The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-09-10
CARLSON
QUICK ON
TRIGGER
Constable Shoots At Cop But
Proves Poor Marks
man


Fate early this morning decreed
that Detective Charles Carlson Of the
Hammond police force should i've
and. although six shots. hred AT a
range Of six feet, whistled past him
hs shot II out with drink crazed
Italian and came out victorious after
Carlson had done his duty. Cano
vatante. 222 FAyette street. lay IN
the pavement Of Morton avenue.
r4ortally wounded Jerry Eldridge
night foreman Of the " B Conkey
Co. was wounded in the left arm, and
Pete Chriue, former employe OF the
printing company, ran away and has
not been seen since.
ITALIAN STARTED IT.
The shooting can be attributed only
u the theory that Vatante was drunk.
Twice Oficsr Carlson told him that
n4 was policeman ard twice showed
him his star. The Italian answered
with short from his revolver.
The two men. standing toe 70 toe.
then fought II out. Carlson. real'zing
that his only chance lay IN sending in
the fatal shot nrst. fred with deliber-
alton. seeking to get his man Va
tanre dropped to the pavement VITA
two bullets in his body. Eldridge
rot knowing what the shooting was
about. fed with a flesh wound, inhict-
ed by a stray shot from the officers
gun. in his arm.
FIRED WHILE DYING.
vatante. although mortally wouned
fred three more shots from his prone
position on the pavement. before he
lost consciousness. Eleven shots
we're fred in all.
Carlson was driving east on Nor
ton avenue at 1.So this morning. when
ne saw vatante walking out from in
back OF the grocery store at $50 Nor
ton averue. Becoming suspicious. hv
turned the machine ard went back
stopping the apparently drunk man
<or questioning.
IN the meantime, Jerry Eldridgc
Natante's boss. who lives at 1204
Harrison street. Hammond. was in the
T. & o. restaurant on Calumet ave
nue.. near Morton avenue. With him
was Pete Chrille. " hosa address is not
known. but who worked under Ed
ridge at the Conkey plant a year ago
The two men emerged from the res
taurant and walked east on Morton
avenue They arrived at the scene Of
the shooting just as Carlson started
TO question the Italian
WANTS TO BE SHOWN.
According to the statements of both
the officer and Eldridge the following
conversation took place.
What are you doing here?" sac
Carlson.
who are your"
u am police officer
show me At this point. Carlson
opened his coat and revealed his star
Show me again" said the Italian
As the officer opened his coat again
vatante sent a bullet from his Colt IS
revolver crashing in the direction OF
the officer. shouting. I'm a United
States officer" as he fred
Carlson's revolver was out of his
holster in an instant, and the du
began.
MYSTERY IN MISSING.
It is a mystery how the Italian could
have missed the policeman with his
hrst shot. They were not more than
six feet apart and had Vatante not
stepped back a few PAGES as he whip
ped out his gun he would not have had
room in which 20 use it.
The only solution Is that Fate was
with the officer. After his gun was
empty. and his opponent was lying on
the pavement. Natanta fred three
more shots in an effort to kill him
After examining Natante and seeing
that he was badly woGnded. Carlson
called the station The unconscious
man was taken 10 the hospital in
Carlson's car and rushed to the oper-
sting room in an effort to save his
life He died under the knife
vATANTE A PRESS WASHER.
Dr.. Chidiaw. who was called to at
tend to the wounded man reported
that the fatal bullet entered the right
side below the ribs and after passing
through the edge Of the liver came
out the back. The other wound
punotured the left hand and lodged in
the left thigh.
Eldridge. after receiving treatment
for his wound from Dr.. White, went
TO tho police station and made
statement. which agreed with that OF
Carlson in every respect He stated
that vatante worked under him as
press washer and that the man al
vays carried "a gun. He said also that
the italian had a deputy constable
shoot when necessary.
FIND LIQUORS.
DR.. Chidlaw stated that the dead
man had been drinking In this con
nection. the Hammond police this
morning raided the grocery store
from which Vatante was seen 70
emerge Armed with warrant they
searched the place and Sound FIVE bar
refE 81 xrf- III 0f ~
and nine cases of beer with a nigh al
cohoiic content. The owner. Agatino
Balio. was arrested AMI booked for
violating the liquor Law.
Officials of the Conkey plant stated
today that the men quit work at ten
O'Clock last night. The evidence
tends to show that Eldridge ana
Chrlle were not involved as princi-
pies In the affair. but were bystand-
ers Chrille will be called in today