The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-18
TAYLOR CAUGHT in TRAP
HE GOT THE CONTENTS OF A GU,
LOADED FOR BURGLARS.
Evidently Shot While Trying to Sc
cure Entrance to n Plumb
ing Establishment.

Samuel Taylor, colored, OF No. 1913 North
Missouri street. was found about 10 o'clock
last night lying in the alley between Illinois
street and Hall place, just north of Six
teenth street. He was suffering from a
shot in the stomach, and for a time there
was considerable mystery about the shoot
ing and there was great excitement among
the men and police gathered at the corner.
Taylor was taken to the office of DIR.
Wheeler where it was found that the bull
let had passed through the stomach and
body and lodged under the skin at the
back. He was given temporary treatment
and then taken to the City Hospital by DR..
Betz. of the City Dispensary.
Taylor was very weak and scarcely able
to talk, but when questioned said that he
had gone to the drug store on the corner.
where he formerly worked, for some soap.
He found it closed. AS he started home
he went back of the building on the south
west corner of Illinois and Sixteenth
streets to look for closet. He claimed to
have found several. but all were locked.
and then he started to climb over fence
when some one shot him. His story was
conflicting in many ways, and 1t was
thought that he had been shot while trying
to rob some of the houses there and had
then run away, falling in the alley where
he was found.
TRAP FOR A BURGLAR.
STREET. and Trimpe, the bicycle police and
the patrolmen from the two districts d.
viding there were at a loss to know who
had done the shooting. While they were
talking to residents of the neighborhood
a man ran to them and said there was
some one in the plumbing shop of J. W.
Rich at 1926 North Illinois street The DO
lice and other men separated, some going
| to the rear, others to the front, and two
climbed on top of the low buildings. No
one could be found outside. Finally STREET.
and Trimpe entered the plumbing shop
from the rear. where they had found win
dow partially raised Unable to find any
one inside they were about TO go out, when
they discovered the butt of a rifle in a
peculiar position on the work bench i'm front
of the window which had been raised and
by which they had entered. Investigation
showed 22-caliber f1obert rifle propped
up between two pieces of gas pipe and held
down by q large piece of iron pipe placed
across it. The whole, except the muzzle
which rested on the window, was covered
| with pile of newspapers. Screwed to the
stock of the rifle was a spool, and around
| this and attached to the trigger was linen
thread which was long enough to reach the
window, where it had been previously fas-
window to be raised about six inches before
pulling the trigger of the rife and dis
charging IL. The rifle contained 22-caliber
| long shell, which was empty and showed
evidence of having been recently fired. The
mystery had been cleared and the rifle was
| taken by the police to headquarters. Tay-
| Tor mad discharged the rifle himself while
trying to get into the shop. A Mrs. Gray
| and her daughter, living in the building on
| the corner, had said they had heard
muffied shot, as If some one had fired a
VI.
the groans of Taylor and called the atten-
ton of some men to them, resulting in his
being found.
TAYLoRs CONDITION.
At the City Hospital il was at first
thought that Taylor would die. the bullet
having passed through the stomach and
| liver, lodging in the back. 1t was finally
extracted. and was found to be 22-calibre.
| long. At late hour 1t was said that Tay-
lor was resting easily, and would probably
recover. He questioned about the
shooting, but insisted that he was shot
while getting over the fence.
Mr.. Rich, the plumber, was not seen last
night but Emery Stanley, barber In the
room adjoining the plumbing shop. said
that burglars had entered the plumbing
establishment on Friday night OF last week
and had taken a coat and vest belonging to
Rich leaving watch and some papers,
which were In the pockets. on table.
The shop had been entered several times
before and brass and metal taken. On
the Wednesday night before the butcher
shop of John NJ. BALI on Sixteenth street
was entered and quantity OF meat taken.
Other stores in the neighborhood had also
been visited lately. Stanley said that Rich
was in the barber shop last evening get
ting shaved, and when he suggested going
into the plumbing shop for something Rich
said. well. be careful what you do" but
did not explain what he meant. Stanley
said he did not go into the place.
Taylor has been employed in number of
stores in the capacity Of porter, and has
spent a good deal of time at the Newly
Oval assisting bicycle riders i'm their train
ing. He Is well known 10 the police and
was not long ago arrested for breaking
into vacant houses and stripping them of
gas and plumbing fixtures. He is familiar
ly known as Rags"