The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-23


down in front of the Coleman house several
times, waiting for a chance to get even.
but none came. Then he left the vicinity
and did not return until the Coleman wom-
an with Cora Carr came back from their
drinking expedition. He met them at the
corner and the tragedy followed.
IN wRIGHTs ROOM.
When the dead and injured had been re-
moved Captain Hyland, Captain Gerber
and Patrolman Murphy went to Wright's
room in the Twineham house at 434 East
Wabash street. The door was open and
they had no trouble in searching the place.
The police tried TO find a photograph to
assist in Identifying the man. but none
was to be had. One photograph. however,
was found which threw considerable light
on the murders. wright's trunk was
locked. When it had been broken open
the police found, among other rubbish,
small photograph of Cora Carr. She had
claimed that she knew very little about
Wright. but the finding of the picture
proves the contrary.
The police are proceeding on the theory
that Wright acted partly through jealousy
and partly through rage at the insults
offered him by Fisher because OF his
manned feet. 1t is said that the Carr
woman had repulsed all his advances and
that Fisher, the man who had insulted
him, had found favor in her eyes
Charley Smith, hostler for w. T. Long,
whose livery barn and veterinary Office is
just across the alley from the Coleman
house, heard Fisher taunt Wright about
his feet early in the evening. He saw
Fisher throw bricks and stones at the
cripple and saw negroes he did not identify
| follow Wright to his house and stone the
place. Mr.. Long himself was returning to
| his stable when the shots were fired and
| was the first to break into the bloody
house.
| Sol Brown and his wife, white people.
| who live across the street from the Cole
man house, saw Willis killed. They had
been in bed and were awakened by the
quarreling negroes Mrs. Brown saw the
| two women run into the house, saw one
negro (Willis) try to prevent another
| CNright) from following them, and then
| saw Wright wheel around and shoot Willis
| through the head. The rest took place in
side the house and she saw nothing Of it.
NEGROES FRIGHTENED.
Although there had been a number of ne
| groes around the place, the police could find
none who knew anything definite about the
| murders. Many were questioned. but no
| circumstances were found strong enough to
send any of the colored people Of the neigh
| borhood to the police station. Most of the
| negroes seemed terribly frightened and
| afraid to tell what little they knew.
CAME FROM JEFFERSONVILLE.
| The Colemans and Cora Carr came here
| from Jacksonville near the latter part of
| last December. Wright, Fisher and Willis
are fairly we'll known among Indianapolis
| negroes. The murderer and John Willis.
one of his victims, both roomed in the
house at 434 East Wabash, few doors be-
| yond the house where the tragedy occurred.
| Wright is a driver for a coal company and
| has done some work on city sewer gangs
| Willis, who Is credited with being peace
| able law-abiding man, was employed at
the Progress laundry, assisting In taking
care of the machinery. The people along
| Wabash street say that he was never
/ known to frequent any of the tough joints
and that he had never visited the Coleman
house.
Fisher is well known to the police. He
is regarded as bad Niger" and the
record. He was never known to do any
work. they say. and spent his time loafins
around the Coleman house and other re.
sorts of like character.
The net was drawn closely Immediately
after the police got to work, the district
men received orders, and it is improbable
that either Wright or Fisher will be able
| to remain at large long.