The Indianapolis journal., 1897-01-23
shot and Killed by n Bold Highway.
man Whom He Was Pursuing
Across Massachusetts Avenue.
BLOODHOUNDS ON THE TRAIL
TWO MEN HAD BEATEN Up JOB
ELDRIDGE, A SHOPKEEPER.
The Fireman Ran to- His Aida
Tragedy Early i'm the Evening
On Prominent Street.

the most part probably thought the high
wind crossed the wires and caused some
wild strokes OF the bells: but they told of
the murder of Frank NJ. Redmond, line
man at Company 8, on Massachusetts, ave-
nue.. He was shot and instantly killed
while attempting TO arrest a man who had
beaten and attempted to rob the keeper of
a secondhand store opposite the engine
house.
Frank Redmond, James Cassidy and
Philip Kile. firemen. were sitting inside the
engine house at $50 o'clock, when a man
opened the door and shouted that there was
some sort of trouble across the street. Ow-
ing TO the cold weather the front part of
the house was tightly closed and the fire.
men did not hear the shouting and scream
ing across the street and knew nothing of
the bold attempt at robbery until the man
opened the door and called TO them. Red
mond opened the door first, with Cassidy
and Kile close behind.
Their attention was attracted by the flee
ing figure of a man and the cries of several
excited men and women opposite them on
Massachusetts avenue. The fleeing man
crossed to the north side Of Massachusetts
avenue, evidently making for the alley
running north and striking Broadway at
ST. Clair street. Redmond and the others
took after him ana saw him fall in the
middle of the street. He was up in "A mo-
n1ent, however, and continued his flight
with Redmond gaining on him and all the
time increasing the distance between him
self and the other pursuers. Redmond was
within ten feet of the man when the latter
reached the mouth of the alley 1T is un-
certain just how the shooting was brought
about. Cassidy thinks that the robber
slipped and fell again and fired the fatal
shot just as Redmond was about to take
him. Another witness thinks the man de-
liberately stopped and steadied himself
against the fence, so as to make sure of
his aim, firing the shot when Redmond was
within few feet of him. IL was dark at
the mouth of the alley. while the street
was bright by the electric light, and ii was
therefore difficult TO tell just how the af-
fair occurred. Redmond did not live to
tell il.
REDMOND NEVER SPOKE.
Redmond fell upon his face. The other
pursuers stopped the chase to give their
attention To their comrade. lie was gently
carried back to the engine house and laid
upon n cot. He fingered for about ten
minutes and died without regaining con-
sciolsness. The bullet had entered the
forehead little TO the left of the center
and penetrated the brain.
The murder was brought about through
an attempt TO rob Job Eldridge, who keeps
secondhand store at go Massachusetts
avenue. About O'Clock two men went
into the store. and, after looking all about
the place. asked to a lap robe. The
robes were kept in the extreme rear OF the
store, ana the two men went back there
with Eldridge TO look at them. They had
been in there but minute when William
Smith, plumber, living ins the neighbor-
hood. came in TO borrow a wrench. He
stood about for a while, waiting for the
customers TO leave before asking for the
wrench but seeing that the men were not
in hurry, took the wrench and went out
The two men left at about the same time
saying they would get their buggy and
drive around for the robe in twenty min
uteS.
At $50 o'clock the men returned and said
they would take the robe and asked that II
be wrapped Up. The fact that they did not
drive up and that they wanted the robe
wrapped up excited Eldridge's suspicion
and as he passed around from behind the
counter TO go back after the robe he slip
ped his pocketbook. containing $50. out of
sight behind some bundles. The men fol-
lowed him TO the back part of the room
and when they reached the part of the store
where the lights were dim one of them
seized him and dealt him blow on the
head with the butt end Of a large pistol
his partner. He kept raining the blows
from the pistol upon the head of the de-
fenseless old man and the other fellow was
pocketbook. He managed TO search hur-
riedly through the old mans pockets. but
failed TO rind the pocketbook and also over
looked small amount of change which
Eldridge had In one pocket
Eldridge yelled at the top of his voice at
the first blow and continued the shouting
as long as the robbers stayed lin the place.
His cries attracted the attention of a
woman in the restaurant at 2T Massachu-
sets avenue and she looked in the side door.
screams to those of Eldridge. Ii was this
that attracted the attention of passers-by
on the street and led the firemen to join In
the chase OF the robbers.
THE ROBBERS FLIGHT.
The robbers were compelled TO run for
their liberty before having time TO make a
search of the place. The house is located
at the corner of an alley and into this one
of the robbers turned and was lost sight of.
The firemen and others saw only the taller
of the two. who ran across toward the
north side of the avenue.
Eldridge is an old soldier well along i'm
years and was in no condition. physically.
to cope with two strong young men. The
first sight of the pistol suggested to him
only that he shout for help and this he did
Justify. One of the robbers tried to run his
hand into the old mans mouth to seize his
tongue and stop his yelling and in doing so
bruised him about the face. Eldridge $
wounds were dressed by DR.. Allen He
had several pretty bad cuts on the head
made with the pistol. and received a bad
blow on the nose. probably with the fist
Of one OF the robbers. He is no, badly
hurt.
Frank Redmond was twenty-eight years
old and very popular with his associates.
He had lived here for many years and
had a wide circle of acquaintanceS and
friends. He worked for number of years
for the Citizens Street-railroad Company
first as driver on a mule car. then as con-
ductor and later as a motorman. He was
1891, and had an excellent record. He was
a member OF Newassa Lodge. No. 100. Inn
proved Order OF Red Men. which order will
take charge or the funeral. Redmond lived
with his mother and married sister at >;
Broadway.
The murder was reported to the police
by telephone almost soon IL occurred
patrolmen were gathering for the night roll
call. The night wagon men We're just go
ing OH duty and they hitched the horses
To the patrol wagon and soon were driving
At a breakneck speed To the scene of the
trstSedy with "A wagon load OF officers. They
arrived too late 10 be Of any Immediate
service. At roll call the men were in
night and 10 send in all suspicious-look.
ing persons. The robbers can probably be
identified IL caught. Mr.. Eidridge describes
the tall one. the one who did the shooting
as about live feet nine inches high with =
long brown mustache. The other is about
five feet seven inches with a stubby brown
mustache and two weeks growth OF beard
derby hat. The short one wore a soft hat
and no OVercOat.