The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-23
No Statement Could Be OBJ.
tanned From the Would-he
Assassin Today, Who Is
Held at the Jail.
ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO
KILL is cAAReEMAoE
It Is Alleged That the Motive
Of criIie Is REVENGE Off
GERS Ale Looking tor the
AccombIice. Il

Saturday. night, with alleged mali
cious and f}lonious intent. William H.
Harris, veil known FARMER living
about threeI and half miles north Of
the city. attempted from ambush to
murder JohAD. Lancaster. also a well
known garddeer ata farmer. at the
entrance of the~4atter's home. about
two miles north of the city. on the
Chester pike. While his intent was
not accomplished. he succeeded in in
juring Mr.. Lancaster severely. al
though not fatally, by shooting him
five times, once in the head, twice in
the left hand. once In the right hand,
and once in the abdomen. The wounds
were made by % caliber revolver, It
is believed, although the weapon has
not been found.
Started on Hunt.
The authorities were notified about
d2:45 a. m. Sunday and at once start
ed on a hunt but Harris's arrest did
not take place until yesterday noon,
when First Sergeant Little of the po-
lice force and Oscar Mashmeyer, dep
uty sheriff, found him at his home.
about mile and half northeast of the
Lancaster farm. He was placed in the
county jail and charge of assault
and battery with felonious and ma
licious intent to commit a murder was
placed against him, the affidavit be-
lng filed by Prosecuting Attorney
Chas. Ladd this morning in the circuit
court.
It Is the belief OF the authorities
that Harris had an accomplice who
stood in the shade Of the trees some
distance away from the entrance of
the gate where the shooting took
place. His identity has not been es-
tablished but the authorities are hope
ful of making an arrest in day or so,
In which case. II their theory is true,
the accomplice will also be charged
with the crime of assault and battery
with intent to commit a murder. 1t
is understood that the accomplice is
q young man and weak mentally.
Punishment for Crime.
The crime is punishable by peni-
tentiary sentence Of from two to twen-
ty-one years. The affidavit filed in
the circuit court serves merely the
perfunctory service of holding Harris,
and may be changed at any time. 1t
Is probable, however. that the charge
as specified in the affidavit will be
used by the prosecution unless the
state of Mr.. Lancasters condition be-
comes such. that it is certain he will
die, in which case murder in the first
degree will be the charge to which
Harris win have to answer.
II is probable that Harris will be
given q preliminary hearing this week
and the case set for trial in Septem-
ber. AS the grand jury meets in Sep
tember, it is also probable that it will
dict.
Motive for Crime.
The motive for the crime is not
known, as Harris could not be seen
ut the county jail this morning How
ever the authorities say that 1t was
revenge. Mr.. Lancaster himself be-
lieves that Harris, who is former
employe OF his, committed the act for
such reason. although the injured man
claims that there is no reason for Har-
ris holding grudge against him.
Harris displayed the utmost nom
challance when arrested, according to
the authorities. He does not seem to
feel the least sympathy for his vic
tim.
~e,0 dot tail nf off civ
out by the authorities show that the
deed was one Of the most carefully
planned. narrowing and blood curdl-
ing ever attempted in this county.
The quarrel between the two men
began early in the evening, when Har-
ris accosted Lancaster in front of his
stand at the South Sixth street mar
ket place. Harris had been drinking