Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-20
THE SKULL CRACKING.

Series of Visits at Unreasonable Hours.
The case of the State against Joseph Matt,
John Wyack and Nicholas Meier, charged
with committing deadly assault on John
Nelson the night of the Goth of June, came
up for hearing in the municipal court yes
terday afternoon. Mr.. Eagan appeared for
the State, Judge Howard for Meier and
Wyack, and MIR. G. T. Ward for the defend
ant Matt. John Nelson, the victim to the
assault, appeared in court, it being his first
visit from house since the operation. After
consultation between counsel it was de-
cided to try the cases separately SO far as
defendant Matt was concerned, and at 9
O'Clock the case against the latter proceeded
to trial.
John Nelson, the victim to the assault.
was put on the stand, and testified to return
ing from visit to West st. Paul the mid
night before the assault. Witness repaired
to his store on Seventh street, opposite
MATHS saloon, and observing light in the
saloon, he crossed the street to get drink.
After this he went to his room, and being
unable to sleep he rose and went over to the
saloon about 2 o'clock, entering by the rear
door. A conversion ensued, during which
Matz referred to his sister, and showed wit
ness her room. After this witness went to
his shop, and about o'clock the same
morning he repaired to the saloon, going in
the rear door as before. Matz was lying
down in room adjoining the saloon. Two
other men were present whom witness
thought were the other defendants.
Witness sat down on the edge of the bed and
the sister of Matz was sweeping out one OF
the rooms. One of the men made remark
about Miss Maiz in Polish, whereupon the
parties jumped on him. Witness remem.
bered nothing more about the assault.
DR.. Diedolph was sworn and testified to
the nature of the injuries. Nelson had sus-
tanned compound fracture of the skull and
witness was of the opinion that the injury
had been made by pointed weapon. The
segments of bone taken from the skull of
Nelson at the time of the operation were
shown, a full account of which appeared in
previous issue of the GLOBE.
The defendant, Matt, was sworn and tes-
tilted to the visits of Nelson to the house ON
the night of the assault. Witness had given
private party in the early part Of the even
ing, and shortly after midnight he was en-
gagged IN conversation with two relatives.
Nelson came in, and after some talk the
parties engaged in playing cards. About
an hour afterwards Nelson passed deroga-
tory remark concerning the character of wit.
ness sister. In order to prove the contrary
of what Nelson said, witness accompanied
the latter to his sisters room in order to
show him that she was sleeping alone. Wit
ness then told Nelson that he had been in
suited, when Nelson apologizsd for the re-
mark.
About o'clock Nelson came into the
room where witness was sleeping and sat
down on the bed. He commenced talking
and woke witness up, who, being tired, lifted
himself on his elbow and slapped Nelson in
the face.
The defendants, Meier and Wyach, who were
in the adjoining room, came in and pitched
into Nelson, one of the men striking him
with beer faucet. Witness thought that
Wyack was the one that did the hitting with
the faucet. Witness did not rise from the
bed but put out both hands to save Nelson
from being struck. Meier picked up a
chair, but couldn't say that he used it. .
Miss Rosa Matz. the next witness, stated
that on the night of the fight Nelson visited
her room three or four times. The first
time he seized the bed clothing, which woke
her up. He told her not to scream and he
would give her money. She (witness) held
the clothes and screamed. The second time
he tried to pull off the clothes; witness held
them and called to her brother, when Nelson
ran out of the room. He came into the
room third time, when she screamed;
whereupon he left and went into her
brothers room. He was making noise
and the boys went in after him. Witness
went into the saloon, where she saw the boys
push him from the door to platform.
Wyack came into tbe saloon and got beer
faucet; did not see him strike defendant.
Nelson was recalled and testified to being
positive that he vas truck by Matt.
On motion the hearing was continued un-
til O'Clock to-day, when the other defend
ants will testify.