The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-25
WITH INTENT TO KILL
FRITZ HICKS SHOT MRS. JOSEPHINE
ROMHILT.
She PrOprietress Of the Illinois House,
He a Boarder-Her COndf-
ton Critical.

Mrs. Josephine Romhilt, proprietress of
the Illinois House, was shot by one of her
boarders, Fritz Hicks, last evening, and her
injuries were such that the physicians in
attendance last night despaired of her re-
covery. Two shots were fired at close
range, both taking effect. Hicks escaped,
but Detectives Colbert, Morgan and Gerber
found him at IL o'clock in bed in a lodging
house on West Washington street, the re-
volver with which he had attempted the life
of Mrs. Romhilt under his pillow.
The motive for the shooting can only be
conjectured. Hicks could not explain to the
officers why he had done it. Il don't want
to say anything about her." he declared.
Guests at the hotel said that Hicks had
been infatuated with the woman for many
months. 1t is said he was behind in his
board bill and that she had been persistent
in trying to collect it. At the supper table,
the dining room girls said, Hicks was too
drunk to eat. The police are convinced that
the affair was premeditated. Before supper
Hicks went to the office of William Essman,
at the workhouse, and borrowed his revolt
yer, saying he was 'going coon hunting to-
night Essman is brother Of Mrs Rom
hilt, and it was with his weapon that Hicks
shot her.
About o'clock Mrs. Romhilt went to the
laundry at the rear of; the hotel. She was
dressed to go out and had her bonnet on.
She had asked the laundress, Mary Yacht
stetter, for a handkerchief, when Hicks
came to the door. She saw him, slammed
the door in his face and bolted it.
Go away, I want to talk to Mary" she
said.
You come here, I want to talk to you,'
he shouted through the window.
He then opened the window, and was step
ping through it into the room, when Mrs.
Romhilt. seeing the. weapon in his hand,
screamed to the other woman to call her
son, who was in the office. The laundress
ran out doors just as Hicks entered the
room, and before she had gone more than a
few steps she heard the two shots Hicks
fired. The shots were heard by others, who
FASTENED into the area back of the hotel.
Pointing his gun az them. Hicks warned
them not to follow him. and backed out on
the street through the alley east of the
house. lie then walked east, and, turning
corner, ran away before any one had
summoned courage to follow him.
Had it not been for a picture of himself
which Hicks had given Mrs. Romhilt, by
the aid of which the detectives managed to
recognize him, he might have escaped en-
tirely, but with this assistance they identi-
fled him. He appeared sober and told &
straight story at police headquarters. adj
hitting the shooting and concealing moth
ing but the motive
Mrs. Romhilt was carried into the dining
ROOM bleeding and unconscious. Drs Car
roll and Combs attended her, but were I'M
able to make a careful examination of the
wounds on account of the patients great
pain. They administered opiates, under the
influence of which she remained until after
midnight One bullet entered below the
right breast, the other near the spine at the
waise line. Mrs. Romhilt is forty years old
years, clerk at the hotel. and daughter,
Gertrude. aged sixteen years also en-
ployed at the hotel. Her husband is not
living with her.
Hicks came 10 Indianapolis July 10. 1898.
from Henderson, Ky. He is twenty-five
years old.