The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-04
ENGINEER DIES
FROM INJURIES
INFLICTED BY
NEGRO WORKER
Gid Klingman, Engineer on
K. Of P. Temple Construc-
ton, Struck With Hammer
by Fellow Employe.
CRIMINAL IS CAUGHT

Gid Klingman. 36 years old. %
South Ninth street, who was employed
as engineer on the construction of
the X. Of P. building on South Eighth
street. died Wednesday morning as
the result of blows inflicted by James
Howard. colored, a fellow employe.
Howard was captured by Thomas
Swaner. Everette Howell and John
Moss of the Richmond Home Tele-
phone company, who started to search
for him in a truck as soon as they
heard that he was fleeing south. They
caught him near the Thomas Lamb
farm on the Liberty pike. Howard
was forced to enter the truck and was
handed over to the police when they
came along in an automobile.
Omar Farlow notified the police that
he had seen Howard on the pike.
Howard told the police that he and
Klingman had been having trouble
ever since he went on the job.
According to Charles Mann, a car
there was no quarrel before the blow
was struck
Il heard Howard says to Klingman.
Il amt goin' to do it," Mann told 4
reporter, and then Klingman answer
ed, well, l didn't ask you to-" Then
saw Howard hit Klingman on the
back of the head with a hammer.
Howard was three or feet away before
he threw away the hammer"
The men were working on the third
story of the building when the mur
der was committed. Klingman fell to
the floor after he had been struck.
and while some of his fellow-employes
went to his aid Howard rushed down
stairs and escaped. No one in the
neighborhood saw him leave the
building, as far as could be learned.
Workers in the building were fright
ened by the crime and made no I'M
mediate effort to follow Howard.
When the police arrived, the negro
had disappeared.
Negro Offers Aid.
Klingman revived after he was
struck sufficiently to make his way
home with the aid o: workman. He
died almost as soon as he entered the
house Before he died he told his
Wuc tudI IlOWdIu udu sliuSh hiih
without cause.
Jim Burghey. colorod. 1902 North
Eighth street, who is employed on
the building, offered to help the po-
lice in apprehending Howard. He
gave a description of the criminal,
and said that he roomed on Fort
Wayne avenue. He did not know any
thing about his habits or who his
friends were, Burghey said. Howard
formerly lived in Indianapolis. accord
ing to the workman. He is known as
BOSS" Howard among the negroes, It
was said.
Howard's wife arrived on the scene
of the crime shortly after the murder
was committed and became hysterical
when she learned that her husband
was believed guilty. He had never
been in trouble before, she said. and
she had never believed that he would
do anythin glike that.
Harry Mueller, contractor, who EN-
ploys the workmen, said that Howard
had been quiet, fairly good work
man, and had caused him no trouble.
He said he knew nothing about his
former reputation.
Klingman came to Richmond last
February from Shelbyville, Ind, where
! he had resided for fourteen years. He
was generally described as con
scientious and quiet worker. with
good reputation. His wife and fellow
workmen said that he was the sort
of man who gets along with any
body" and that he was never known
to quarrel with the men with whom
he was employed.
He is survived by his widow, and
a 12-year-old stepson, Emerson Brown.
He was born in Fort Wayne.
Mrs Klingman was grief-stricken
when she learned of the murder OF
her husband.
1--WE were living so happily and
peacefully" she said. my husband
was ma king good wages and we were
enjoying our home here. ] can't real
ize that this has happened"