The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-11
HELD FOR BATTERY.
Riddle and Laehr Before Com
missioner Pratt Yesterday.
THE FORMER Is DISCHARGED.
Laehr Held to Await the Action of the Grand
Jury in Bonds of One
Hundred Dollars.

Riddle and Laehr, the two butchers who
were arrested on Monday charged with
assault with intent to kill one w T. Hol-
land, appeared before Commissioner Pratt
yesterday morning at II O'Clock They
were represented by c. S. Kinney, while
Ogden Hiles prosecuted.
THE CASE OPENED
by the calling of Fritz Riepen, at whose
former place of business the fracas oc-
CURED. He said: I live in Salt Lake.
Know Holland, Riddle and Laehr. nav
known the defendants for about six months
or a year. 1 understand they are
butchers. The defendants had an en-
counter with Holland in saloon
at one time owned by me. I was
in conversation with a Mr.. Idleman,
of Cheyenne, when Holland came and said
he would lil1e.to see me when he got time.
Laehr stepped up to Holland, when the
latter slapped him on the shoulder, and
said: "Hello, you id Scandinavian "
Laehr replied, What, you call me Scan
dihooviani" Holland said, Eyes, and Fritz
too" They then had some more conversa-
ton, when Laehr came up and knocked my
hat off. Holland warned them not to hit
me, as ] was friend of his. I then got
them into the back room and tried to quiet
them down. Before this, Laehr had
HIT HOLLAND IN THE FACE.
Later Holland came up, when Laehr picked
up chair and struck at me, but hit the
transom and broke it. He then made
dive at Holland and knocked him down
with the chair, the latters head striking
against piece of ice on the floor Later |
got theyboys out at the back door, and had
Holland taken to his room, when a doctor
attended to him. He had heavy wound
on his head, which it was necessary to sew
up. / did not see Riddle hit anybody. He
simply protected Laehr, while the latter
was doing the business. l did not pay
fore heard Holland say, 'sWhy,
Fritz could take you and double you up"
1 am sure that Laehr struck the first blow
1t did not have much effect upon Holland
save to daZe him a little When | got
them into the back room, Cook came and
asked me if wanted any help. told him
no, that everything was settled. Then it
was that Holland came down to where we
were, and the trouble followed. / went to
meet Holland, but did not get there as soon
as Laehr did. Laehr was badly under the
influence of liquor, as was also Riddle
The latter and Holland had ne particular
difficulty.
E. J. Cook heard the testimony of Mr.
Riepen. ] went into the saloon at about
the time the row commenced. The facts
are substantially as related by Riepen. |
saw Holland after he was injured. From
my judgment should say that Holland re-
ceived most of his injuries by coming in
contact with the ice on the floor The
bruise might have been caused by the blow
from a chair. l do not believe Riddle had
anything to do with the affair. 1 did not
hear any words between Holland and the
defendants
Charles NelsOn-When Holland came
into the saloon he asked me to have a
drink. and told him that would see him
in a minute or two. Holland then met
Laehr and asked: "What are you,
A SCANDINAVIAN OR \ GENTLEMAN?r
l saw that Laehr did not like it. but he
did not say anything. l went out foI a
short time, and when l came back Holland
was living on the floor. / think the cut on
his forehead was caused by the chair. but
the one on his head might have been caused
by falling against the ice.
Barkeeper Scheimer testified that Laehr
also jumped him, and as he was getting the
best of him Riddle came along and pulled
him of, scratching his eye as he did so.
Both defendants were under the influence
of liquor.
August Jaeschke was called for the de-
Tense. The first thing l saw when l en-
tered the room was Riddle pushing Laehr
out of the back door. Holland walked
down to the rear and struck Riddle on the
hip. Laehr had a chair raised in the air.
with which he struck the transom Laehr
struck Holland IN the face, when he fell.
did net see any blows struck with a chair
Louis Riddle was in the saloon yester
day morning, where met Holland / was
at the bar when l heard some talk, and
turned around and saw Fritz Riepen
with a cane. l told him not
to hit anybody, and Riepen said
he wouldn't. We then went to the
back Of the saloon, and when the crowd
came around got lick in the mouth 1
do not know whether Laehr struck Hol-
land with chair or not.
Fred. Laehr-When we We're drinking
the beer Holland came up and said some
thing to me, / do not know what it was,
but he insulted me, and | told him not TO do
it. ] afterwards hit Holland in the face
with my fist, but did not him with the
chair. ! had hold of a chair, but merely
threw it at the crowd. / did not throw it at
Holland.
LABHR HELD TO ANSWER
This closed the testimony and Mr.. Hiles |
asked that Laehr be held for battery. Rid |
die did not seem to be very badly mixed up !
in it. He would not ask that any order be !
made in reference to the latter.
Mr.. Kinney objected to Laehr being held, |
even for battery and asked, that both the |
defendants be dismissed.
The commissioner thought Laehr should |
be held for assault and battery, but dis |!
charged Riddle. Bonds were fixed at 300. |