The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-05
FRED KETTLEHAKE'S ACT
SHOT AND PROBABLY FATALLY
WOUNDED FRED w. SIMON.
Hermann-LOuisk rause Re-
ceives n Bullet.

I'm forty-four years of age. and you
can't sweat me-" said Fred Kettlehake to
Captain Kinney yesterday afternoon on his
way TO the police station from Gus Rahke's
saloon. near the fair grounds, where he
was arrested by Kinney and Holtz for
shooting Louis Krause and Frederick ST.
mon. a grocer. at No. JOS North Noble
street.
About 11:40 yesterday morning Kettle
.hake, who was sitting i'm buggy in front
of ]. w. Foy's tailor shop. on Virginia ave-
nue., leveled a shotgun and fired one shot
at Undertaken George Hermann as he was
entering the Kneipe saloon, at No. IS Vir-
ginia avenue. Hermann escaped uninjured
but one bullet took effect in Louis Krauses
head and inflicted a severe wound. The gun
was evidently loaded with buckshot, and
fifteen holes in the plate-glass window of
the Kneipe saloon show evidence of the
charge Krause was carried into the saloon
and physician summoned. 1t was found
that the ball had not entered the skull He
was sent to his home. Immediately after
the shooting Kettlehake calmly drove away
and the police began search for him.
Ten minutes later a report was received
that Fred w. Simon, grocer at No. 32S
North Noble street. had been shot. 1t was
found that Kettlehake had stopped in front
of the place in his buggy and called to
Simon, who was working in the garden,
saying he wanted to talk to him. Simon is
about sixty-five years of age and unable TO
see well without glasses. When hailed by
Kettlehake he looked up and was partially
blinded by the sun, which shone I'm his face.
He walked toward the buggy in the street,
and when he had reached the sidewalk was
stopped by a charge of buckshot, which
struck him in the abdomen. He was car
ried into the store and later removed to the
Deaconess Hospital. where he hovers be-
tween life and death. At midnight IL was
not known whether or not he would re-
cover. Drs. TrenaTy and Karchner. of the
City Dispensary removed six bullets from
his abdomen and stated that his liver was
almost shot TO pieces.
Kettlehake was for several years a bar
tender at the Grand Hotel and later at the
Kneipe saloon. One night about a year
ago. Ii is said, he became intoxicated and
called hack. He imagined that he was
being held up" and upon pulling out re-
volver shot himself in the leg. When he
got out of the hack he fell, fracturing both
limbs. which, on account of bodily disease,
rendered him a cripple. Several months
ago he went to Hot Springs, Ark, for his
health and returned Sunday last.
= Kettlehake married Hermann's sister, and
on account of alleged abuse and cruel treat
ment was divorced and also expelled from
the lodge of which he was a member. The
part taken by Hermann in behalf of his sis
ter Is said to have been the cause of Kettle
hake's hatred toward him. On account of
his disability Kettlehake was given an al
lowance by the lodge, and Simon, being the
treasurer OF the lodge, paid the benefits and
thus incurred kettlehake's hatred 1t is
said he wrote a letter from Hot Springs in
timating 1t was his intention to kill Her
mann. Simon and several others who had
been instrumental in securing his wife's di-
vorce. Kettlehake hired the rig used from
]. Mann, who said that in ordering the rig
at the Oakly Hotel he had said this would
probably be his last day and that its all
of with me to-day" Other witnesses said
he had made threats
Kettlehake talked freely of everything ex-
cept the shooting. which he denied having
done. Everything connected with the shoot
he had called one. He said he had retained
John w. Kern and Marshall & Seyfried. 1t
Is known that he pawned his watch, and
when arrested and asked about a white hat
that he wore said he had given IL TO a mig
ger that worked for him. Tuesday he WIS.,
tied his two children and yesterday saw his
wife on the street while he was driving In
the buggy, shortly before the shooting. The
police think froms his manner that his de-
tense to the shootings will be insanity.