The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-29
ELUSIVE WILDER CAUGHT
MURDERER OF OTTO MINGER UNDER
ARREST AT CAIRO, ILL.
Detention Brought About by Circu-
Iar-The Crime at kissel's
Garden Recalled.

James Wilder. the murderer of Otto Min
ger. has been arrested at Cairo, ILL.,, and
Detective Thornton is on his way to fetch
the prisoner to this city. The arrest evil
IDENTIFY came about through Wider's indis-
erection in talking himself. Thursday Super
intendent Quigley received letter from p
Mahoney chief of police of Cairo The let
ter was dated Jan o. and was as folows
do you want a negro for killing man in
Captain English's saloon in your city? If
So please let me know ] think might be
able to get him for YOU
There is no Captain English, saloon
keeper, in this city, and never was to the
knowledge of the police. But the name re-
called the fact that Woodson Manson killed
William English at a colored dance west OF
the river Feb. %, 1896. Thinking this was
the man the chief OF police at Cairo was
watching, Superintendent Quigley sent a
full description of Manson, and in the let
ter inclosed one of the printed descriptions
of Wilder. There were only two colored
murderers out, and it might be either. Yes
terday afternoon a message was received
from Chief Mahoney saying: Have James
Wilder arrested. Send officer after him. ,"
Requisition papers were secured, and De-
tectiye Thornton took night train for
Illinois.
Wilders crime as described by witnesses,
was a coldblooded one. 1t was committed
Sept Is at Fred Kissels garden, corner If
Capitol avenue and Twenty-seventh street
On the day before the murder Sunday,
James Wilder, Lee Smith and Sam Bald
win, all of whom are colored, had been
playing craps in the Fall creek bottoms
near Kissel's. Baldwin and Wilder entered
into a fight with Smith, and the latter
struck Wilder in the mouth and ran. He
ran into Kissels garden and hid in the base
ment under the building Wilder pursued
him, but was stopped at the gate by Otto
Minger. the engineer and electrician at the
garden. He closed the gate in Wilder's face
and kept him from following Smith. Wilder
went away, threatening to get even"
Little was thought of the incident. The
next morning, about o'clock, Munger was
sitting on the steps leading up to the
saloon. %He was in conversation with Harry
Spencer, boy, and William Holman, when
Wilder came suddenly around the corner
from REIMBURSEMENT street and orened fire
at Minger with a revolver. The first shot
went through Mingers hat. 1t was aimed
at his head, as was the second one, but
Minger jumped up as the trigger was pulled
the second time, ana the outlet
abdomen. He died the same day.
Wilder ran north on Capitol avenue, pur-
sued by Fred KissePs dog, which snapped
at his feet and would have thrown him had
not Wilder fired shot at it and sent it
yelping back to the garden. The police fol-
lowed Wilder to his home at (old) % Berlin
avenue, but missed him by a few minutes.
He managed to escape entirely, though
every avenue of escape from the city was
thought to be guarded For long while
there were rumorS that the negro was stay
ing in the city or near the city limits to the
north. Reports that he had been seen near
Crown Hill and further up the river were
made to the police, and several times the
police secured the country. Later the police
received what was considered reliable infor-
nation that he was at the edge of Hamilton
county A party was sent there, and it was
learned that a negro answering his deScrip-
ton had been there, but had disappeared
Again it was thought that Wilder was To-
Gated in West Virginia, but the suspect was
not found when officers went to arrest him.
The police finally became convinced that
Wilder had gone south, and would probably
never be heard of. Almost every day circu-
lars containing his description were sent out
to points where it was thought he might
have gone.
Superintendent Quigley received a mes
sage last night from Chief Mahoney, of
Cairo, saying that Wilder would return
here without reqnisition.