The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-30
DARK FOR MARTIN MILLER
POLICE NOW THINK HE KILLED
RAPHAEL COMPETELLO.
Joseph and Lizzie Spalding Give
Themselves Up-severaI CO1ored
Persons Arrested.

The police and detective departments,
after the killing Of Raphael Competello.
obtained clews Of the murderer and his
accessories on which they worked unceas-
ingly until yesterday noon, when they ar
rested Martin Miller, colored. whom they
charged with the murder. Joseph Spald-
ing, Lizzie Spalding. Bud Wilson and Eu-
gene McGinnis. were charged with being
accessories to the deed Miller stoutly
denied his guilt. The other negroes are
all of the opinion that Miller stabbed the
Italian.
Yesterday morning. just prior TO the
opening of police court, and while the
police and detectives were yet engaged in
ferreting out the murderer, Joseph Spald-
ing and his sister, Lizzie Spaiding, walked
into the police station They told the desk
sergeant that they had learned through the
morning papers that they were wanted on
the charge of killing Competello. They
said that while they were in the fight when
the Italian was stabbed neither of them
had done the cutting. They were closely
questioned and said they could probably
tell who had done the killing. While they
were engaged in telling their story, Eugene
McGinnis, another colored man, walked up
to the desk of Sergeant Corrigan. He had
been previously implicated in the trouble
by the Spaldings. He said he learned that
he was wanted. In his conversation with
superintendent Taffe, McGinnis said he
was positive that Martin Miller was the
man that had killed the Italian. He told
the officers that he would be able to find
Miller With Captain Kruger and Detec-
tive Morgan McGinnis walked to a barrel
house at Court and Delaware streets. Mil
Ter was found and admitted that he had
been in a fight with the Italian. He was
taken to the police station where he re-
lated his story of the affair AT its con-
clusion Superintendent Taffe ordered Mil
Ter locked up on the charge of murder.
While the detectives were placing Miller
walked leisurely away and was soon lost
in the crowd. He found later at his
home by the detectives. He said he had
merely left their presence because he
wanted 10 get some clothing. He was
brought back to the police station and
locked up on the charge of being an &C
cessory of the murder.
McGINNIS'S STORY.
McGinnis told Superintendent Taffe and
Captain Kruger yesterday morning that
he was standing OF the corner of Court
and Liberty streets and saw Lizzie Spald-
ing standing at Washington street talk
ing to a man. Suddenly she began to
throw stones at the man who started to
run. He said he Bud Wilson come
up and run alongside the man, who proved
to be the Italian. The crowd turned the
corner and started west on Washington
street He ran TO the corner and saw Mil
Ter catch up with the crowd. He heard
Miller say to the woman: Go ahead. he
can't do a damn thing to you" He said
he saw Miller walk to the side of Compe-
tello and jab him and the Italian fell over.
He said Harry Rice saw Miller wipe the
blood off his knife He said he saw Spald-
ing hit the Italian once. He disclaimed
any knowledge of being implicated in the
| affair himself.
Martin Miller was next questioned and
made the following statement: bud Will
son, Lizzie Spalding, Will Caldwell and
myself had been at Mrs. Galloways place
playing cards; 1 heard someone yell fight
| Spaldng at Liberty and Washington
| streets throwing stones. l saw Bud Will
| son running after a man. Spalding and
| McGinnis then came up and 1 saw them
| open their knives and strike at the Ital-
| IAN"
Joe Spaldings statement was follows:
| Il was in Browns barrel house when
| Harry Rice come running In and said there
was a fight on the corner. I went out and
saw five fellows fighting in the street
Martin Miller came running up to me and
! Off No. 1 replied he amt done any
thing to me- To this Miller said, IF you
| don't. l will Miller jabbed the Italian
and then hit him. 1 hit the other Italian
! Miller hit the other man again, this time
| knocking him over banana cart stand
| ing in the gutter After the fight 1 went
over to Court street and found my sister:
| We went home and remained there all
| night. When l learned this morning that
| I was suspected of killing the Italian,
told her that the best thing to do would
/ be to give ourselves up"
The crowd was locked UP and later en-
! ployed attorneys TO defend them. In each
! case, after talking with their attorneys
/ the negroes were reticent as to the trouble
| When questioned in their cells they would
! not answer any questions directly, but
would only say that they had been in
| Structed not to talk with anyone