The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-12-29
Eff I'll edition.
Probable Murder.
John T, Alias Freddy" Clifford.
Elk Dog Catcher, Terribly
Cut in a Fight and
not Expected to
Live.

John It. Clifford, more commonly
known as "Reddyn Clifford. ex-doQ.
catcher under Elk Mayor Wales, 10 sup
posed to be fatally stabbed In a fight
that occurred about 11.45 o'clock this
forenoon between himself and Swiss
named Hlppolyte Probst, at Sixth and
Church streets.
From what can BIO learned OF tho
fight 1t appears that Frank Duyal a
baker came along Sixth and Church
streets, and leaving his horse and wa
gon In the care ofProbst TO watch. went
into Scheitsler's saloon to get drink.
According to what Probst says, Cllf-
ford came along, got into the wagon,
took the lines and was about to drive
away with it when he demonstrated
and fight ensued.
Joseph Wyman, O young man who
saw most of the fight, says he saw the
two mon fighting and went down to
the corner and tried to stop it. Probst
struck back with his fist. After they
were parted, Prohst went Into the ga
loon, but Clifford stood outside.
Probst came out again, upbraided
Wyman for interfering and going
across to the other corner Gil iforu fol-
lowed and they both got to lighting
again. Probst was furious and kept
stabbing at Clifford with some sharp
instrument.
Wymau, in trying to stop the fight,
got the middle finger OF his left hand
badly cut, and was stabbed three
times In the left side near tho heart but
the wounds were mere skin abresions,
the instrument whatever 1t was being
kept from entering very deep.
Clifford In the meantime had been
terribly stabbed in the right breast
and in the face. Both comhatants
went down together with Prolst on
top jabblng and stabbing. probst was
at last pulled away and Wyman took
Clifford and hurried him streaming
with blood to DIR. Frist's drug store,
Eighth and Spruce streets.
As soon as Clifford was in the store
he exclaimed: MY God, lam dying,
send for my mother" The patrol
wagon being summoned Clifford now
In a very weak condition, was sent out
TO the Delaware Hospital.
Officer Floyd after leaving young
Wyman In charge of Sergeant Heal
went to hunt up Probst and found
him lying on lounge in his house,
No. SOB East Sixth street. He imme-
diately arrested him and took him to
the City Hall, where he WIS searched.
The only weapon found upon him
was very sharp-polnted seven-oighths
brace bit covered with blood. His
pocket knife showed no signs OF hav-
ing been used. The flnnges of the bit
explains why young Wymans wounds
on his body were not more dangerous,
but in the case OF Clifford the whole
bit was forced through his right cloth
ing and into his right breast,
Cliiford's mother went out to the
hospital about o'clock and Cllfford's
deposition was taken about tho sumo
time
Probst Is native Of Switzerland. has
been In this country 10 years. He is
a cabinet maker and works In the var
ious car shops when he can get work.
Ho is AZ years Of age, has wlfe and
three children. A daughter lie married
to John Quill.
Clifford some time ago reformed and
became prominent figure In the Sal
walton Army, but backslided and went
to drinking again.
At 2.34 p. M. Clifford was still living
with slight hopes of his recovery.