The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
RUTHvEN FOUND GUILTY
THE VERDICT IN THE CASE OF THE
COLORED MURDERER.
He Has Been on Trial for Some ,s,e
fn Cleveland, Oils Career
Here.

Edward Ruthven. the negro who was
arrested here on June by Detectives Kin
ney. Splan. Dugan, Wallace, Morgan and
Gerber, after a desperate struggle, during
which Ruthven attempted to shoot his
way through the blockade of detectives
and was prevented only by Captain Kinney
making spring and grabbing his weapon
as 1t was about to be discharged, was yes
terday convicted at Cleveland, o., where
he was taken, OF murder in the first de-
gree.
The story of Ruthven's life is one of
much interest. He was arrested at Buoy
rus. o., in April. while in the act of rob-
bling house there. He was placed in
jail awaiting trial, and on April 16 escaped
from prison. A reward of $50 was offered
for his apprehension. The next heard of
him was at Cleveland, where, on the night
OF May 5. he was caught by patrolmen
while robbing house there. Not knowing
the desperate character of the man the
police allowed him some liberty, and be-
fore they were aware Ruthven made
81 ring and got away. He was located in
building, and number of officers went
had III some unknown manner provided
himself with plenty OF firearms, and for
a long time held five policemen at bay.
finally shooting John Shipp and getting
away through shower of bullets, some of
which took effect, for when arrested here
and seriously wounded by Detective Ger
Der, four other bullet wounds were found
on his body, some of them being recently
inflicted.
RUTHvEN HERE.
A negro by the name of Cornelius John
son knew Ruthven, and, learning of his
presence in the city, told the detectives.
Detective Thornton was put on the case
and worked hard for the capture of the
murderer, for there was a reward of $1,000
offered for his return to Cleveland for trial.
For a number of nights Thornton watched
the house where Ruthven occasionally
stopped. and then he became Ill. Thornton
did not appear at headquarters for sew
eral days, and then stayed only few min
yates and returned home That day john
son advised the detectives that Ruthven
was in the house which had been watched,
and Captain Kinney called a number of the
men together and started for the house.
While on the way they met Thornton, who
tain Kinney would not permit it and told
him TO go home. Thornton never appeared
at headquarters after that and died from
the effects OF long-standing disease.
which was made fatal by exposure during
the time he was watching for Ruthven.
The detectives surrounded the house and
entered front and back at the same time.
Ruthven started out the front way and
turned back, thinking there was no one
at the rear. At the front he had seen only
Captain Kinney, and when confronted by
three detectives in the rear he turned and
started again, with leveled revolver, for
the front, thinking, no doubt, the chances
for escape would be better against one
man than against three Just as he was
about to pull the trigger Captain Kinney
sprang and seized the gun, and Detective
Gerber, who saw the act, fired, the bullet
striking Ruthven In the back. He made a
desperate struggle, but was overpowered
and later in the day taken TO the City Hos
pital, where he remained, under guard of
two detectives night and day, until June
IL, when he had sufficiently recovered to
be removed to headquarters. He was taken
to Cleveland under heavy guard couple
of days after, and at once placed in the
strongest cell in the prison there
CAUSED BY THE OFFICERS.
Ruthven uttered all sorts of curses
against those instrumental in his confine-
ment and when he heard of the death
of Thornton was particularly jubilant, and
predicted other deaths
The reward of $1,000 was paid on June IS
and the money was divided between the
pension fund and Cornelius Johnson, who
gave the information leading to his ar
rest. Johnson took the $500 and went to
the detective department and there ten
dered to Captain Kinney $3.50 to be divided
among the men, and about an hour after
walked into Huder'S drug store, bleeding
at the lungs. He was carried into the
basement and died there before the services
of a physician could be had. The death
OF Johnson was another event which great
ly pleased Ruthven when he heard of il.
When the trial of Ruthven was begun,
at Cleveland, the police arranged it so
there should be chance for escape. A
steel wire cage had been made and into
this Ruthven was placed. while in the
courtroom. He was also closely guarded
day and night by two deputy sheriffs. His
case was such that he knew he had no
had no chance TO live or escape prison and
he was ready to take any chance to
cape before sentence. The case attracted
attention throughout the country and the
papers, both east and west, contained pic
lures of Ruthven in his steel cage dur
ing the progress of the trial.
The police department of Cleveland was
profuse in it's thanks to the officers here
for the capture of the murderer and the
local department was also pleased with
the work that had been done. In order
that there should be no miscarriage in the
trial several of the detectives concerned
in the arrest here went to Cleveland to tes-
tify in case they We're needed.