Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-21
TWO DEAD And ONE DYING
Colored People on Cunning Street
Engage in q Fierce Battle.
POLICEMAN SHOOTS NEGRO
Climbs I'm window In Nick of Time
10 Prevent James Muse from
KILLING Fireman
Jacks.
POLICEMAN SHOOTS NEt

Two negro women Eva Muse and
Florence Banks, are dead. and James
Muse, a negro man. is dying at st.
Joseph's hospital AS the result Of cut
ting and shooting affray which occurred
about 1870 O'Clock last night in Muses.
home, 1927 Cunning street. After killing
tho women Muse. or another man who
was in the house, set tho curtains In
each OF the rooms on fire.
Captain Henry c. Jacks Of hose COM
pany No. was seriously wounded by
an unknown negro and while in stunned
condition was attacked by Muse with
dagger Before Muse could run the knife
into Jacks body officer Thorpe ap-
peared at a window and shot Muse twice,
inficting fatal wounds,
John johnson. a negro cook, was ar
rested this morning on suspicion of
having assaulted Captain Jacks f. o.
Blue and A. T.. simmons, negroes, also
were arrested and are being held a.
state witnesses to the murders.
Assistant chief NJ. J. Deneen was at
tackled by the first assailsnt OF Jacks,
and but for the thickness Of his fire coat
he would have received a probable fatal
wound, as the knife In tho negro's hand
slashed his collar. This negro managed
to escape from the building and Is still
ut liberty. Ga
At 1880 o'clock officer Thorpe. who
was near Twentieth and Cunning streets,
was Informed that two women were being
murdered. He ran 10 the house. and.
pcerlng IN a window, saw man in a
bath robe slashing at wOman's throat
Thorpe made a noise and the negro threw
the woman from him ana running into
lamp to tho floor, A second later a shot
was fired at Thorpe from the darkness.
1t missed his head.
Thorpe ran TO the front Of the house
just as hose company No. arrived. He
told Captain Jacks and his men to be
careful. as the house was full Of bad
negroes" Waiting a minute and seeing
no ono about. Jacks entered the house
from a west window. While extinguish.
Ing the flames he saw a man approach,
but supposing he was fireman. paid no
attention to him. The man was a negro
and hit Jacks behind the left ear with
a knife or club. lilo then passed into
another room and another negro, identl-
fled as Muse, attacked Jacks with a
dagger. Jacks was thrown TO the floor
and was wrestling for the dagger when
suddenly a shot was fired and the negro
toppled over onto the floor. The shot
was fired by Thorpe. who erawled In a
nearby window.
Jacks was hurried TO the police sta
ton with Muse. and DR.. Edward Ash
dressed his cuts. a severe scalp wound
and scratches about his face.
An examination Of Muse showed tha'
he was shot twice. once IN the left cheek
and again above the right collarbone
There was also a cash from ear to ear
in bis throat, as though made by a razor
He was hurried to St Joseph's h0spita
by Dr. Connell. city physician. and DR.
Harris. assistant physician. was ordered
to secure a statement from him, II possi-
Bile. before he died.
That Muse killed his wife and the ur,
known negro killed Mrs. Banks as the
result Of a quarrel that they had been
having is what the police believe. Tw"
negro youths named Elmer C. Underwood
and Philip White. who were caught leav-
ing the rear Of the Muse house By OFF
Ger Andy Fahey and Chauffeur Buford
said that there had been a fierce quar-
rel in the house" They denied being par
Elephants In the wrangling. however
Muse had been back from Hot springs
since Tuesday and had quarrsled with
his wife continually since his return. 10
spent all Of yesterdaysat home and vas
very irritable.
Mrs. Banks. at Seventeenth and Mich
OIas. is believed to have accompanied the
unknown negro to the Muse home. Just
what started the quarrel IS not known
II is thought that she was attacked frs
as her body was lying near the door. m
dicsilng that she had ran from her as
saiIant. but collapsed from loss Of blood.
Mrs. Muse was lying just inside the dopr
Of the bedroom. Both women were
breathing as officer Thorpe bent over
them. but they died before a doctor ar
rived. Their threats had been slashet
with Tazors. Their bodies we're removed
to Cbee's undertaking parIors.
The police learned this morning that
Muse Is considered very wealthy negro.
owning property in Omaha and elsewhere
His relatives ale ia jacksonville. Ill
Ernest Banks. a brother Of Mrs. Banks.
one Of the dead women. was lold " tho
death Of his sister. and IN the midst t.:
several white people he rais=d his righ:
hand and took an oath to seek out the
unknown assailant lie is said 10 be a
waiter al the Omaha club.
White Tells story.
At . O'Clock this morning Philip White /.
told Captain Dunn that he had collected ,