The  Indianapolis  Star
May 5, 1915
Page 6   Column 4
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         SHELBYVILLE -- Nelson Demas  has been placed in jail on a formal charge of shooting  Joseph Brantford  with intent to kill.  Demas's condition continues critical because of his wounded left arm which was shattered by a shotgun charge fired by  Jack Miles  who is held on a charge of shooting Demas with intent to kill.  Demas sent a revolver bullet through Brantford's body below the heart.  The Shooting occurred in a negro resort.
Contributed by Virginia Latta Curulla

The  Indianapolis  Star
May 3, 1915
Page 5, Column 4
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ONE  MAY  DIE  AS  RESULT
OF  SHELBYVILLE  SHOOTING
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          SHELBYVILLE, Ind., May 2. --- One man probably will die and another may lose his left arm as the result of a shooting scrape at a clubroom for colored men here early this morning.  The wounded are  Joseph Brantford, proprietor of the poolroom, shot through the body, a bullet from a revolver passing just below the heart;  Nelson Demus, left arm shattered by charge from shotgun.
          More than a dozen shots were fired and the night police force was on the scene before the trouble had ended.  The police placed eleven men in jail and obtained sworn statements from them before releasing them today.  Demus is said to have started the trouble by quarreling with  Herman Hicks,  who was sitting on a pool table.  He is supposed to have fired at Hicks, the ball striking Brantford, inflicting a wound that is believe fatal.  Demus kept firing about the room as he backed out the door.  As he reached the outside  Jack Miles,  it is said, fired at him twice with a shotgun.  One charge took effect, shattering Demus's arm.
          Ben Yates,  brother-in-law of Demus, was fined $30 for having a razor and a revolver in his possession.  The police took the shotgun, a revolver, a razor and some beer and gambling paraphernalia as evidence.  The gun used by Demus had disappeared before the officers found him and he had no cartridges on his person.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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