The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-18
Patrolman Dugan Puts End to
Desperate Black Who Stabs w.
L. and George Resoner.
SAVES OFFICERS LIFE
Bicycleman Askins Struggles on
Dark Stairs with Fiend and Is
Slashed with Knife.
PRISONER IN CELLAR
William Tolliver in Morgue, Vic
tim of Patrolman's Bullet-Res-
oners Not Seriously Hurt.

stabbing two with a huge knife which he
welded with the strength OF brute. later
driven TO mad dash in an elevator down
three stories TO escape. William Tolliver
desperate negro in a struggle with an officer
in dark stairs was shot down after he had
once slashed his antagonist and had the
knife raised to make one more plunge.
The five shots which tore into Tollivers
body were from the revolver of Patroiman
Hugh Dugan and they were fired in time TO
save the life of Bicycleman Askins. who
was struggling with the negro on the stairs
and had already been wounded
The battle occurred on the third floor OF
the furniture store Of W. I, and C. c. Res
oner, at l27 West Washington street. at $50
O'Clock last night after ToIliver had at
tackled George Resoner and attempted TO
rob him. Both the Resoners were injured
Tolliver lived at 400 West Fourteenth street.
Shortly before o clock the negro entered
Resoners store and asked to see some win
dow shades, stating that he desired TO make
a purchase. George r. Resoner told the
negro to step on the elevator and he would
take him to the third floor where the
shades were kept.
The elevator had no sooner stopped at the
third floor of the building than the colored
man demanded Resoner's money. and at the
same time he drew from his pocket long
bladed knife and made an attack upon the
man whom he had lured to the top floor OF
the building for the evident purpose OF
murder.
Resoner saw the knife and quickly
dropped on his knees, just in time TO escape
the first thrust of the glittering steel blade.
With a catlike movement he made dive
under table, and the fight for his life was
| begun.
Resoner grabbed a water pitcher and
| felIed the negro to the floor with one blow,
but in an instant the infuriated black was
on his feet and. gathering a new strength
and gnashing his teeth in his rage, he aghin
made for Resoner. with his knife raised an
arms length above his head.
Resoner called for help, at the same time
keeping up a constant fusillade on the
negro's head with plates lamps. chinawsre-
| and chairs. lodging first behind one piece
of furniture and jumping over and under the
next.
On the ground floor of the store were w.
L. Resoner. the proprietor. James l. Beatty.
a clerk, William Judkins, the store collector,
and John Crinshaw, the colored stove
| blacker
Hearing the cries OF the elder Resoner,
they thought he had been caught i'm the
elevator, as he had suffered a severe injury
in that way not long before.
FIGHT FOR LIFE.
The four men rushed to the top floor
of the building, climbing the stairs three
steps at a time, and they arrived on the
scene just as the crazed negro succeeded
in slashing Resoner across the back OF
the right hand with his knife.
Judkins realized the situation at once
Dee
oner. Crinshaw and Beatty went to the
elder Resoner's assistance. Tolliver turned
his attention to w. l.. Resoner. Like a tiger
at bay he made a leap into the air and
descended squarely upon the shoulders Of
Resoner, cutting him on the shoulder. be-
hind the right ear and on the right arm
as he fell upon him.
Crinshaw knocked the ferocious black
from the PROSTATE form of his employer
with chair. Tolliver stunned by the
blow, but only an instant was required for
him to regain his senses. and with them
came all the viciousness OF his nature.
a general night followed in which Toll
liver was felled to the floor less than
fourteen times each time regaining his
feet and resuming the fight with renewed
vigor Again he turned his attention TO
him across the back of the right hand.
but a timely blow by James Beatty, the
clerk, probably saved Resoners life. ana
for a time ended the fight.
The negro realized that he was no match
for the four men and ne gradually fought
his way to the elevator; and and Jumping Jumping on
the ground floor. expecting 10 escape from
the building by the front door. Al the
ground floor he unable 10. stop the
elevator and went on into the basement.
Patrolman Dugan arrived In the building
in time to the black face of the negro
as IL sank below the first floor OF tha
building and he ran for the elevator shaft,
intending to stop the machinery and In that
way cage his man, but he was too late
Bicycleman AskIns, who was passing the
store on his way to the police station for
evening roll call. was notified OF the trou-
bic and came TO Dugan's assistance. The
two policemen opened the door which leads
from the ground floor into the basement
and In the darkness they were able TO dis
Germ the form OF the colored assassin
crouched on the lower steps OF the steir-
way.
The police started down the stairway.
! and as they did the colored man stood
| erect With a quick movement he jumped
four or five steps up the stairs and stabbed
at Askins, intending to cut him TO the
| heart, and had II not been Tor the police
badge Askins wore on his coat his life
would probably have been forfeited.
ASKINS is STABBED.
The blade OF the knife struck the metal
badge and glanced of. cutting through
Askinss coat. but doing him no injury
other than a slight scratch on she side OF
his body. Askins tried TO catch the arm
of the colored man. which was raised for
another blow, but in the darkness he was
unable 10 see the motion of the blood
stained blade of the weapon and IL de-
scended. cutting him through the palm OF
the right hand. The force OF the blow was
so great that the negro was unable 10 stop
the downward course OF his arm and the
blade of the knife buried itself IN the
wooden railing at the side OF the steps. In
an instant the negro tugging at hfs
knife TO extract IL from its lodging place
and Patrolman Dugan shot FIVE times az
him with fatal effect Two of the bullets
struck him in the top OF the head and
other passed through his neck. Not until
the fifth shot was fired did the monster
, fall and he did so with his lips.
The City Dispensary was at once sum-
moned and DIR. Jeffries with the am
bulance. soon on the scene. The negro
had breathed his last I'm the gloom OF the
, dimly lighted basement and the Res0ner
! brothers, completely exhausted and bleed
ing profusely from their wounds. were sad
: liz In need of medical attention. Several
! | physiciarfs summoned and within
half hour the wounds OF the store men were