The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-18
WEBSTER MAN At
LARGE DESPITE AN
ALL NIGHT SEARCH
Richard Brown Makes Good
His Escape After Shoot
ing Howard Starr.
THE VICTIM IMPROVES
Fugitive Has Been in Trou-
BILE Before-Sheriff
Wants Auto.
THE VICTIM IMPROVES

Richard Brown. who shot and seri.
ously wounded Howard Starr at Web
ster yesterday noon. is still at large
The victim of the assault is not az
seriously wounded as at first supposed,
though the shot would have resulted
in his death had it been an inch lower.
The bullet entered above the heart
and emerged at the left shoulder
blade.
All towns north of Webster have
been notified to be on the lookout for
Brown. though the authorities believe
he will make good his escape. Sheriff
Bayer, Deputies Rice Miller and CIar-
ence Mote were in Webster and vicin-
ity yesterday afternoon and remained
until i O'Clock this morning. expecting
Brown TO return to see his family be-
fore leaving the locality. The wait
of the officials was futile
When Trouble Started.
There had been Ill feeling between
Brown and Starr. Several weeks ago
Starr inquired for his mail at Browns
store. Brown acts as postmaster for
the section hands employed near Web
ster Mrs. Brown told Starr there was
no mail for him. and as the latter had
expected important mail and believed
II was in the store. he investigated
and found a letter addressed to him,
it is said. Papers addressed to Starr
had been withheld on several occa-
sions. ii is alleged.
IL is said that Brown had been dis
charged by the railroad officials from
nf Sxvyfn Ervh
the work assigned to Starr, because
Brown had neglected to properly
clean and light the lights promptly
Following this Brown accused Starr
of telling the railroad officials that he
had neglected his duty as light tender
Starr denied this.
Brown Starts Argument.
When Starr was shot he was stand
ing in the tool shanty. which is about
/ fifty feet from Browns store Brown
had borrowed a pick from the tool
shanty and returned IL. He asked
Starr for a coal oil can. His request
was granted. While walking from
the shanty toward his store. Brown
stopped and started an argument IL
is said that Brown accused Starr of
calling Mrs. Brown a liar Starr de-
MED the accusation. Brown then
cursed Starr, who replied, You are
the same" Brown then fired the shot
Starr staggered slightly and was
, supported by men who ran to his as
sistance. He was assisted to a nearby
house and later taken to his home.
Keller Has Weapon.
Brown did not make an attempt TO
escape until the excitement had SUBJ
sided. According to the authorities
here, had Brown attempted to run, IL
| is probable that the railroad men
would have pursued him. AS soon as
the shooting took place his wife took
the revolver from his hands. The
weapon is now in the hands OF the
prosecutor who will file a charge
against Brown of assault and battery
with intent to kill.
This is not the first time Brown has
been in trouble. He was forced TO re-
main away from Webster for more
than a year when he became impIi-
Gated in a suit filed by Webster girl
Jim" Brown, father OF the fugitive
was shot twice while in a fight in
Arlington several years ago.
Sheriff Asks Auto.
Sheriff Bayer said IL he owned a
machine Brown would be in Jail at
this time. He was not notified of the
shooting until lis p m. though the
shooting occurred at noon. He was
unable to procure 2 machine until a
half an hour afterward. No effort
was made on the part of the citizens
TO apprehend Brown or assist the off,
cials in locating him. He remained
I in the vicinity of the crime until I.4D
and was last seen by Bud Dumley go
/ ing southeast from Webster toward a
woods.