The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-16
BLUME MURDER TRIAL.
states First Evidence Taken by Mar
tinsvilIe Court.

The trial of William Blume, charged with
the murder of Grace Harvey in this city on
Sept. 81 last, was begun yesterday at
Lebanon, where the case was taken on
change of venue from Marion county.
Blume's attorneys have entered plea of
mot guilty for him and he will be de-
Tended the grounds of insanity. The
murder took place early on the evening of
Sept. u in a resort on West Washington
street. Blume's victim was a young woman
who had formerly lived al Greensburg. She
was staying in the house where she was
killed. After firing the fatal shots Blume
tried to kill himself and almost succeeded
For several days he was at the point of
death in the City Hospital.
Most of the day yesterday was occupied
in getting a jury, and at 2:45 o'clock the
following men were accepted 10 try the
case: w. l.. Station, l.. w. Tomlinson, w. L.
Johnson, Dennis NJ Zenor, Harry Huber,
Archibald South, George Goodwin, Henry
Pettinger, John o. Robinson, j. y. Shoe
maker, Thomas Mccain and George Stultz.
Six of these were of the regular panel and
tho others were selected from a special
venire. A. o. Reser, of Lafayette, was
sworn in as special stenographer.
AT 3:l5 o'clock Attorney Frank Groninger
made the opening statement for the prosecu-
ton. He recited the history of the tragedy
and indicated TO the jury what the State
expects TO prove. He said it would be shown
that Bl1me was in love with Grace Harvey
and on several different occasions took her
from the company of other men. Once he
fought q man whom he caught in her COM
pany. Mr. Groninger asserted that the evil
dence would show that while Grace Harvey
hay had had ion ba had
formed and at the time of the murder was
leading a virtuouS life. She was engaged
to be married to young man in Indianap-
oils, and Blume, the prosecutor declared.
had said she should not marry the man of
her choice. Blume had asserted that the
girl was responsible for his physical affic-
ton and he proposed TO get even with her.
Attorney Groninger said the girl was en-
ployed in the house where she met her
death in the capacity of a piano player. The
prosecutor thought the State would show
that the murder was deliberately planned
and fiendishy executed. Immediately after
the conclusion of the opening statement the
State began the taking of evidence.
The first witness called was Mrs. Mary
SimI son, mother or the propHetress or the
West Washington-Street resort where the
tragedy occurred. Mrs. Simpson testified
that she was on the way from the Kitchen
TO her own room when the shooting took
place and she saw the deed committed. She
heard Blume say something about the man
VINO was keeping company with the Harvey
girl and heard her reply in low tone of
voice. Blume then remarked: @ d
you, I'll fix YOU" AS the shots were fired
the girl screamed and cried, 'Oh, Will and
staggered toward the stairway. Mrs. Simp-
son testified that Grace Harvey was en-
ployed in the house as piano player. AT
the time there was a celebration of some
kind going on in Indianapolis, and as there
was a large crowd in the city the piano was
much in use.
Blume seemed deeply affected during the
opening statement of the prosecutor and
sat with his head bowed in his hands. His
father mother and sister are in attendance
and yesterday sat with the prisoner.