The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-29
While Crowd of Richmond
Merrymakers Waited Car
in Centerville, Harry John
son Opens Fire.
CROWD DISORDERLY
SAYS GUN FIGHTER
Boys and Girls, Who Had
Built Fire in Street, Dis
turbed Johnson's Rest
Arrest to Follow.

Because a party of Richmond young
people were annoying him by their
singing, Harry Johnson, grocery
keeper at Centerville, Sunday morning
at 1890 o'clock, walked from his
house to where the young men and wo-
men were seated around a fire in the
street, drew a revolver and deliberate
ly fired into the crowd. The bullet
went between Harry Penland's leg as
he sat with his feet crossed. and
struck Walter Williams in the right
ankle.
Say, you shot me-" cried Williams,
as he felt the sting of the bullet, and
walked over toward Johnson point
ing his finger accusingly at the man.
Il don't give a damn If | did, and
I'm liable to shoot some more of you
if you don't 60 away and quit making
so much noise" johnson is alleged to
have said as he calmly walked back
into the house.
MdFSndl q WithSSS.
Marshal Joe Darnell was a witness
to the entire scene. why don't you
arrest that MANI" one of the members
OF the crowd said to the marshal:
"Oh, he won't get away, witnesses al
lege.
There were about fifty sitting
around the fire, the fuel for which was
supplied by empty boxes. OF this
number nearly twenty were girls
Johnson deliberatelE shot into the
crowd. .ss7-A
Williams was hurried to a doctor
living nearby, but he refused. it is al
legged to treat the young mans wounds
saying he did not have the tools.
Then he went back to bed. Williams
was brought back to this city and DR.
Zimmerman attended his wound. The
bullet entered the right leg just above
the shoe top, carrying into the flesh
portion of the hosiery. The wound
is not believed to be dangerous, al
| though the bullet which was deeply
imbedded in the bone, caused a slight
fracture Williams will be out in a
few days it is thought
Saturday night about sixty people
| from Richmond attended a dance al
Jackson's park The last car was late
and they walked down to Centerville
There they grew tired of standing
around and several members OF the
party gathered old hoxes and pieces
of kinding from the aiFys and started
a big bonfire.
+ The young people gathered around
the fire while a few members of the
crowd gave a somewhat discordant ser
les of grand opera renditions. The
| music annoyed the residents. so they
state, and finally when the hour grew
late and the music did not abate, John
son ran from his home near Mair
and Twelfth street, where the fire was
and shot into the crowd.
The marshal, according to the state
ment OF several members of the crowd
had ordered the boys who had beer
singin to "cut out" some of tht
noise They did. it is alleged, ant
then Johnson started the shooting.
The members of the crowd ave,
they did no more than any other Grove
of healthy young people would. il
singing and laughing, even though
the hour was late.
Residents OF Centerville state the
entire affair was "scandalous." The!
say the town was in an uproar aftel
=! the advent of the Richmond merry
makers They state they could no
sleep because of the noise and incline
to justify Johnson's action. Severa
Centerville people charge that some o
the disturbers were drunk and usec
improper language.
| Sheriff Steen and Prosecutor Ladt
made a trip to Centerville yesterday
but Johnson was not arrested. Hs
will be arrested this afternoon and pu
under heavy bond. It Is probable {
charge of shooting with intent to Kill
will be placed against him.
! The crowd of young people from
| this city returned on the last car will
Williams, and about twenty men wen
| to the police station where they en-
tered their names as witnesses to IN.
affair and asked that they be called
when the case is heard in circui
court. il such action Is taken.
| Williams who is nineteen years olt
lives at 224 South Fourteenth street