The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-19
Wife OF Injured Man and Sher.
man KeIIar All Tell Different
Stories of the Shooting,
Saturday.
ASSAILANT CAPTURED
SUNDAY AFTER A FIGHT.
Mrs. Thornton Held by Police
As an Accomp|ice and
May Be indicted Jointly
With KeIIar.

Investigation of the attempted MUIR
der of William Thornton, colored, Sat
urday night, was begun by the grand
jury today. Sherman Kellar, the man
suspected of the crime was arrested at
Westville yesterday. He has confessed
toethe shooting, but says it was done
in self defense Ellen Thornton. wife
of the man assaulted was arrested yes
terday and is held as an accomplice of
Kellar The police believe the woman
was at the base of the trouble and led
her husband to the alley on Fort
Wayne avenue, north of Main street,
that he might be slain. That Kellar's
bullets did not prove fatal was no fault
of hers. Thornton continues to hold
his own and there is practically no
probability death will ensue.
The grand jury began upon the
Thornton case as soon rs it convened.
A number of witnesses, among them
being Mr.. and Mrs. Ollie Milton, were
subpoenaed to appear and give their
testimony. The wife of Thornton has
put up a story far removed in details
from that told by the police Saturday
night. According to the latter, Thorn
Ia
from uptown, when Kellar shot Thorn
ton from the alley. The woman claims
she was at the home of the Millions and
heard the shooting, then ran to the
scene.
Prosecutor Jessup and Superintend-
ent Bailey went to the hospital yester-
day and took a statement from Thorn
ton, that is different from those told
by the police Immediately following
the shooting. They will not give out
the details of Thorntons story, how
ever.
keIIar Reticent.
Kellar has become very rcticent and
this morning would not talk about the
case. He seemed to realize a statement
at this time might hurt his defense in
court. Last night he told Superintend-
ent Bailey tale widely at variance
with all others. He said he had an ap-
pointment with Mrs. Thornton and she
had failed to meet him. He went to
Fort Wayne avenue and was passing
the Milton house, but on the opposite
side of the street, when Mrs. Thornton
called to him. She left the house and
crossed the street. She engaged in con-
versation with him and they started to
| take walk, when they saw Thornton
on the opposite side of the street.
| Kellar said Thornton crossed the
street to where he and Mrs. Thornton
stood and Immediately struck Kellar
over the head with a revolver. kellar
says when the blow was delivered the
revolver held by Thornton was dis
charged. According to the story of Kel-
lar, he then drew a revolver and fired
three times and Thornton dropped to
his way to his boarding house on
South Sixth street. He threw away the
revolver as he ran through the first
alley south of Main street, and also
lost his hat in his fight. Kellar claims
| the revolver was of no more use to him
as the cartridges were all used.
Fights on Arrest.
The police received word yesterday
afternoon that a strange negro was at
Westville. and Sergeant McManus and
Officer Bundy in citizens clothes went
there Kellar was seen talking to an
other man at the main corner of the
town. He was placed under arrest by
McMauus. The sergeant says the negro
put up a fight. kicking and biting and
was not subdued until thrown to the
! ground and his head pounded up and
down on the gravel. Kellar says he did
not put up the fight and that he knew
there would be no use in attempting to
resist an officer.
1t is expected the grand jury will re-
turn an indictment against Kellar
charging assault and battery with in
tent to kill. 1t is also probably Mrs.
Thornton will be held as an accomplish
and may be indicted Jointly with Kel-
lar.