The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-01
LACEY FATALLY SHOT.
Henry Johns Commits Murder
ON Kansas Avenue.
Both the Victim and the MUIR
derer COIOred.
Jealousy Over the Attentions of Lacey
Paid to Johns Wife Said to
Be the Cause.

At Sis last evening a shooting which
will result fatally occurred at the north
east corner of Seventh and Kansas
avenue. in which George Lacey, a col
ored man in the employ of Wolff Bros &
Cole, the hardware firm, was the vic
tim. He was shot by Henry Johns,
waiter at the Throop hotel Both men
are colored.
Henry Johns and J. H. B. Taylor,
editor of the Call. a coIored paper, were
talking together on the corner in front
of the Southwestern Fuel company's
office. Johns had just come from the
Throop hotel, where he had completed
his work. George Lacey rode west on
Seventh street from Quincy on his BIZ
cycle. He was accompanied by Miss
Anna Brann, with whom he keeps COM
pany. AS he reached Kansas avenue
IaylOr called to him and Lacey rode up
to the curbing and stopped, balancing
himself with his foot on the curbstOne.
Miss Brann rode on a little ahead and
stopped. Taylor and Lacey were di-
rectly at the corner and were engaged
in conversation
Johns saw Lacey, and quick as a
flash drew a large revolver and ran to-
ward him. Taylor was standing with
his back to Johns The latter, With re-
vOlver in one hand, pulled Taylor aside
and, aiming the weapon directly at La
cey's breast, fired five shots in rapid
succession. Lacey at the first shot
pitched backward off his bicycle and
fell heavily on his back to the pave
ment. Miss Brann ran to him imme-
diately and held his head off the
ground. Johns, upon firing the shots,
started to run west across Kansas ave
nue., but PatrOlman Jenkins was near
and he seized him. Johns gave up the
revolver and was taken rapidly to the
police station.
The street corner was soon crowded
with a dense mass of excited people.
Lacey was carried into the rear of Geo
Stansfeld's drug store and physicians
summoned. He was in pain, but show
ed bravery in his suferings. Miss
Brann stood near by weeping, while
those who were witnesses to the tragedy
stood about and told of the occurrence.
The crowd on the outside increased
in size and it was with difficulty that
the police kept them from breaking in
the windows.
Johns was locked in a cell at the city
Jail after being closely questioned by
Chief Steele and Sergeant Donovan.
He admitted having shot Lacey and
said that it was on account of family
troubles.
Lacey broke up my family. Last
Saturday night he took my wife to
Albert Barton's, where they drank
beer I had sued for a divorce from
her but on account of the children
tried to get her back again. I with
drew the suit, but after awhile l had II
filed again. Lately we had another
fuss and she has been living with her
folks She has been going with Lacey
some and 1 saw them together Satur-
day night. When 1 saw him on the
corner it made me crazy, and Just
shot at him. I don't know whether l
hit him. am sorry for it on account
of my children"
Lacey was taken in Knights ambu-
lance to the Salvation Army hospital
where a thorough examination OF MS
wounds was made.
Doctors viii Storrs, Francis StOrrs
and Agnes Mckee Wallace conducted
the examination. 1t was found that
Lacey had received four OF the hVe pull
let's in his body.
There was one in the right arm above
the wrist which lodged. 1t was remoY-
ed. Another bullet entered the r1gnl
arm above the elbow and went through
Another bullet made a superficial
wound on the right hip
The fatal wound was on the right side
of the abdomen, near to the navel This
wound, the physicians say, will cause
his death as the intestines and bladder
were punctured. He was given Op1ates-
Miss Brann staid by his bedside and as
sisted in caring for him Lacey was too
weak to make statement soon after
the shooting a complaint was prepared
and he signed it, charging JOINS with
assault with intent to kill. Johns was
removed to the county Jail and locked
in an inner cell. His trial Will be con-
tinued awaiting the developments of the
Lacey is now a single man, having
been divorced from his wife three years
ago. He has been in the employ of
Wolff Bros. & Cole on East Sixth street
for some time
J. II. B. Taylor, who was talking with
Johns shortly before the shooting said
10 a repOrter:=''I saw Lacey ride along
and 1 called him. He rode up to the
curb and I talked with im.Pretty soon
I felt someone pull me aside and then
Johns began firing at Lacey at close
range. Lacey fell off his bicycle back
wards and lay in the street. He didn't
say anything, and neither did Johns. L
don't know just what was the trouble
between them, but 1 think that Johns
was jealous of his wife and claimed that
Lacey was paying attentions to her"
Ex-Chief of Police John ". Gardiner
was near at hand when the shooting
took place. He said: Il heard those
shots and I ran up here. know Johns
well. He has had a good deal of family
trouble lately. This man Lacey was a
good fellow.
Major A P. Shreve was also a wit
ness. He said: Il was standing right
on the corner near the man and Johns
came up and began firing at Lacey. I
got back out of the way
Mrs. Henry Johns, who is now with
her parents on East First street, would
say nothing for publication She seem
ed to be surprised that there had been
a shooting.
The physicians at the hospital per-
formed an operation on Lacey in the
hopes of saving his life. The abdomen
was opened and the punctured intes-
tines removed and sewed up again.
The shooting caused the widest ex-
citement on Kansas avenue, but only
for a short time Considerable indigna-
ton prevailed on account OF a tragedy
being committed on Topeka's main
street and there was much talk about
persons being permitted to carry Arms.
WORD OF WARNING.
Leading Colored Pastor on Looseness