The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-08
BABY LEFT ON DOORSTEP
PLACED THERE WHILE A RIOT WAS
TAKING PLACE IN STREET.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gideon. Who Has Chill
dren of Her Own, Wants TO Keep
the I'M

There was no end to the excitement at
the corner of Walnut and Maxwell streets
from 9 until II o'clock last night. The first
excitement was over what promised TO de-
velop into a general race war between the
white people and negroes living in that
vicinity. The streets were full of people,
and amid the changing of the gong Of the
patrol Wagon and loud voices a baby was
left on a doorstep not more than 100 feet
from the corner where the trouble had CEN
tered.
A number of white boys had attacked
Fred Johnston, colored. living at 72 Max
well street. and handled him rather rough
ly. Several of the older Johnstons. includ-
ing James and Willis Johnston and James
Brantford, living at 707 Maxwell street
took up the fight, and the white boys were
recruited up to a fighting standard by the
voluntary enlistment of several white men.
The threatening attitude of both sides and
the loud talk brought everybody in the
neighborhood into the street. The excite
ment became more intense when the W
Johnstons drew revolvers and threatened
TO use them on the white men. The bicycle
police were called, and Policemen Hauser
and Trimpe arrived in time to avoid trouble.
The participants in the fight scattered. but
the two Johnstons and Brantford were ar
rested and taken TO the police station,
where they were released on bond. Brant-
ford was charged with assault and battery
and the Johnstons with drawing deadly
weapons. In what fighting that was done
no one was seriously hurt.
There were perhaps one hundred or more
persons standing on the corner Of Max
well and Walnut streets waiting for the
patrol wagon, when the daughter OF Mrs.
Elizabeth Gideon. living at ga Maxwell
street, was called TO the door by a knock.
When she opened the door she saw no one
except those in the crowd on the corner a
few feet away. but found on the doorstep a
~half-bushel market basket. She looked into
IL and discovered that II contained a baby.
She then called her mother, who took the
little one into the house. The word soon
spread TO the crowd on the corner that a
baby had been found on Mrs. Gideon's
doorstep. ard as soon as the patrol wagon
had gone with it's load the crowd came en-
masse toward Mrs. Gideon's home. The
house was full of people in a very few
minutes. and everybody craned their necks
20 get a peep at the newcomer. The women
living in the neighborhood, who had been
rather timid about making themselves con-
spicuous in the former excitement, were
now predominant. and dozens of motherly
faces smiled on the little stranger and gave
vent to endearing terms and words OF pity.
The baby is a healthy boy, not more than
two or three days old, and, as one of the
women expressed it. lust as pretty as can
be- In the basket with the baby were
three dresses we'll made and of good ma
terial. two shirts, vests and a soft white
cloak. The baby had its bottle in its mouth
when found, and was sleeping contentedly
in it's temporary crib. Mrs. Gideon, who
has a family OF her own and grandchildren,
is a buxom, motherly-looking woman with
a kindly face. and her eyes beamed as she
fondly watched the baby as she rocked II
to and fro. She has but one boy, who is
now i'm the Philippines. and is overjoyed at
the thought of keeping the baby. Last
night she seemed very much concerned
: about it's welfare, lest the police might take
II away from her. Some time after the
child was found a big patrolman. knocked
on the door. AS she opened it the officer
said: us this where a baby was found on
Eyes. sir" replied Mrs. Gideon. and her
%countenance fell. but you are not going
10 get it." She told the officer to leave the
baby with her and she would take steps 10
keen il.