The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-08
Jones Had but Recently Left the
Employ of the Worries Busi-
ness College.
MISS NEwKIRK A WHITE GIRL
SHE HAD TOLD A COMPANION OF
HER FEAR OF JONES.
The Girls Murderer Had n Wife and
ChfIdren-The Coroner Called
Details of the Tragedy.

The infatuation of a colored man Of
family for a white girl was the probable
cause OF a murder and suicide last night,
between $40 and 10 o'clock.
Miss Eliza Newkirk twenty-five years Of
age, living at 121 East Vermont street was
shot and killed at her rooming place by
Norris Jones, the colored janitor at the
Worries Business College where the young
woman attended school, The shooting
was done with a thirty-eight caliber re-
volver, the bullet entering the left breast.
After passing through her body IL came
out on the right side about four inches
lower than the place OF entrance.
The police and Dispensary doctors were
called as soon as possible and about five
minutes after their arrival at the house
word was received that a c0lored man had
killed himself I'm the alley back OF the
When store and that the ambulance was
wanted. The man was Norris Jones, who
had shot Miss Newkrlx. He had killed
himself by shooting a bullet through his
head. the ball entering the left temple and
going clear through.
Both bodies were removed TO the city
morgue and examined by Coroner Brayton.
There was some question for time as 20
whether the dead negro was the same one
who shot Miss Newkirk, but this was set
tied beyond question by later investiga-
tions into the actions of Jones and his
Identification by Mrs. Nichols. who lives in
the west side of the house where Miss
Newkirk resided.
KILLED AT THE DOOR.
The shooting occurred about $40 o'clock
on the porch of the girls home. few
moments before Mrs. Nichols, living at-No.
1l9 East Vermont street. answered a call
of her door bell. A negro wearing a black
suit of clothes and eyeglasses carrying a
paper in his hand. asked, us Miss New
kirk at homer" He was told that no one
by that name lived in the house and he
hesitated, finally saying, Are you sure?"
He then asked the number OF the house az
which he was inquiring and when told that
it was No. 119 East Vermont street said: Il
beg your pardon; I'm looking for No. 121-"
He then left the door and went at once &C
No. 12l, where he rang the bell. Mrs. Dora
McCarty, who keeps the roOming house
there, answered the bell. To her Jones
said: us Miss Newkirk in her room?' Mrs.
McCarty said he had the appearance of
messenger and that he had paper which
she took TO be an envelope In his hand. She
asked if he wished ito see her. and he re-
piled that he did Miss Newkirk's room
was on the third floor, and after calling
several times for her and receiving no re-
Spouse she sent her daughter 10 call her.
The daughter returned and said she would
be down I'm a moment.
Mrs McCarty waited at the door and was
told by Jones, who stepped back into the
shadow away from the door. that IL was
not necessary for her TO wait there. She
did. however. and when Miss Newkirk an
peared she explained that her delay was<
because she had partly prepared for bed
and had TO dress before coming down. She
also mentioned the fact that she had been
reading letter. The young woman opened
the door and upon seeing the negro made
some exclamation and then went outside.
closing the door after her. Mrs. Mccarty
utes later a shot was heard. Mrs. Nc
Carly said she had no idea It was so close.
but she got up and went into the front
room. AS she was entering Miss Newkirk
also entered. She was staggering. gasping
and trying TO say something. She was un-
able TO respond 10 inquiries Of What's the
rlatter?" and sank unconscious 10 the floor.
face downward. Mrs. McCarty's son came
a
but could not do so. He then rolled her
body over. in an effort 10 see where she
was injured. He found a great hole in her
waist, blackened for several inches around
II by burnt powder.
WEAPON HELD CLOSE
The weapon with which she had been
shot had been held so close that the cloth
had been set on fire and the garment was
smoldering when the son turned her over.
There was some delay in calling the p.s-
pensary doctors. but IL was finally done BY
telephone from the home OF Mrs. Nichols.
who had gone into the other house and
tried as best she could 60 do something
for the injured girl She said no word after
reaching the inside OF the house and died
before the Dispensary doctors reached her.
Neither Mrs. McCarty nor her son
thought OF looking for the siri's assailant
and Miss Mccarty was unable, for she
had tainted. The police learned after In
quiry that the negro who had estn on the
porch was seen TO run down the alley 3
few feet from the scene Of the tragedy
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