The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-10
Student Deliberately Shoots
a Man in the Presence of Over
Ten Thousand People.
SCORES MADE BY THE RIDERS
MILLER AND WALLER WINNERS OF
THE FIRST PRIZE FOR TEAMS.
Covered 2,733 Miles and Four Laps
i'm Six Days-WalthOur Winner
of Individual Prize.

NEW YORK, Dec. 9.-An hour after the
big bicycle race ended in Madison-square
Garden tonight, and during the excitement
attending a ffteen-mile pursuit race. Fred
erick s. Slater of Railway. n. j.. seated
in one of the lower boxes. was shot and
mortally wounded by Walter Rosser, nine
teen years old, medical student living in
this city. The shooting occurred as the re-
suit OF a quarrel over bet the men mad
made on the result of a race. Slater was
taken TO Bellevue Hospital. He was shot
i'm the left breast, and it is stated there
that he cannot live.
There were 1000 or 1900 persons in the
big amph;theater at the time, and some of
these rushed at Rosser. Two hundred po-
licemen charged through the mob with
drawn clubs. and. surrounding Rosser, hur-
ried him through the crowd.
Rosser was intoxicated at the time, IL Is
said He had been going about making
walked up to the box in which Slater and
a party of friends were seated. and said
would win the next race. Eaton was not
he was ready to bet 5 to l that Eaton
in the next race, and in a spirit of fun
Slater made a bet with him. Just as the
finish of the race was exciting thousands of
people some one near Slater called out TO
him: Hes got a gun; look out" Rosser
had already pulled out revolver, and he
fired point blank at Slater. The bullet
struck him in the left breast, just over the
heart.
The crowd was shouting so loudly over
the race that few persons heard the shot.
Those in the vicinity of the shooting saw
Slater fall backward into the arms of
young woman who sat directly behind him.
His head fell in her lap. crowd rushed
over toward the scene of the shooting and
tried TO lay hold of Rosser. but a couple of
policemen were too quick for them, and
they held the murderer away. Other police
men came to their aid. and surrounding the
medical student, they forced him through
the mob. The crowd tried to break through
several times, but the police kept them
back with their clubs. Rosser was taken
to the overcoat room, which was we'll
guarded. Slater also was carried to the
overcoat room, where, after recovering con-
seriousness, he identified Rosser as the man
who shot him. Slater was taken to Belle
vue Hospital.
Rosser was taken to the West Thrtieth-
street station. There was an enormous
crowd present. The races Were broken up,
and the crowd seemed intent on learning
the immediate fate of Rosser. Chief Dew
cry happened TO be in the garden and took
charge OF the case. Policemen guarded the
man, who, however. was very cool. He
walked along with the policemen. He
coolly said he would commit suicide at the
first opportunity he got, and Chief Devery
told the officers to look after him closely
and that he did not keep his word in
that respect
At the police station Rosser gave his
christian name Willis. At the Lexing-
ton-avenue house where RosSer boarded
his roommate said that he is the son of
wealthy parents in Stevenson, Ala. He
said also that Rosser had graduated at
Vanderbilt University at Nashville. Tenn,
in 1898 and that he has been attending the
postgraduate hospital in this city.