The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-07
Slayer of PatrOlman Ware Takes the
stand at MartinsvilIe and
Tells His story.
A LIGHT SENTENCE EXPECTED
JUDGE GRUBBS SAYS THE CASE WILL
Go TO THE JURY TO-NIGHT.
Members of the "BOO" Gang Testify,
Used His Club on Ferriter.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
MARTINSVILLE, Ind, Oct 6.-John
Ferriter, the boo" gang leader and slayer
Of Patrolman Ware, told his story late this
afternoon and Prosecutor Wiltsie had taken
him on ss-examination down the list of
his numerous arrests before o'clock
stopped proceedings for the day. Reform
School, workhouse, jail and prison was the
pace this youth not yet twenty-five, had
followed. Tomorrow morning the state
will further put the screws to him. Judge
Grubbs announced that the case must go
to the jury by tomorrow night, and he
will limit the argument accordingly. The
testimony of to-day further confirms the
impression in the courtroom that Ferriter
will escape with nothing more severe than
a prison sentence.
1t was late in the afternoon when Ferri-
ter was sent to the witness stand. His en-
trance in the drama had been well timed
by Attorneys Griffiths and Potts. All the
members of the Boo gang had told their
stories earlier in the day and several new
witnesses to show the alleged brutality of
Officer Ware in making the arrest on that
fatal evening, had been examined. 1t had
been shown that Ferriter was knocked
down with a crack across the nose from
Patrolman Wares club, rendering the
Martinsville doctors had just testified that
the blow which broke Ferriters nose
might have made him unaccountable for
his actions for the time being. All this had
been pumped into the jury to help create
sympathy for Ferriter and that was Fer
riter's cue. His examination was rapid and
he went over most of his life. All his life
he has made his home in Indianapolis Tt
was shown that the last time he tried the
scales he weighed 125 pounds. His height
is five feet and three inches. He left his
home at No. Sc Cook street about 8 o'clock
the afternoon of the tragedy. AT Liberty
and Washington streets he met INLAND and
Callahan walking down the Union tracks.
They met the Keeie boys and all of them
went to the rear of the brewery Office. One
had gone to Champions saloon for the
first pail of beer.
INLAND and 1 scuf1ed for awhile, knock
ing off each others hats" said he INLAND
hit me a slight blow with the back Of his
hand 1 chased him a short distance and
when he returned there was no difficulty
and he began talking and nothing more
was said of the blow. took the can and
went up to Oakeys saloon, then returned
to where l left the boys.
FERRITER'S OWN STORY.
Slot1 lCO W 81 uP IllC SlOoo etl4CJ " llilQ
the boys and saw Mr.. Ware and he said:
It's funny you fellows can't drink your
beer without raising so much trouble
II said, There's been no trouble
"'What have you got there? said he,
nodd : his head toward the bucket.
IT said beer
g" Give me that beer, said he, making a
reach for it.
81 turned it away, saying: I just paid
for it,
He tried to get the beer, and / held it
further away. He pulled me towards him
with jerk and L and the beer went
around together. 1t spilled on both of us.
He said nothing about searching me- He
was very angry and knocked me down with
his fist. He lifted me by the coat lapes and
then dragged me along. A little piece away
he knocked me down again After pulling
and showing me along he Knocked me down
a third time. / wasn't doing a thing to him
and l never struck him at all, nor did l
try to- 1 was pulling away from him at the
brewery Office steps. He told me to sit
down. didn't quite understand him and he
hit me across the nose with his club. That
knocked me down and stunned me and the
blood was rushing from my nose. have a
confused recollection that as he struck me
again He made a threatening motion and
l thought he was going to strike me again.
Then the shot was fired.
II found myself running after the shot
was fired and L have no recollection of fir
ing a second shot. l ran towards Benton
street and l saw no one When / was ar
rested pair of nippers was put on my
hands. 1 was leaning up against a fence
when ! heard voice: Throw up your
hands or I'll shoot
81 said: L am not going to shoot; l am
not able to-
1.-The officer did not strike me and made
no threat, nor drew weapon on him. 1
was taken to a livery stable and from there
to the police station, where my injuries
were attended to. My nose was broken, my
right eye swollen and l was suffering great
pain.
The examination in chief was brief In
twenty minutes the witness was turned over
to the state. Ferriter told Prosecutor Wilt
sic that he was sent to the Reform School
when he was sever years OLD. He was re-
turned to the institute because he did not
write. He escaped after that and was re-
captured but didn't remember that it was
Thomas Kingsbury who caught him.
Didn't you resist him on that occasion?,
asked Mr. Wiltse.
An objection was entered to this, and
after few minutes the court permitted the
question. the defense taking an exception
CHILD OF THE JAGO.
Mr.. Wiltsie argued that under rulings the
state would have a right to show that this
defendant had resisted when a child the very
first officer who arrested him and had re-
sisted every time since then when an arrest
was attempted.
Il did not resist him. replied Ferriter
Altogether l was in the Reform School
five years. The first time l was released on
good behavior and finally released in 1887
l went to work at the Atlas engine works
for two months at core-makng and then in
the rveting room for nearly TWO years /
quit TO take a better job at Armstrong
Brothers boiler shop. where l worked a
year, returning to the Atlas engine works
and remained there year. / went to Lima.
o.. and worked several months / came
back to Indianapolis in 1891. Part Of $50
or 1891 / was in the workhouse at Indian
apols. Kinney and McPcak were there
then. In 1891 ] was again employed by Arm
strong Brothers. / worked on the yiaduct
heating rivets and after that / was out of