Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1893 — IN OPEN COURT. [ARTICLE]

IN OPEN COURT.

Atrocious Murder in the Court Room at 1 Danville. Cola Brown, president Of the Lebanon gas and light company, was the defendant in a Jamage suit brought by a man named Hoe, who was injured in a gas explosion. C. L. Wesner, also of Lebanon, was Hoe’s attorney. The case was taken to Danville on a change of venue. In his argument Saturday morning, Wesner made several remarks concerning Brown, much to the latter’s displeasure. Court adjourned shortly “after 12 o’clock, and Attorney Wesner was standing directly in front of the Judge’s bench when Brown stepped forward, drew his revolver and fired two shots. The first bullet hit Wesner in the arm and the second struck him below the ribs, passing through the body. The injured man died fifteen minutes later. The scene in the court room baffled description. Brown was immediately taken in custody and confined in jail. Excitement was great and it was thought best to transfer Brown to the Marion county jail at Indianapolis for safety. Brown claims to have acted in self-defense.