Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1913 — MYSTERIOUS CRIME COMMITTED AT GARY [ARTICLE]

MYSTERIOUS CRIME COMMITTED AT GARY

Unknown Man for Unknown Purpose Deliberately Shot Children of John Hamilton. Gary, Ind., April 10.—One of the worst crimes in the records of the was committed last night when an unknown person deliberately ‘ shot the two young childrep of John Hamilton, prominent anti-administration democrat, committeeman and prospective candidate for city clerk, as they were standing in the doorway of their home, at 2338 Adams street. Both children are now at the Mercy hospital. Surgeons say there is a possibility for their recovery in case infection or lockjaw does not set in. There Is no clew to the would-be assassin. Lillian, age seven, and Devan, age six, were about to go to bed, when they decided to go to the front door to call in their dog. It was there the shooting occurred. Hearing the ‘screams and .the shots, the mother, who was in the kitchen, ran to the front door, and found both children stretched out across the doorway. At the hospital it was learned- the bullets had pierced Lillian’s right thigh just be* low the abdomen, and Devan’s left thigh. In each instance the ball had plowed through the limb, striking within a half inch of the common femoral artery. The police learned that ' a man of medium size had been seen running away from in front of the house. The Hamilton house is in an isolated place and sets back from the street fifty feet. In front ate three big trees, which partly screen the cottage from view. At the time of the shooting the front part of the house was well lighted and the forms of the children in the half-opened doorway could easily be seen from the sidewalk. ‘T know of no enemy of mine that would do this,” said John Hamilton. “The shooting was deliberate. The boy and girl were calling the dog, but it was in the back yard. Two shots were fired, which shows the deliberateness of the man who did the shooting. I believe that he had been hiding behind the trees waiting for the chance to kill the children.