The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-30
STABBED in THE BACK
RODNEY KING ATTEMPTED TO KILL.
ABRAHAM TURPIE LAST NIGHT.
Turpie, Cook at NOrmandie Cafe,
Had Helped to Eject king
King Fought Police.

Abraham Turpie, a colored cook at the Nor
mandie cafe, No. 207 South Illinois street,
was stabbed by Rodney King, also colored,
last evening and he may die. King buried
the long blade of a clasp knife in Turpie's
back, just below the left shoulder blade. 1t
was found that the knife had probably pene-
trated Turpies lungs.
Kings act was that of a drunken man.
A few minutes before he had feen elected
from the cafe, having fallen asleep while
sitting at one of the tables Turpie assisted
in putting him out. After stabblng Iurple,
King ran away, but returned to The scene a
few minutes later. Bicycle Patrolmen Lam
caster and STREET had been summoned and
while they were being shown where the cut
ting had occurred they saw King lowering
around. King ran into an alley and Ian
caster, followed by STREET, chased him
through McCrea street to point between
Maryland and Georgia streets before over
taking him. AS Lancaster grasped Kings
arm the negro swung around and made
vicious slash at the oliceman's throat. Ihe
blow struck Lancaster's arm, raised in de-
fense, and scraped his hand A blow on
Kings mouth that knocked him to the
ground, and at the same time dislocated one
of the policeman's knuckles held him until
Streit and Detectives Asch and Dugan went
to Lancaster's assistance AT the police
station it took two policemen to hold King
while he was being searched. He fought
fiercely striking at the policeman and kick
ing at the turnkey after his hands had been
secured. His talk was too maudlin to per-
nit of his making any statement concerning
his act. He was bleeding at the mouth from
the blow by which Lancaster subdued him
Iurple after being stabbed walked back
TO the restaurant and sat down, uncon-
sclous OF the nature of his injury until
some one saw the blood on his white jacket
ana called his attention to it. He was taken
to his home, at No. AIS South PennsvlVania
street, weakened from loss of blood. He had
been cook at the Normandie cafe for sew
eral months. He is a single man, thirty-five
Years old, and we'll liked by his associates
Ihere could be no premeditation, those who
saw the affair believed, inasmuch as the
man was never seen in the restaurant until
last evening at supper time when he went
in with another man, who bought him his
supper. After eating King threw his arms
across the table and went to sleep. The
proprietor OF the place awoke him. and
when he refused to go out, summoned as
slstance, and King was put out in the alley
He went back and called Turpie, who told
MN to go away, saying, You're drunk to-
night; come around tomorrow and tell me
Turpie then turned away laughing. and
King, who had the knife open in his over
coat pocket, pulled it out and struck Turpie
hlng hurried away before any one realized
put the knife in his pocket still open and
wet with Turpie's blood. In the restaurant
when Iurpies wound was found, there was
CONSERVATION, in the midst of which the
police and detectives arrived
Ihe prisoner is only twenty-three years
old' and Is tall, powerful negro. He has
been porter in various hotels in this citv
and was living at No. 322 Muskingum street
some months ago he was arrested for
similar but less serious crime during sa-
loon brawl. He came here from IOIisviIie
where he has a sister living He was slated
tent to kill. "