The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-27
HERBERT GARNETT KILLED
YOUNG COLORED BOY ACCIDENTALLY
SHOT BY FRIEND.
The Trouble Occurred at Locke and
Rhode Island Streets-Wflliam
Potter Arrested.

son of Allen Garnett, well known to Wis
itors to the mayor as the custodian of his
offices in the courthouse, is lying dead at
the City Hospital. the victim of an acci-
dental shooting which occurred yesterday
afternoon at Rhode Island and Locke
streets. Garnett was shot by William Pot
ter, twenty-four years old, colored Ia
borer who lives at SS7 West Walnut street.
Potter told Patrolman Admire, who arrest
ed him while he was engaged in ministering
to the injured boy in the house where he
had been carried at Cole and Locke streets,
that he had accidentally shot young Gar
nett during friendly scuffle in which the
boy was flourishing a knife, and he drew
the revolver half jokingly from his coat
pocket, discharging it unintentionally as he
did So His story was not believed by the
bystan1ers and Patrolman Admire put little
faith in It, Admire was unable to secure a
corroboration of the statement from Gar
nett, who lay seriously hurt and bleeding
so profusely that he was barely conscious.
The wound was in the right thigh and be-
lieved to be dangerous one, although it
was not in a vital spot.
POTTER ARRESTED.
Admire arrested Potter and sent him to
the police station on the charge of assault
and battery with intent to kill and carrying
concealed weapons. Garnett was carried
to the City Hospital. short distance away,
by volunteer nurses. On the way to the
hospital he tainted from loss of blood, but
regained consciousness long enough to tell
his bearers that Potter had not meant to
shoot him and that the wound given him
was an accidental one. Inside the hospital
the boy lapsed into Inconsistencies again
hy,f rox-iV ne
in the hospital probed for the bullet, and
in doing found that the boys condition
was critical.
The bullet entered the left thigh midway
between the knee and groin, and. by a
downward inward course, perforated the
femoral artery ard caused an unusual flow
of blood. This loss of blood from the
wound, combined with violent hemorrhages
which siezed the injured boy at frequent in
tervals, caused his death about twenty min
utes after he had been carried into the
hospital Before death the boy reiterated
the statement that the shooting was acci-
dental and that Potter was blameless.
The police, Patrolman Admire and BIZ
cyclemen Hull and Griffin. were unable to
find any eyewitnesses to the shooting Ad-
mire learned, however, that six or seven
young men were together and that they
and, after parleying for a few minutes
seemingly in friendly dispute. started on
again.
REVOLVER DISCHARGED.
spread out and the report of pistol was
heard Young Garnett fell and his COM
panions picked him up and carried him into
a neighbor's house. There some rough
help was given him. but the loss of blood
was so great that a physician was called
Before he arrived Patrolman Admire, at
tracted by the shooting and the crowd
which had collected around the house into
which the boy had been carried. walked
into the house and told several men to pick
Garnett UP and take him TO the hospital
He arrested Potter. who admitted that 1t
was he who had shot the boy. Potter said
he had not meant TO do il and that the
shooting was accidental. He gave his re-
volver a 3S-caliber Smith & Wesson. to the
ratrolman and submitted quietly TO arrest
At the police station he was slated on the
charges already noted, but after the death
of the boy the charge was changed to mur-
der.
though rough and a member of a crowd OF
boys ti:at made the northwest part of the
city their loa1ng place, was not quarrel
some and had many friends He was friend
ly with Potter and the crowd of young men
were oct enjoying themselves when the
outing ended so unhappily. Garnetts father
is a weil-known colored man and has for
MANY wears been prominent in ward poll
tics. He was proud of his boy. who was
pupil in one of the city's high schools. and
nCart-DTOken Wutn ne nedru OF his
sons death.
POTTER'S PROTESTATIONs.
William Potter. confined in the police
station charged with the murder of young
Garnett, was terribly wrought up when
taken to the police station and nearly fran
tic in his protestations that the shooting
was accidental Last night he said he had
known the dead man during mis- entire life
and had always thought as much OF him as
of brother. as they had been raised to-
gether from early boyhood. He said when
Herbert drew a knife from his pocket and
started the friendly scuffie at Rhode Island
and Locke streets he inadvertently reached
In his pocket for the revolver he was car
rying. He said the gun was OF an old pat
tern and the trigger was missing The
hammer worked easily. according 10 Potter
and he had decided to take IL TO gunsmith
for repairs. The fault of the mechanism.
as well as the movement made In reaching
for the revolver, exploded IL. Potter says
and in doing so burned his trousers and the
sweater he was wearing.
Potter has a vile and child who now live
with his grandmother. Mrs Lucy Williams.
at 7OS Locke street. The negro says he was
going to visit them when he met Sam Will
liams and the Garnett boy. and during the
short walk to Rhode Island street the scuf-
he which ended In the shooting OF Herbert
Garpetf took place. Potter Is laborer and
- employed by the Foster Lumber Com
pany. Before being employed IN the lumber
yard he worked Tor James Cruise as his
0onchu0aU