The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-23

| mean that he had glass or two too much.
JACOB DERIx:-I met Wagner at Bsrkart's
on the day he died. In my judgment, no
was intoxicated. He had too much liquor or
beer.
FELIX ORsINoER, the defendant, said he
was born in La Sale on April 4th, 1866.
am baker and confectioner by trade. Learn.
ed my trade in Ohio, Chicago, and La Sale.
Worked all but fourteen months ct home.
Came home last May. Had known Wagner
about six years. Wagner and were always
friendly. He was working for my father Of.
ter came home, as q baker. went to bed
at about half.past two and arose at about
ten minutes after six. While eating my
supper my sister told me that Wagner had
been at the house and was after our bakers.
As | had been to Chicago and had had
trouble in getting them, said I would 60
down and see Wagner. then dressed and
went down there, stopping in at the post Of
fee on my way down. got there at about
fifteen minutes before seven. The door Was
closed; l opened it and walked in. Mrs.
Wagner was in the rear Of the store. ask
ed her ifMr. Wagner was IN, but had no
more than said the words than he came in.
l was about half way back into the store. He
walked rapidly up to me and told me to get
out of there. had never had word with
him before. He seemed enraged and called
to his wife to get his knife. She would not
get it, and he went back to the knife box
and got his ohopping knife. 1t is commonly
called hash knife. He came running TO-
ward mo and ran past me. Ny back WAS to
the south counter and he was in the middle
of the floor. He held the knife in threat
sning manner. held my hands up go as to
ward off the blow, If he should strike. He
ordered me out, but WAS afraid he would
cut me il turned my back to him. He told
her to get the revolver and he would shoot
me. They both ran back and she appeared
to be trying to prevent him from getting the
revolver. While this was going on, took
q weight off the counter and backed out of
the door. He came to the door and said:
e" You - ofa -, you don't know me.
I'll kill yeu." He laid the knife back on
the counter and came and shook his fists in
my face. do not know who struck first
He struck me on the elbow. He got back
into the store. While / was in there lost
my hat. When we were in the first time,
she got in between US, and was struck.
did not intend the blow for her. l did not
see her again. think she went out into the
kitchen. went in for my hat. As l stopped
down to pick it up, someone, think Mr..
Wagner, kicked me on the fingers and push
ed me. | got up and warded off his blows,
and think struck him. He staggered and
fell with his face on the counter. went in
then, got my hat and went home. l thought
he was either in faint or had fallen down
drunk. He was very drunk and could not
talk reasonable. He yelled and was excited
and angry. His appearance was that of q
very angry man. l spoke to him in the first
place to keep cool. and again at the front
door. | had no weapon in my hand or on
my person at any time when we came to.
gether. am somewhat taller than Wagner
but he was a heavier set man than l. went
down, having had so much trouble on &C.
count of the bakers, to demonstrate with
him, and had no intention Of getting into
personal difficulty with him. was in Jail
four months. Cross Elk. did not see Wag-
ner after returned until the 4th of June.
DR.. CLENEENNIN, Ex- Coroner, testified that
he held the post mortem examination and
inquest over the body Of Henry Wagner
Mrs. Wagner testified at the inquest that she
knew nothing after she was struck by Orsin-
ger. The brain Of Wagner was diseased and
the tissues of the membrane at the back Of
the brain adhered to the skull. The heart
was in normal condition. The right lung
was diseased The stomach was badly dis
eased and its interior walls deconposed.
The pleuro castle nerve was very impor-
tant function of the stomach and brain, and
placed them in direct communication. 1t was
his opinion that the pIeuro gastric nerve was
also diseased. Such condition of affairs
was precarious and should man in that
condition become excited to any great extent
or allow himself to encourage emotion, the
bursting of blood vessel in the brain and
consequent appoplexy would be likely to fol-
low. The remote cause of Wagner's death
was the diseased condition of the brain, and
the immediate cause was apoplexy. Cross
Q.-The brain was badly diseased There
had been Inflammation, but the brain was
past that, and closely approached separa-
ton.
DR.. WEIs, city, said he had heard the tes-
timony of the ply sicians who had testified.
The connection between the stomach and the
brain is sympathetic, and direct communi-
cation is through the nervous system, A
stomach in the condition Of that of Wagner's