The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-27
He SIashed Her with a Razor, Infict-
ing wounds That Were at First
Considered Fatal.
CROWD WANTED TO LYNCH HIM
NEGROES INFURTATED BY HIS MUIR
DEROUs ATTEMPT.
StranEe's Stepdaughter ProbabIy y
Prevented Him from Committing
Murder-Hfs Arrest.

An angry crowd Of fifteen hundred peo-
pie. the larger portion of whom were ne
groes. made great attempt to get Alonzo
Strange, colored, away from the police yes
terday evening about 5 o'clock while he
was under arrest. Strange. who lives with
his wife and stepdaughter at $40 East Court
street went home about 4:30 o'clock de-
caring boldly to his neighbors that he was
going inside to kill Mrs. Strange. When
Strange made this dire threat he brand
ished a razor and this caused his hearers to
be frightened. He almost carried out his
threat, for he cut Mrs. Strange across the
back from the under part of the left side to
the under part of the right side, laying bare
the ribs on the left side.
Mrs. Strange's creams attracted a large
number of people and Court street for
block each way was jammed with excited
negroes thirsting for the blood of the hus-
band. When it was learned that Mrs.
Strange was severely cut it took the COM
bined efforts of Capt. Kruger, Wagonman
George Barlow. Driver Joe Steinruck,
Bicyclemen STREET and Losh and Martin
Barrett driver of the ambulance, to keep
the excited negroes from taking Strange
out and lynching him. When he was
brought from the house his face was COW
cred with blood from wound on his cheek.
He stopped in the doorway and looked de-
family at the crowd. Cries of Give him TO
us!' Lynch the black rascal 90 and other
threats reached his ears. This caused
smile to appear on his face. This lasted but
a minute for three burly colored men ap-
peared around the side of house carrying
a big rope.
WANTED TO LYNCH HIM.
They walked over TO the fence and called
to Captain Kruger to turn the prisoner
over TO them. Kruger and the remainder
of the police, recognizing that they had a
desperate crowd to handle. resorted TO
strategy to take their prisoner to the police
station. Several of the district patrolmen,
who were also sent TO the scene, aided the
other officers in quieting the excited ne
groes Strange was taken back into the
house and the front door closed. The
patrol wagon was driven around a few
blocks and then into the alley in the rear
of Stranges house. where the prisoner was
loaded in and taken to headquarters The
crowd soon heard of this move and by the
time they reached the alley the wagon and
its prisoner was on the way down town
This did not damper the ardor of some and
tneX IOllONeQ llt NdEOu ~ tHt QOOI lead
ing into the courtyard of the station house
The same cries were hurled at Strange as
he sat at his ease in the wagon.
Strange's stepdaughter. Lillian Bybee.
was arrested on the charge of assault and
battery because she had struck Strange
while the latter was trying TO kill her
mother. She was taken to the station
merely TO detain her as a witness She
was not locked up. however. as three bonds
men appeared and she was immediately
released.
The girl said that she and her mother
were busiy engaged in ironing clothes
He took seat on the sofa in the front
room and called for Mrs. Strange She
appeared at the door leading from another
room and asked him what he wanted He
said he wanted some money and Mrs
Strange said she had none. She then
turned and resumed her work Strange
followed her 10 the door and said: We'll
II YOU don't give me some money / guess
l can get il from that white woman of
mine" The girl said this last remark ir
ritated her mother, who stopped work and
- Strange then walked a few PAGES into
the middle room and for the first time dis
played a shining razor. When the women
saw the weapon both jumped back Strange
by this time was fully aroused and ad-
vanced 10 the ironing board. Leaning over
the board he said: Il will kill YOU Won
dirty mean --. The girl and the woman
were thoroughly frightened. Strange
knocked the board from its holder and
lunged for Mrs. Strange. The latter held
a flat iron which she threw at Strange
hinder him in his progress. he grabbed