Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1908 — MYSTERIOUSLY SHOT [ARTICLE]

MYSTERIOUSLY SHOT

Aged Man Has a Bullet in Him the Police Think He Put There. HE TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY Clothing Is Powder-Burned, However —Given * Terrible Horsewhipping—State Items. Rushville, Ind., April 29. Amos Winship, merchant and landowner, was found by Henry Ramey, a colored attendant at East Hill cemetery, about daybreak lying on the White bridge, east of this city, with a bullet hole in hip bodj, near the heart. Winship was conscious when found, and on being questioned as to.how the shooting occurred replied that some one had shot him. He could not describe the person who did the shooting, but said ho was within six feet of the man when he was shot.

Went to Collect Some Money. Winahip left his home about 5 o'clock, telling his wife, who is an invalid. that he intended to go to the home of a farmer living east of town and collect some money, saying that he could never find him at home during the day. Winship was removed to his home In this city by Coroner Coleman, and to the prosecutor and his friends, as well as the coroner, he told the story of the shooting. Believed to Owe Much Money. Winship owns over three hundred acres of land in this county, but is believed to be heavily invoived. having met with financial reverses since retiring from farming and engaging in the farm Implement business here. The police here are of the opinion that Uh attempted suicide. Their theory is that he chose the bridge in order to afford him an opportunity of disposing of the weapon he used, hoping that by standing near the nailing and firing the shot the revolver would drop into the river below, while his body would fall inside the bridge. His Clothin* Was Burned. Coroner ColeAuin, who attended Winship, questions! him closely, and though Winship ways the man who fired the shot was at least six feet from him bls clothing is burned where the wound penetrates his body, aiming the weapon used was almob. against his body when the shot was fired. The revolver has not been found, and as the river is muddy, it is impossible at this time to make a search for it The wounded man is sixty-one -MM.of sge and has two children. \Read The Democrat for news.