, 1890-11-06
A FATAL STABBING
Mike Lynch, the Ball Play or, Kills
William Fitzner With q
Knife.
The Killing Said to Have Been
Accidental-Tostimony of
Witnesses.
"My God, Pm cut"

my God, Pm cut"
This expression seemed to quiet
down the hilarity of the two men
who were fooling in front of the
Deutsche beer hall over on Haver-
males island yesterday afternoon.
Men who were standing around
waiting for time to go to work,
rushed up, and 1t was found that
William Fitzner had been cut in
the left groin. He was assisted into
the saloon and put in chair, and
In Il few minutes was dead. The
facts M ascertained from bystanders
were that Mike Lynch, n boiler
maker, formerly member Of the
| Spokane Base Ball Club, aud Will
lam Fitzner were standing in front
of the saloon talking Lynchhad II
large hunting knife in his hand,
and, as he claims, Fltzner staggered
against 1t. From all that can be
learned from the witnesses this is
true. The wounded man was helped
into the saloon by Lynch and died
In n chair in few minutes.
Officers quickly arrived on the scene
and Lynch gave himself in custody
of Officer McCabe and was taken to
the police headquarters and after
ward removed to the county Jail.
The deceased was q German, about
43 years of aye aud came to this
country from Ohio. He has been in
Spokane Falls since last August,
living in a shack over on Haver-
males Island with his half brother,
Henry Retzlapp. Since coming
here he has been at work ut odd jobs
and at frequent intervals would go
out prospecting. His regular busi-
ness was that of a log cutter. The
deceased was divorced from his wife
i'm st. Louis five years ago.
The man who did the cutting is
well known to the citizens here, as
he was one of the ball players en-
gagged by Manager Barnes for our
home team. He came here from
Minneapolis, and has followed ball
playing up to the end of the season.
at his business, that of n boiler
maker. He Is quiet and uuassum-
ing, and has hosts of friends and
/
over the terrible accident, and has
frequently broken down since 1T
occurred. The funeral of the de-
ceased takes place to-day at 10
O'Clock. He left nothing in the
shape of property excepting $50 or
$40 which had been left with o.
Lund for safekeeping.
CoRoNER'S INQUEST.
At 1880 last night Coroner Weems
impaneled jury and proceeded
with an investigation of the case.
George Schwager, an iron molder
and one of the eye-witnesses
was sworn : | was sitting In the
Deutsche beer hall saloon at noon.
time. and was introduced to Mike
Lynch. We had some beer, and
while we were talking the deceased
came in. He challenged any one In
the crowd to shake dice for the
drinks, and Lynch accepted and
beat him. We all walked outside
and while standing there / gave my
hunting knife to u man named Pier
son to sharpen.
Lynch asked to see it, and while
examining 1t, the deceased asked me
to sell 1t to him, saying he wanted it
to 90 prospecting with. He tried to
take it from Lynch's hand, and then
l heard him say, My God, Pm
cut" He opened his vest and we
all saw blood trickling down. | told
Lynch to take him into the saloon,
and ! sent another man for doctor
1 went back to my work. / thought
the deceased was under the influence
of liquor.
Nclse Pierson, Chris Lund and
Charles Mueller, who were standing
by, told the same story. Several
officers next testified, among them
Officer McCabc. lie said that when
he came on the scene, Lynch came
to him and gave himself up. Other
witnesses Were examined and all
verified the circumstances.
Mike Lynch was then brought
from the county Jail and gave his
testimony i'll straightforward
manner, it being the same as the
others.
DR.. Labrie was called and exam
ined the cut to see the cause of
death, and found it to be from the
severing of the lilac artery.
LYNCH ENUMERATED.
The jury retired and in short
time rendered verdict to the effect
that the deceased came to his death
from knife wound in the abdomen,
which had severed the left external
lilac artery; that the knife was held
in the hand of Mike Lynch; that
the cutting was accidental, and that
in their opinion Mike Lynch should
be completely eNonerated from all
blame.
The prisoner was released from
custody and went to his home.
| -
RICH GOLD DISCOVERY.