The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-15
AN "OKLAHOMA" AFFRAY.
Charles T~hompsOn's Trial for Wild
West Shooting.

Charles Thompson, proprietor of a road
house at North Indianapolis, finds himself
before the Criminal Court on account of a
whim which he INDUCED in a little over a
month ago. Thompson is charged with
shooting with intent to kill at the resort
known as Oklahoma" situated about five
miles southwest of the city. The shooting
took place on Sunday night, April II, 1897.
From the evidence it appears that there
was q fine entertainment at the resort on
the night mentioned, not the least of which
was furnished by Thompson. 1t seems that
he walked into the barroom late in the
evening and with a scowl on his counte-
nance calmly surveyed the company assem-
bled. James Ross, the proprietor, was be-
hind the bar. The sight of this gentleman.
seemed to irritate the visitor, for he drew
his pistol and took a few shots in the di-
rectlon of the host. Ross doged down be-
hind the bar, and it is claimed that Thomp-
son coolly walked up to the bar and fired
several more shots into the floor. No cause
is assigned for the shooting, and the de-
tense expects to show that on that night
Oklahoma" was converted into a rough
house" and that Thompson did the shoot
ing during the progress of a general row.
Robert Springsteen Sues the when.
Robert Springsteen, a former employe of
the When Clothing Company, has sued the
corporation in the Superior Court to re-
cover damages for salary alleged to have
been sacrificed during the year beginning
April !, 1896. The plaintiff yesterday filed a
novel complaint, He says that on April /.
1896, he made a contract with the When
Company by which he was to act in the
capacity Of salesman and be manager of the
store in this city for a period of one year.
For this service he was to receive a salary
OF 1,S00, he says, the same to be payable
at the end of each month. He AYERS he
continued in the capacity of manager and
salesman until Oct. q, 1896, when, without
any fault OF his own, he was dismissed
from the service of the When. During this
employment he says he was paid 1890. He
AYERS that he then took service with the
firm of Saks & Co., earning until April /.
1897, the largest salary it was possible for
him TO command. He shows that he is vet
several hundred dollars short of the salary
he should have earned during the year and
demands Judgment against the When Com
pany for the amount.
Jury shown the Wrong Ground.
The suit of Cora w. EIammel against the
Lake Erie & Western Railway Company
to recover the value of a plat of ground
in the east part of the city is on trial in
Room 2. Superior Court. May Il, 1881. the
plaintiff leased to the indianapolis, Peru
& Chicago Railway a piece of ground in
the rear of her premises on East Washing
ton street, the railway company desiring
to construct switches on the same. AS al
legged, Mrs. Hammel was to receive s. a
month for the ground. In 1887 the Lake
Erie q Western succeeded to the rights and
privileges of the indianapolis, Peru q Chi
cago and took possession of the plaintiffs
ground. She alleges the company has re-
fused TO settle with her for the use of the
real estate and now brings suit to recover
5000, the alleged value of the ground.
Yesterday afternoon the jury went out to
look at the property in dispute and after
returning learned they had been shown the
wrong piece of ground.