The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-01
SHOT THE WRONG MAN
ALEXANDER DOWNIE SERIOUSLY
WOUNDED BY DIR. j.. :. PARSONS.
Had Long Been Annoyed by
Boys Crying "Quack! Quack." at
Him-Fired Into n Crowd.

DR.. John S. Parsons shot and seriously
wounded Alexander Downie yesterday noon
in front of the office of the Chandler &
Taylor Company. on West Washington
street. DR.. Parsons lives across the river,
and was on his way home TO his dinner.
He was walking along that spur of Wash
ington street commonly known as Wash
ington avenue. When he passed Chandler
& Taylor's place he noticed a large crowd
of men and boys standing in front waiting
for the factory whistle 10 blow. DR.. Par
sons had walked as far as the canal bridge,
about half a block further west, when he
heard the cry, "Quack! Quackl" He turned
suddenly and fired into the crowd.
Downie, who lives at 1017 Dorcas street,
had come into Washington street out of
Geisendorff street on his way to the Acme
mills, where he was employed. He had just
reached the crowd in front of Chandler &
Taylor's, when he was hit by the bullet
fired by DR.. Parsons. Downie was shot
in the back between the shoulders. The
ball grazed the spinal column and par
TALLY paralyzed the left side. After he
fell to the street he was carried into the
office of Chandler & Taylor and placed on
a cot.
DR.. Parsons. after firing his revolver. ran
west and over the temporary bridge toward
his home, COS Maryland street. He was
found by Patrolmen Mulvihill and Coulson
and arrested.
Downie remarked. after trying TO raise
his left leg, that he would probably be Grip
pied for life. He said he was unable TO
understand why he was made the mark
for DR.. Parsons's bullet. as he said he did
not know the doctor. 1t was another case
Of the innocent bystander receiving the
bullet. The City Dispensary ambulance
was called; and Downie was hurried TO
find the bullet, but the doctors were unable
TO locate it. The doctors at the hospital
think that the paralysis which Downie is
now suffering will In a short time leave
him. He is a man OF family.
BAITED BY THE BOYS.
DR.. Parsons, who did the shooting, has an
office in the Carlisle block at West and
Washington streets. He has been troubled
for many months by boys who call him
"quack." About six weeks ago while he
was walking through Military Park the
cries of ''quack, quack!" reached his ears.
He saw the forms of several boys some
distance away. The doctor drew his re-
volver and fired at the fleeing boys. Several
times since then he has threatened the
lives OF boys whom he knew had called
him "quack." When he was walking along
the street in the western part of the city
he always had his hand on his revolver.
The boys of the West End greatly aggra-
waited the doctor in many ways. About
three weeks ago two boys got a duck and
placed II in the hall outside the door of the
Doctors Office. The duck, unaccustomed to
the ~uIroundings, began making itself heard
by quacking. The doctor, thinking that the
boys had come again into the hall, opened
his door quickly and ran out with his pis-
toll. The boys who did the mischief were
in hiding i'll the dark in the far end of the
hall and made their escape down a rear
stairway.
DR.. Parsons when taken into the police
station was greatly agitated. He told Su-
perintendsnt Tafe how he h9d been
troubled for a long time by the Bungaloos.
He said that If he ever got out of this
scrape he thought he would not again be
troubled by the boys.