The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-22
SHE WRECKED HIS LIFE
BRAKEMAN BLUME MURDERS A
WOMAN OF Low CHARACTER.
Then Turned Revolver on HIMSELF
Oracle Harvey, of Greensburg,
Was His Victim.

as Grace Holmes was shot and killed last
night by William A. Blume. of 1922 East
Washington street, brakeman, who then
turned the weapon upon himself boring two
holes in his breast, the wounds being re-
garded as necessarily fatal. The man was
physical wreck, with practically no hopes
OF permanent recovery and blamed the girl
for his condition, shooting her purely as
matter of revenge for the injury she had
done him.
The girl, who Is about twenty years old.
has been employed at 325 West Washington
street. by Christy WARDROBE, a piano
player. She has lived at this place at sew
eral different times in her career, coming
up from her home, in Greensburg, about
one week ago to stay during fair week. She
had also been here during the X. of P.
encampment. During this tirae she met
Blume, who became infatuated and posed as
her lover. He called at the house yesterday
afternoon about o'clock. and remained I'M
til the time of the shooting about 7:30. He
hobbled to the place on clutches and with
difficulty made his way upstairs to the
rooms where the girl lived. He asked for
her and did not seem villa ur excited They
went into parlor and were left to them
selves At one time some of the other in
mates say they heard loud and angry words,
but the WARDROBE woman, who was near by
during the interview, though not in sight,
denies this The man was in a very COM
planning mood, but made no threats that
were heard. After a visit of about two
hours. during which time they drank
pitcher of beer he decided to go, and asked
the Harvey girl to help him to the foot of
the stairs.
There are two sets of steps leading to this
suite of rooms and those in the rear which
lead to a small court, were chosen by
Blume. The woman's help was necessary in
going down, and apprehension was ex-
pressed by the landlady as they started, for
fear he would fall and carry the girl with
him. They arrived at the foot of the stairs
safely, and IL seems then began their talk
anew. There were loud words and the Ward
rope woman called down for the girl to come
upstairs, but she did not heed. The CONVEX
sation Quilted for few minutes, and it is
thought they sat down on the steps at the
foot of the stairs. They were forgotten, I'M
til a scream from the woman was heard,
and then shot. There was another scream
and another shot, short interval and two
more shots in quick succession.
CURSED HER AS SHE DIED.
Merchant Policeman Foltzenlogel was the
first to arrive after the tragedy. He was on
Pearl street, directly in the rear of the
. court, when he heard the woman scream
and the two shots which followed. He
rushed to the place, but large fence and
a locked gate stood in the way. The gate
was torn open, but before he could enter
the third and fourth shots were,h heard and
Blume dropped At first Fotzenlogel failed
to see the woman, who was lying in the
stairway in the death agony. He rushed to
the man, who was also struggling and
moaning, but apparently conscious. He
raised himself on his elbow and in his last
conscious breath muttered a curse upon the
woman who lay dying only few feet from
him. Informed that she was dead, he sank
back into apparent Inconsistencies, but in
great pain. He was shot twice through the
breast and was vomiting blood. He evident
ly intended to shoot himself through the
heart, but failed. The two bullet holes were
less than an inch apart, and were a little
above the heart and to the left. A thirty
two-caliber bull dog revolver, which had
done the work, was lying by his side with
in arms length.
Though the yard was dark, a slight glim-
mer came from the stairway, and in the
faint light the CHASTITY face of the woman,
covered with blood, could be seen, her eyes
half open. Only one shot had taken effect,
and this in the left bres st, touching the
heart and penetrating the lung Blood was
flowing from her mouth and nose, and
clutched convulsively in her hand was a
box of cigarettes. Blume had missed in his
second shot at the woman, but one did for
her what two may not co for him. If he
RECEIVERS he will find the charge of murder
awaiting him with the remainder of his
troubles 1t is supposed that he went to
the house with the purpose Of killing the
woman, yet faltered for a time after seeing
her. But at the foot of the stairs his de-
termination returned and he shot her while
she was still by his side, and then rising
fired again. but missed. His clutches were
found between her body and the place
where he was lying.
On each side of him was a saloon, to the
north Zimmerman's Atlantic Garden, dis
de ncing was forming a greater part of the
programme. All festivities stopped for an
hour after the fatal shots We're fired, and
excitement was great in that vicinity. Hun
dreds OF people gathered in front of the
Washington-s door and were kept from
pressing in by the police; Others crowded
buildings, which looked into this court.
HAD SWORN VENGEANCE
Superintendent Quigley and Captain
Dawson, with several sergeants and Of
ficers, were soon at the place, but over half
an hour passed before a physician for the
suffering man could be found. The Dis
pensary doctors arrived, after efforts to get
other doctors had failed, and ordered the
man to be removed at once to the City Hos
pital where proper treatment might be adj
ministered. There investigation proved
that both lungs had been punctured. But
slight hope for his recovery was expressed
He has only been out of that institution a
few weeks, and had apparently become
worse since then, as he was not compelled
TO use crutches at that time. He is only
twenty-five years old, though he looks
forty. His hair is slightly sprinkled with
gray and his face is worn. He declared at
the hospital when he was there during the
week of Aug. to II. that he would kill the
woman who was responsible for his condi-
ton before he would be satisfied.
Grace Harvey'S home is in Greensburg
where she has lived with her mother, with
the exception of the short periods she has
spent in this city with the WARDROBE
woman. This woman says that the girls
mother gave consent to the last visit here,
when she was to act as musician. She was
only twenty years old and not of striking
appearance. The Dispensary physicians
say the WARDROBE place, where she lived is