The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-24
MYSTERY STILL UNSOL we'd
POLICE THINK JAMES BREEDING
KNOWS WHO SHOT HIM.
Detectives Working on the Case Meet
with Surprising OppOsitiOn-Vari-
Gus Theories Advanced.

The mystery surrounding the shooting of
James A Breeding. the barber-shop pro-
prietor living on Chester avenue, in Irving
ton. who was wounded in the back Friday
night, remains unsolved.
The police long ago dispelled the theory
of robbery set out at the time of the shoot
ing by Breeding. 1t is now thought. and
has been since the police left the Breeding
home Friday night, that Breeding had full
knowledge of his assailant. The police no
longer think that two men were implicated.
They are of opinion that If Breeding would
talk he could throw considerable light on
the affair. AS 1t is the police say they
were put on the wrong track the night of
the shooting by Breeding. Breeding's reti-
cence at times concerning troubles that he
had had gave the police other opportunities
to study the case They are now convinced
robbery was not the assailant's motive.
Breeding, on the night of the shooting.
requested that Detective William Holtz, who
was present in the house, return the next
morning. Breeding intimated to Holtz that
IL he survived the night he would be able
to tell the detective much that would help
clear up the case. Captain Hyland, De-
tectives Bray and Holtz went to the house
the next morning. and Holtz tried to secure
admission to the sick mans room. This
was denied the officer by surgeons and Mrs.
Breeding, who claimed that Mr. Breeding
needed rest and if his mind were turned
again TO the shooting by conversation with
policemen it might make recovery doubt
full.
CONDITION NOT SERIOUS.
Believing that Breeding might die at any
time, Captain Hyland had a conference
with Prosecutor Ruckelshaus Saturday ev-
ening and prepared to get an ante-mortem
statement from Breeding If the latter were
really in a serious condition. When Drs.
Hodges and Williams were questioned
closely by the police the latter learned
that Breeding was not in such serious con-
dition as first reported by them.
Bray and HoltZ, who have been assigned
to the case, again visited the Breeding home
yesterday Here they again refused
entrance TO the home, Mrs. Breeding telling
them her husband was now on the road to
sooner he would get well. These detectives
have talked with all the neighbors of the
Breeding family and al are of opinion that
let Bray and HoltZ, however, claim they
are not working that theory, and if any
arrests are made they Will probably be made
on information from Breeding after he is
able TO sit up. The facts, they said, indi-
cate that the bullet entered the back and
ranged upward. proving that Breeding was
in crouching position or was running at
| "A caliber bullet fired at man ten feet
away, they say, would probably penetrate
his body and prove fatal. This was not the
claimed Friday night that he was not more
| than ten feet away from the men when
| they fired the pistol. II he had been stand
ing upright the bullet would have gone
straight through the body, inflicting. prob
II is likely that the investigation will not
be carried on with any haste.