Bloomington (IN) Evening World, September 16, 1907, p.1.
SHOOTS ROOMMATE THEN SURRENDERS
Otis Allen Shot Raymond Sparks at Sanders Last Night
Becaue he was slapped in the face by his roommate, Otis Allen Sunday
evening fired a bullet into the abdomen of Raymond Sparks at Sanders, six
miles south of the city in the stone quarry district. The young men had
just finished supper at the Mercer boarding house. Sparks had gone out on
the front proch and Allen was talking over the telephone to a young lady
acquaintance. Allen claims that he ws interrupted in his conversation by
remarks made against him by Sparks. Leaving the phone and going out to the
porch, he was met by Sparks who struck him in the face. Allen then drew a
32 calibre revolver and fired at Sparks, the bullet passing through his
stomach. Allen surrendered himself and was brought to jail by Deputy
Sheriff Routte.
Allen was interviewed this morning by The World-Courier representative and
stated that he hoped Sparks would get well. Allen seemed very nervous and
appeared to have spent a sleepless night. He said that as he walked out on
the porch, Sparks was uttering words against him and struck him before he
was aware his roommate was angry. He has not employed a lawyer and will
wait to see whether Sparks recovers or not before preparing his defense.
Drs. Gardner and Rogers were called to assist Dr. Kentling of Smithville in
looking after Sparks. The stomach was opened and the torn parts sewed up,
but the bullet still remains in the young man's body. The physicians
stated this morning that Sparks was conscious and that he has a fighting
chance to recover. Allen is 21 years old and is employed in the mill at
the Johnson Stone Quarry. Sparks is 28 years old and is employed on the
ledge at the same quarry. The two young men, it is said, have quarreled at
various time, but were on good terms of late and have been sleeping in the
same bed. Sparks has relatives near Stanford and Allen's relatives live in
Greene County.