The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-06
In Order to Secure Revenge They
Held Up the Next Car and Attempt
ed TO Commit Murder.
POLICEMEN AID IN THE CHASE
THE COLORED MEN CAPTURED By
THEM NEAR BEAN CREEK.
Capture Was Only Effected After @
Hard Fight-The story OF the
AFFAIR in Detail.

In order to revenge themselves for hav-
ing been elected from Greenwood car two
negro desperadoes held up a south-bound
Greenwood car yesterday afternoon at 4.sO
o'clock near the city limits within few
yards of stop No. 5. Two passengers-John
Foster. of Greenwood. and Frank Seyler. of
southport-were shot by one of the negroes.
AS the car. in charge of Conductor John
Foster and Motorman Charles Colvin,
slowed up two of the negroes. one OF them.
William Stark, brandshing a big revolver,
and the other, whose name is said TO be
Herbert Lee, armed with a beer bottle,
jumped on the steps at the rear end Of the
car and announced with curses that they
were going 10 kill the conductor.
Before Starks. a small yellow negro OF
malignant cast of countenance, could dis
charge his revolver he was seized by Dep
uty Marshal E. S. Sanders, of Southport,
and Conductor Foster. The other negro
swinging his beer bottle came to Starks
aid. and a fierce fight took place on the
small car platform. The car all this time
was at a standstIl. John Foster, of Green
wood. who was going home on the car. saw
the peril of the deputy sheriff and the con-
ductor, who were having more than they
could attend TO in the fight with the drink
maddened negroes. Foster volunteered his
assistance, and the three white men finally
succeeded after a sharp struggle in throw
ing Stark from the car, but they did not
succeed in getting the revolver away from
him. The other negro. retaining his beer
bottle and. outnumbered in the fght,
jumped off the car without assistance.
SHOT BY STARKS.
Conductor Foster pulled the rope signal
ing the motorman to go ahead. The negro
Starks cursing like a madmad took delib-
crate aim at John Foster. of Greenwood.
who is a cousin OF Conductor Foster, and
fired. The SS-caliber bullet plowed a fur
row through Mr.. Fosters scalp, going
deeper as it passed through the skin and
finally fattening itself against the skull.
The bullet was removed by DR.. Guthrie,
surgeon of the company at Greenwood. an
hour later. Mr.. Fosters wound, while Sc
we're, is not necessarily dangerous.
AS Mr.. Foster fell the negro fired several
times more, one of the bullets going wild
and inhicting a slight scalp wound upon
Frank Seyler, of Southport. The Southport
physician who treated Mr.. seyler last even
ing said the wound is not dangerous. As
the car gathered speed other bullets
whizzed past the ears of Conductor Foster
and Deputy Marshal Sanders. The car
made quick run TO Southport. where Mr..
Seyler was put under a doctors care. Mr..
Foster was taken on TO Greenwood.
A man giving his name as John Henley
was a passenger on the car. He took the
first car from Greenwood in order 10 notify
the Indianapolis police of the attack upon
the car. When the car upon which he was re-
turning reached Bean creek about five
miles south of the city, Henley. who was
keeping a sharp lookout for the negroes.
saw three colored men standing near the
culvert over Bean creek and within few
yards of the interurban track. He recog-
nized two OF the party as Starks and Lee.
the two who had boarded the car. Keeping
his eyes open for policemen, Mr.. Henley
saw at the intersection of Shelby street and
the Belt railroad Patrolmen Green. Colson
and Davis, who were on their way 10 even
ing roll call and told them of what had hap
pened.
AFTER THE NEGROES.
At the end of the Shelby-street line an
Indianapolis street railway car was stand
ing ready TO go back TO the city. Pressing 10
into service, the patrolmen and Henley had
the motorman run on 10 the Greenwood
tracks and turn on full speed. As they
neared Bean creek. the motorman reported
that the three negroes were still there. Al
though they saw the approach of the car.
none Of the negroes made an attempt TO
get away until the patrolmen jumped Of
within d few yards OF them and started
toward them with extended revolvers. Then
William Starks who had shot Mr. Foster
and Mr.. Seyler. started TO run. His brother.
Orlando Starks, who had evidently been
with William Starks and Lee all the af-
ternoon, but who, apparently. had not ia
ken part in the attack on the car. started
to follow him. The two negroes closely
pursued by Colson and Davis. two OF tie
patrolmen. succeeded in reaching a clump
of trees half mile away During the
chase the flying negroes turned and nred
a dozen shots at the two officers. and the
reached their mark. When William starks
reached the trees his revolver was empty
and he stopped, throwing up his hands in
token OF surrender His brother. Orlando
Starks. kept on running and got away he
has not yet been arrested. although the au-
thorities in all towns around Indianapolis
have been notified.
In the meantime Lee. the third OF the
negroes. had been captured by Patrolman
Green. When the other two started 20 run
Lee tried 10 make OF also. but Patrolman
Green. pressing the muzzle OF a revolver
the paVrofa farrfNaa bfr.,