The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-18
FIRED SHOTS AT A MAN
THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE IN THE
STREET AT THE TIME.
tempting to Kill Samuel c. Dnw-
son-The Affair i'm Detail.

Three shots from a revolver fired by an
Infatuated woman on Kentucky avenue
about 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon caused
great excitement, but resulted in injury to
no person, though the weapon, when dis
charged, was pointed at a fleeing man. who
was running toward crowd of several
hundred people.
The woman gave her name as Bessie
Blackwell by which name she is known to
many of her acquaintance. She is also
known to many as Mrs. Dawson. and her
supposed husband was the fleeing man. He
is Samuel c. Dawson, of 1906 Prospect
street.
Yesterday she went to the office OF the
Huber Manufacturing Company, at IS
kentucky avenue, where Dawson spends
a good deal of time and started to talk
with him. He declined to make the desired
explanations when she asked why and TO
what place he had taken his clothing. She
declared that she would shoot him and ne
replied that she could not shoot butter
fly. She hurried from the place, went 10
Fletcher Noe, pawnbroker on West Mar
ket street, where unmindful Of other Gus
toners she demanded that she be waited
upon at once. She said she wanted a gun
an also that she wanted a "big gum" She
was known to the dealer, who gave her
the weapon, after loading 1t at her request.
He afterward said she had frequently
been in the place and several times III the
same excited manner
She left the place. walked hurr1eoly PACK
to the office where Dawson was ana
again demanded an explanation. she
started to draw the revolver from her dress
and Dawson tried to prevent 1t. she then
went to the door, followed by Dawson.
Roth returned to the office and the woman
finally managed TO get the weapon out
and Dawson ran from the office, going to-
ward Washington street. She followed and
after running a short distance raised the
revolver and attempted to fire.
SHOT THREE TIMES.
The frearm was not in good working
order and she was obliged to use both
hands in pulling the trigger, which she did
three times. One of the bullets struck one
of the iron poles in the center of the
street and the other two went wild. Not
one of the bullets struck Dawson or any
one of the large crowd that had gathered,
attracted by the excitement attending the
preliminaries. The woman returned TO the
Office and was found by Detectives Asch
aid Morgan and Policeman RAIDER in a
closet in the machinery room. She was
taken to the police station and charged
with shooting with intent to kill
She said that she had been going with
Dawson for about three years and since
the early part of November last had been
living in the Roberts flats, occupying nat
l, on North Illinois street. She said they
were known there as man and wife. Prior
to November she had lived with her par
ents on North California street, and took
the apartments because her mother in
sisted that Dawson should not come into
her home.
She said Dawson claimed to be unmarried
Until several months ago, when he told
her he had married his stepmother, his
fathers sixth wife, with whom he was also
living at 1905 Prospect street. She CLAIMED
$3.50 in cash and the same amount in
notes and bonds which he would get and
then arrange matters so they could be
married. She also said that Dawson fire.
quently came home intoxicated and on such
occasions would beat her and several
times tore her clothes off. They have had,
she said. much trouble, though he pro-
vided literally for her, in the matter of
rings, other jewelry, dresses, wraps and
Cincinnati, Chicago and other places. Re-
Gently he had written several notes, leav-
ing them in their rooms, stating that he
would not see her again, and yesterday.
while she was out, he went there and re-
moved his clothing and left note written
on an envelope again stating he would
have nothing more to do with her. After
finding the note she went to the Office
where he stayed with the result as stated.
Dawson, when asked about the matter,
refused to say anything.
Several weeks ago she went to his home
on Prospect street and in an effort to see
| him broke one of the doors.