The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-16
w. E. ENGLISH IN A FIGHT.
DIR. Henry Van HunmeI Charges Him
with Drawing IA Revolver.

William i. English was the participant
in a lively free-for-all fight in which half
a dozen combatants We're engaged on each
side at the old English homestead in Mon
ument place yesterday morning. The prin-
cipal on the other side was DR.. Henry
Van Hummel, one of the proprietors of the
Indiana Medical and Surgical Institute To-
Gated in the homestead. The trouble arose
first over the lease the Van EIummels have
on the property. 1t stands just west of
the English Hotel and opera house and
must be torn down to make room for the
new 5000 extension of the English build
ing. Mr.. English announced a week ago
that he proposed to make The building one
of the finest hotel structures in the West.
Il had offered Van Hummel six months
rent, $780," said Mr.. English after the fight,
which L regarded as a fair proposition, to
get out of the building. Immediately after
the announcement of the plans for the new
building he notified me that he would not
get out for less than ST. 900 and then not
until July. That would ruin the prospects
Ior building this summer as l could not
dig the cellar in less than a month 1 re-
plled that he might go to the devil or
words to that eject, and told him 1 would
rather spend $4,000 fighting the case than
be ,held-up for a hve-dollar bill. Nat
uralIy, after the negotiations took this turn
they were productive of very strained rela-
lions. In the house was a pier mirror that
belonged to my mother and this morning [
sent nYe of my men over to take it down.
van Hummel had no claim on it and two
or three times before had asked me what
| would sell 1t for. 1t was not a part of the
house and 1 was at liberty to take it down
any time l pleased. One of the men re-
turned with the statement that they would
not let them nave it, and L sent word back
that If the mirror was not taken down in
nXe minutes L would go over myself to
take it.
the expiration of the time 1 walked
over and told my men to take down the
mirror A half a dozen doctors employed
Henry Van Hummel, the younger one,
sprang IN front of the glass and said that
qld not care to have trouble, but that if
ne did not let the men take the glass I
would break his d neck.
lie then ~telephoned to the police and
10 his lawyer. John Hoffman, and yelled
my men could not stand on it. The doctors
were disinciined to do this. and he VeIIIed
at thera to lock the door. DR.. Wilson closed
the door, but L seized him and prevented
made a rush and locked the front door. L
followed him and grabbed him. We then
wrestled around the hall for some time,
until my men who had taken the glass
down We're coming out with it. L tried to
get the door open, and young Van HummeI
squared off as if he was going to strike
me, and l hit him with my cane. Before I
could use the cane effectively DR.. Farrow
seized me from behind and prevented my
ulIlluS anyone. join I1OllZIldu came IN
and made a move at me, but told him to
be quiet and avoid trouble. Everybody
seemed to be holding somebody else, and [
saw Van Hummel holding my secretary,
ALI Hanson. against the wall and choking
him: / told him to let the boy go or 1
would put a bullet through him. He claims
l drew my revolver, but this L deny. My
men laid the glass down and kicke open
the front door, and we came away. [ sup
pose that 1 shall be arrested, but I do not
mind this so much as L do that the build
ing will be delayed until their lease expires
next year"
The other accounts of the affair differ
only from the point of view. The front door
of the homestead is a wreck, and there are
signs of the lively struggle that must have
ensued. DIR. Van Hummell claims that Mr..
English drew a revolver. When the elder
Van HummelI ~telephoned to the police sta
ton Blk Cops Holz and Wallace re-
sponded. The fight was over when they ar
rived. DR.. Van Hummell has sworn out
warrants charging Mr.. English with assault
and battery, drawing a deadly weapon and
trespass. The doctor says they have been
attempting to find other suitable quarters,
and have at all times demanded 1000 from
Mr.. English for the surrender of the Valu-
able lease.