The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-25
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THE POLICE sUPERINTENDENT IN
JURED IN RUNAWAY.
Thrown to Brick Pavement on West
Street While Driving a Wild Horse
injured Internally.

Thomas F. Colbert superintendent of po-
lice, was seriously injured shortly after 6
o'clock last evening being dashed to the
ground by a runaway of the horse which
he was driving. The physician who was
called in said he was badly hurt" From
the best information the police could get
from others as to his condition last night
it was feared that his injuries might prove
fatal
Mr.. Colbert's habit is to drive down to
the police station from his home every
evening in time to reach the station
about 620 o'clock, in order to attend the z
o'clock roll call He lives with his wife
and five children at 449 North California
street. Usually he drives east on New
York street To West. thence north to Ohio,
and east on Ohio to Senate avenue, where,
within a block, he can turn into Washing
ton street. This is the route he had partly
covered last night when the accident oc-
Cured. The horse, a wild one, had evil
IDENTIFY taken the bit between his teeth after
turning into West street, for those who saw
the accident say the animal came tearing
down West street at terrific speed the
superintendent saving away at the reins
trying to get the horse under control be-
fore the more crowded district was reached.
At the junction of Ohio and West streets
is one of the iron troley-line poles, and as
the horse wheeled towards Ohio street off
of West he brought the buggy violently
against the iron pole completely demolish-
ing the vehicle and freeing the horse from
the shafts ana gearing. The animal changed
it's course and galloped wildly down West
street.
Mr.. Colbert was hurled a dozen or more
H.fnl IirrI,ff ,ocr on hiC
head and back in the west gutter OF West
street. There he remained motionless till
bystanders ran to his assistance. w. A.
Hess foreman at Kingan & Co.'S, was
the first to reach the injured man, and
Patrolmen Dan Carter and Eugene Lough-
lin who were on their way to roll call,
happened to be in the neighborhood. The
three lifted the police superintendent to the
grass plat. Maurice Donnelly drove up
about this time and gave his horse and
buggy to the officers for use in conveying
the superintendent home. Mr.. Colbert was
apparently unconscious, with an expression
on his face indicating great pain. He was
carefully lifted into the buggy, and one of
the patrolmen held him while the other
drove to the Colbert residence on Cali
fornia street. When he was picked up Mr.
Colbert's collar and cravat were found
torn away from his neck, and his trousers
and coat were torn partially into shreds.
On his left temple there was a cash and
his face was bruised. AS the patrolmen
were driving to the house one remarked to
the other, eve had better drive slower"
mo, drive faster feebly muttered the
injured man. These were the only words
he uttered.
After being taken into the house he
groaned pitifully from the pains in his back,
and it was evident that he had been severe
nerve control, and his intense suffering con-
Vinces his family and friends that there
was much to be feared from his condition.
DIR. Il. T.. Hodges was summoned. The po-
lice station was notified of the accident, and
Detectives Spann and Kinney went out to
remain at the house during the night
News of the accident spread over the city
and the police station operator was kept
busy during the night answering inquiries
as to the officers condition. -
The horse confined its wild dash TIL 1t
reached the corner of Meridian and Wash
ington streets where it fell to its knees
and was caught The animal was covered
with cuts. and may prove useless Tor fur-
Their service. Ii is known as Joe, ana
was bought by the police department about
three months ago of Frank Mann. The
horse is handsome siX-year-old brown
geiding and has a mark of about three
minutes being from blooded stock. Before
it's purchase il had been il harness put
three times, and Mr.. Colbert had given II
practically all the training 1t ever mad.
For a while il was driven to the patrol
wagon in order to break it in. Mr.. Colbert
found the animal difficult one to manage,
although ne has never had an accident be-
fore with il.