Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-07
NEGRO SHOOTS
AND WOUNDS
POLICE OFFICER
Fires Three Times as Woman
He Threatened Appeals
for Aid.
HIS HURTS NOT SERIOUS

Douglass Johnson, 80, negro, sho.
PatrOlman George G. Mueller in the
right arm when a negress, Madeline
Sandifer, 80, appealed to the policeman
for protection early today While John
son was en- route to police headquarters
in the patrol wagon he cut and serious
ly wounded the woman, who also had
been detained as a witness.
The trouble occurred shortly after mid
night In Illinois street, near Sixteenth
street. Both Johnson and the woman
said they lived in the rear of 1922 North
Illinois street.
The woman. who was sIashed twice by
the negro. Is In a serious condition. She
Is at the city hospital. Two long knife
wounds across her left breast were in
hicted by johnson before he could be dis
armed by Wagonman William Mellen and
Chauffeur Lee Hensley.
HE is going to kill me-" screamed
the negress as she ran up to Patrolmen
Mueller, and Maurice R. Wilkerson, as
the officers were walking in Illinois
street. Before the officers had time TO
turn around they heard three shots and
d bullet struck Mueller in the right arm.
Wflkerson seized J ohnson and twisted
the gun from his hand.
Captain Ed Schubert was notified and
sent police officers from headquarters to
the scene. The wounded patrolman was
sent to the hospital, where 1t was found
his injuries are not serious.
The negro was placed in the patrol
wagon and chained after, It Is said he had
been searched. Chauffeur Hensley was
driving and Wagonman Mellen was
guarding the prisoners. when, suddenly
Johnson drew a knife and made two
slashes at the Sandifer woman. She
screamed end Mellen struck Johnson with
his blackjack" Then followed a battle
between the desperate negro and the po-
hceman. Hensley stopped the patrol and
went to Mellen's assistance. The police
got the knife away from johnson and
then took the wounded woman 20 the
city hospital She was weak from loss Of
blood
johnson was charged with snoor1ng
with intent to XIII, assault and battery
win intent to kill, and operating a blind
tiger. The latter charge was placed
against him when the police found d
bottle that contained white mule"
whisky in his pocket.
Captain Schubert started an in
vestigat!on TO determine who was at
AAu4L IVA Auc ldliuit u AAuQ tue hulAc
on the prisoner. Wagonman Mellen, in
his report says he asked Wukerson and
Mueller, and also Detective Will
liam c. Brickley If Johnson had
been searched. He stated they told him
the prisoner had been searched and that
a bottle Of whisky and a gun had been
taken from him. Then Mellen says he
chained the negro in the patrol wagon.
Mellen was unable TO state where John
son had the knife concealed. He said,
however he believed the negro had the
open knife hidden in his coat sleeve.
Johnson is an ex-soldier. lie was a
member OF Company G. s12th Pioneer In
fantry and was at Camp Grant for a few
months. He formerly lived in Owens
boro. Ky.
Detective Brickley said he was standing
at Sixteenth and Illinois streets when he
heard the negress run to the two patrol
men and plead for help. Immediately
afterward. he said, Johnson appeared and
fred. then Brickley seized him from be-
hind and the negro dropped the revolver.
The detective said he searched the pris-
oner and did not find a knife, but did
discover a bottle Of whisky.
According to the police johnson was re-
leased from the Michigan City peniten-
tiary about ten days ago, after having
served a two-year sentence for cutting up
the Sandifer woman