The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-14
HOW THE FRACAS STARTED
BARTENDER wILsO HAD KNOCKED
DOWN ROBERT M'OUAT.
Barnett Was with McOuat end After
Some Argument Shot Wilson
Twice-He VIII Die.

death of Frank Wilson, white, the barten-
der. Wilson was shot just above the heart
and collapsed and was unable to talk more
than to say the shooting was done by a
negro who accompanied Bob" McOuat.
The story of the affair, as gained from a
number of persons, each of whom knew a
little of it. was TO the effect that Robert L.
McOuat and 2 colored man, said to have
been the family %cOachman, went into the
saloon about IL o'clock. Wilson was on
duty at the bar and in the rear of the bar
room vas Dan Lynch. All except Lynch
were in the front of the room when an ar
gument began over a matter unknown. A
fight started and Wilson knocked McOuat
down. The negro drew a revolver and
threatened to shoot Wilson, who grabbed
him by the arm and began talking and try
ing TO get him TO put the weapon in his
pocket. McOuat and the negro were intoxi-
Gated. Wilson took the negro back through
the barroom, through a door into the
cafe and to the door in front, over which
is a sign reading Ladies' Entrance"
During the walk to the front door Will
son talked with the negro, advising him TO
be quiet and put up his revolver. The negro
put the weapon into his pocket and peace
fully continued the walk to the door. AS
he went through the doorway he again
took the revolver from his pocket, turned
and fired two shots. One of the bullets
took effect in Wilson's body, striking him
just above the heart, first passing through
his coat and cutting in twain his watch
chain.
The negro ran and Wilson cried, MY
God, Dan, I'm shot!" Dan Lynch had gone
from the barroom to the door where the
negro left the building and had just turned
to go back when the shots were fired. He
went at once to the telephone and called
for the bicycle police and the City Dis
pensary physicians.
FELL TO THE FLOOR.
Wilson turned and walked, or rather
staggered 20 the rear end of the room.
and there fell to the floor, where he tore
his shirt off.
What became of McOuat at that tire is
not known. but it is thought he left the
building by another front.door at the time
Wilson started to the rear with the negro.
Tom Hedian, Superintendent Quigley's
clerk. passing IN a street car, heard the
shots and ran to the place. finding Wilson
on the floor. He was unable TO get from
him then any information other than that
AC AAtAN bNNh eAVN - q lis ACAAhiAN
the cook. came in and took care of Wilson
while Lynch and William Reed brought a
couch from an upper room.
Reed heard the shots while in the loft of
an adjacent livery stable and ran to the
rear end, looking through a window out
onto the alley. He saw two men running,
but was unable to recognize them. He
called to three negroes standing in the en-
4 - - 20 tA0 Dato- -. 49,. 81
asked, whats the matter?' "Oh, some
body's shooting at a dog" was the reply.
Reed, however, hurried down and in the
saloon found Wilson, from whom he was
unable to elicit any information.
Wilson was apparently failing fast until
the arrival of the Dispensary doctors, when
ammonia was applied to his ~nostrils. and
he revived sufficiently to tell Captain Daw-
son that a negro who accompanied Bob"
McOuat did the shooting and later to say
that he had no revolver and did no shoot
ing.
A CROWD PRESENT.
The 'cafe'' was filed with curious per-
sons for a time. Continual efforts were
made to get Wilson TO give the name Of
his assailant, but he was unable to do so.
Just before he was taken to the City Hos
pital Lynch, who was an intimate friend,
dropped to his knees beside the couch and.
kissing Wilson's face and lips, said: God
bless you Frank
In the room were a number of hackmen
and others who had seen McOuat about
the streets and saloons during the even
ing in company with a negro, who was
known to be the family coachman. ami
their description corresponded with that
given BY Lynch. The bicycle policemen
and a number of the district patrolmen
were sent out from the place
and Griffin and Manning found Nc
4 Dnaf Of the Ep.pIich Hotel urbo-,
he was looking for his hat. His face was
covered with blood and across his nose was
a cut from which the blood was running.
On his cheek was a scar freshly made. lis
was drunk and unable TO talk plainly or
with any understanding. He was taken
10 headquarters and charged with drunk
enness. He claimed TO know nothing of
what happened and at first denied having
been around the saloons with the negro
coachman. He later admitted this fact.
but said he could remember nothing Of
what happened except that he was I'm some
place when a man drew a revolver and
fired at him. He said his injuries were
inflicted by a bullet. but Or. Christian
and others said the cut was probably made
in some other way.
CAUGHT IN THE STABLE.
Griffin and Manning then went to Mrs.
McOuat's home, S2 North Meridian street.
and inquired regarding the colored coach
man, James Barnett. Being unable to learn
anything from her they went to the stable
and found il locked. After pounding at the
doors and windows for some time and
receiving no response they broke into the
place and found Barnett, who was either
so drunk as 10 be unable TO move or
feigning drunkenness. He was much under
the influence of liquor. When he was
aroused he said "Whatd you want here? -
One of the marks Of description given by
Lynch was that the negro carried in his
Overcoat a folded newspaper. This was
found in Barnetts pocket, and the other
points correspondent.
Barnett was taken by Captain Dawson 70
the City Hospital. arriving there Just after
the doctors had announced that Wilson
could live but a few moments. Barnett was
hurried to Wilson's cot and stimulants APP
Piled. Under pressure Wilson aroused
was very weak and could hardly with
stand the strain. Barnett was told TO taik
TO Wilson. who asked him IL he was the
negro who was in the saloon with Bob
MCOuat Barnett said he was and Wilson
sinking back onto the couch. said: IF you
are the man who was with Bob McOuat
you are the man who shot me for nothing.
Barnett was taken away and refused tc
make any answer to the questions of the
officers. At ? o'clock this morning Wilson
was sinking fast and IL was said he could
not live.
McOuat is thought TO have been the
man who ran through a private alley
I'm the rear OF the Windsor block, into an
alley at the side OF the Cyclorama build
ing. out into Wabash street and into the
alley between Market and illinois streets.