
FOUGHT OVER A GIRL
WILLIAM BRIDGEWATER FIRES
TWO BULLETS INTO LON BALDWIN.
Occurrence Caused a Stamrede at the
South Calvary Church-The Pris-
Oner Escapes.

In a street fight last night in which
dozen colored men were implicated, Lon
Baldwin, living at No. IS Jones street,
was shot In the head and hip. The wounds
are not serious and in an hour after the
shooting Baldwin was able to walk to his
home. The trouble occurred about $3.50
o'clock in front of the South Calvary Bap-
list Church, at Morris and Maple streets.
Mamie Smith, a good-looking colored girl,
living at the corner of Norwood and Eddy
streets, is said TO have been the cause of
the disturbance.
Baldwin is a short, thick-set negro about
twenty-five years of age. who has been
paying attentions to the Smith girl for
some time. William Bridgewater, who did
the shooting. is a rival of Baldwin and has
lately grown very jealous of the smiles
bestowed by the girl upon the other man.
Wednesday night the girl attended services
at the South Calvary Church and Baldwin
was there to take her home. Just before
the close OF the services Bridgewater came
up and declared that he would take the girl
home himself. The men quarreled over
the matter and came to blows Baldwin
punished his rival severely and Miss Smith
walked home on his arm. Last night
concert was given at the church and the
trouble between the men was renewed.
The Smith girl was not present, but her
lovers were not aware of her absence
and each came on the scene determined
to vanquish the other once for all.
The entertainment was at its height
when the trouble began. Baldwin and
Bridgewater were in the street in front of
the church with their friends. Both men
were sober, but in bad humor. Eli Jane
Af.1 Inrtn oi q ~
the end of the building. He was watching
the crowd in the street and wondered how
long it would be before a stray. bullet
would dislodge him from his comfortable
position. He had not long TO wait Bald
win and Bridgewater withdrew from the
crowd and Jameson thought they were
going to enter the church. They advanced
to the sidewalk and then stopped.
IT amt afraid of no man that lives.
exclaimed Bridgewater, placing his hand In
II amt neither" replied Baldwin and he
too put his hand to his pocket.
"Then start the ball." said Bridgewater.
stantly be began firing and emptied his
weapon before he stopped; People IN the
neighborhood heard five shots. woman
sat in the porch OF residence adjoining
the church talking TO one OF her friends.
They saw the fash of fire at the first shot
and heard bullet hiss as 1t passed over
the veranda roof. The porch was vacated
before the next shot was fired. The crack
of the pistol was heard by the people IN the
church and the concert was forgotten. me
audience made a rush for the door ana
saw a stream of fire pouring from Bridge
waters pistol he retreated up Maple
street The curiosity of the audience was
other end of the church. Women screamed
and men climbed through the windows.
Few came out through the front door;
fell to the street but was quickly on his
feet He did no shooting and declares that
he did not have pistol. Bridgwater. after
and ran east on Morris street AT the
corner OF Meridian and Norris streets a
eag r rated and allowed Bridgwater to pass
He ran south on Meridian street, dozen
men yelling at him to stop: r cle ef Mn IN
ridian and Morris streets, saw Brldgewater
coming and ran out into the street and
y wave% NIB horse. Bridgewater SHE'D to the
right and the clerk hurled stone at him.
The young mans aim was BAD ana ne re,
treated TO the store. Somebody telephoned
police headquarters that a riot was immi-
nent and Police Captain Quigley and Ser
geant Lowe drove to the scene at break,
one-armed man came 10 Meridian street
leading Bridgewater. Baldwin was on the
saw his enemy he wanted to resume the
fight. He sprang upon Briugewatsr. but
the people rushed in ana parted the men;
for " the drug store with his captive. fol-
lowed by hundred people. The crowd
the doors. Then the people stood on the cor
ner and advised the man who held the
prisoner. and while they talked he escaped.
near the corner of Meridian and Morris
streets, dressed Baldwins wounds. He
found a bullet in the right hip which he
cut out. and an ugly wound above Bald
wins right eve. An examination of the
wound showed that the bullet had gone
beneath the scalp and had passed out above
the right ear Baldwin suffered little pain.
and was soon able to go home without as
sistance. The police looked for Bridge
water last night. but could not find him.
He lives on. South Noble street. but did not