Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-31
POLICE THINK
THEFT MOTIVE
OF SHOOTING
James Beasley Was Broke and
Room Rent at Y. NJ. c. A.
Due, He Says.
WOUNDED MAN, SERIOUS

James Beasley, %, roomng at the 7.
NJ c. A., who yesterday shot and seri-
ouslv wounded Grover Miller, 49, 1882
South Belmor avenue, a taxi driver, in
the back Of the head while he was driving
on the Fit Harrison road, near Tenth
street, is believed today by detectives to
have intended to steal Miller's taxicab
The detectives allefe when Beasley called
the Horace 3. Woods Transfer Company,
by whom Miller has been employed for
fourteen years, he inquired particularly
as to the make Of the car used by them.
In a statement made by Beasley late
yesterday to detectives, he said he was
unemployed, having left employment as
civilian chauffeur to Major General Read
at FIT. Benjamin Harrison, about two
months ago. He said his rent was due
at the Y II. C. A. yesterday and he did
not have any money. Beasley confessed
shooting Miller, but advanced no motive
for 1t aside from saying that he was
afraid of him"
According to information given Sergt.
Louis johnson, in charge Of the emer-
gency squad. Sergeant Cliff Richter and
squads of detectives, who were immedi-
ately sent to the scene of the shooting
Beasley ordered the taxicab to meet him
at New Jersey and Washington streets
and instructed Miller to drive east on
Washington street to the National road
and then north on the FIT. Harrison road
FARMERS HEAR
CRIES FOR HELP.
Ona-half of a mile north Of East Tenth
street on the Fit Harrison road Miller
was shot by Beasley who was sitting in
the rear of the car. Farmers living near
ha oP ha al ba wi
being driven at a fast rate of speed, ana
when they heard the shot thought it to
be a tire until they heard AIillers cries
for help.
When Miller was shot he lost control
of the car and it went into a ditch and
stopped when 1t struck a post. Beasley
jumped out of the car and ran into
/ cornield on the opposite side of the road,
where he was found by detectives and
Henry Askren, a farmer living a short
distance south of the shooting. In his
pocket was found a 32-calibre revolver
with one empty cartridge.
Miller was found alongside the road by
Joseph Rogers, 8 painter of Cumberland,
who called physicians and the police.
Dr. Walter f. Kelly, 5503 East Wash
ington street who attended Miller, said
the bullet took a course from below the
base of the skull near the ear and came
out through the left cheek.
BLOOD FOUND
OVER TAXICAB.
/ On the arrival of the police, they
looked over the taxicab and found blood
all over the front seat, windshield and
also on the running board which led
them to believe there had been a strug
gle in the automobile before the shoot
ing. Miller said he was shot without
warning of any kind from Beasley. Beas-
ley. In his confession, sai6 that Miller,
during the latter part of L, trip, turned
around and looked at him several times
and watched the side of TIE road, and
on one or two occasions pat his hand
in a pocket in the side door of the au-
tomobile as if he were going to draw q
gun. When he did this. Beasley said, he
pulled a gun out of his pocket and shot
Physicians at the city hospital, where
Miller was taken, say he rested well
last night, but his condition is serious,
Beasley is being held in the city prison
under high bond on a charge of assault
and battery with intent to kill.