The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-11
Is IT A HOMICIDE Case?
Suspicious Death Of Fritz Bauers 10
the Hospital.
SOME DAMAGING EVIDENCE
Mrs. Graves Says She saw Harry and
Sam. the Peddlcrs. knock Bauers
Down Stairs-Arrestcd ~
Supposed Drunk.

1t Is probable that a case Of murder
will develope from the death or Fritz
Bauers in the. Lackawanna hospital
early yesterday morning. At least. a
personal Investigation by Coroner
Kelley early last evening warrants such
belief. and induced him to communi-
cate with County Detective Leyshon
and to impanel a jury for investigation.
The facts in the case are peculiar.
Bauers was taken in the patrol wagon
to the central police station Monday
morning. He was found lying in the
areaway in the rear of the bakery at
427 Penn avenue, and was almost In
capable Of any physical action: and
from his appearance the police assumed
he was In no worse condition than
is usual In cases OF debauch.
In his cell at the police station he
remained powerless to move his lower
limbs or body. and during yesterday
was only able 10 speak. He could not
move his head or arms. Meanwhile.
Police Surgeon Fulton had diagnosed
the case as tremens and paralysis from
the effects OF alcohol. Bauers' condi-
tion became so alarming early yester-
day morning that a call was sent for
an ambulance. which conveyed him to
the Lackawanna hospital.
Death In the Hospital.
Less than fifteen minutes after being
received at the hospital he died. After
ascerta lining that marks indicating vio-
lence were upon one check and over the
hips. Coroner Kelley began his personal
investigation.
If the story OF Mrs. Greaves, who
lives next door to where Bauers was
found Monday morning, Is to be be-
lieved. Harry and Sam Goldschlager.
two Jewish peddlers. may have to an
swer for Bauers' death.
The two peddlers are brothers Of Mrs.
Nathan Druch, whose husband Is the
rabbi of the Benai Abraham and Jacob
synagogue, almost directly opposite the
bakery. from the rear Of which Bauers
was taken in the patrol wagon. How
ever, it will probably be made known
at the inquest. which was adjourned to
tomorrow night that the husband of
Mrs. Greaves. whose story involves the
two peddlers. is now in Jail. where he
Is serving light sentence for cruelty
stabbing a balky horse. Greaves was
convicted upon the evidence of the two
peddlers and it may develop that Mrs.
GreNves, to be revenged, is taking ad-
vantage Of an opportunity to swear
them guilty Of Bauers death.
To Tribune reporter Mrs. Greaves
last night told the story which influ-
enced Coroner Kelley to hold the in
quest. Mrs. Greaves lives at 4a5 Penn
avenue. Her rooms are on the second
floor and extend back to a porch, from
which one can see what transpires in
the Druch abode. which Is on a level
with ard joins Mrs. Greaves' rooms.
From each set Of apartments wooden
flight Of stairs leads to the areaway be-
low. When questioned by the reporter
Mrs. Greaves said:
Peddlers Struck and Killed Him.
Sunday night saw Bauers and the
two peddlers in the Druch's back room.
They were drinking beer. Later I
heard a scuffle and heard Bauers cry
out as If in pain. When I reached my
back porch they were pushing him out
the door and toward the stairs One
peddler struck Bauers on the head and
another kicked him In the back. AS
Bauers was totterlng toward the steps
went inside and heard him fall
"All night long 1 heard him groan-
ing in the back yard. and early Mon
day morning I went down to where he
lay. He asked for water, and when I
had given 1t to him he said: Those
two peddlers have killed me; they have
hurt my head and back
"Bauers was not drunk then; he was
badly hurt and could not move. Dur
in the next three hours I gave him as
many as five cups OF water, until about
$50 o'cI5ck. when the patrol wagon
came and the police took him away"
The two peddlers could not be found
last right. No neighbors were found
who confirmed Mrs. Greaves story.
Mrs. Cohen, who lives in the same
house, remarked that there is bad feel
ing between Mrs. Greaves and the
Druchs because Mrs. Druch's brother
gave testimony which sent the form
er's husband to Jail.
VIII Be an Autopsy Today.
The jury impanelled by Coroner Kel-
ley heard no evidence last might. The
body, as II lay on a slab in the hospital |
morgue, was viewed, and an adjourn-
ment made until tomorrow night at the |
court house. where Dr. Head, senior |
surgeon at the hospital, and Coroner
Kelley will testify TO the result Of an
autopsy which will be performed this
and Mrs. Greaves and others
will be questioned. If the autopsy re-
veals violence as the cause of death.
the jury will try to decide whether the |
violence was accidental or criminal.
Bauers had neither friends nor rela-
tives. He was 43 or IS years old, and a |
Polish Jew. For several years he had |
been accustomed to spend his occa-
sloral earnings for drink, and was
often Intoxicated.
For over year he had rented q
sleeping room of Fisetter & wolfgang.
who conduct the bakery in the base
ment Of No. 427. He was a helper in
the bakery at odd times until recently,
when his habits caused his dismissal.