The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-23

CZECH NOW WEEPS.
The Testimony of His
Daughter Brings Tears
to the MurdererS
Eyes.
IN THE HANDS OF THE JURY
Ex-Judge Smith Makes an Flo
quent Appeal for Murder in
the Second Degree.

the crosS-eXamlnatlon. out mourning "a
Importance was elected.
Mrs. Susan North of No. 1912 Newark
avenue, testified that she was on her
stoop on the Monday in question, she
saw John on the corner. She saw him
again after he had shot his wife. She
had a babe in her arms and accidentally
bumped into him. John had a revolver
in his hand and he said: "You had better
look out. or I'll give you one too"
Witness saw John put the revolver in
his pocket and go up to Charles Gardi-
ner. They went In Gardeners house.
Cross-examined by e~x-Judge Smith,
witness said that she was so frightened
at the action OF Fish John" that she
dropped her baby and ran away.
Charles Gardiner of No. zoos West New
ark avenue, proprietor of a repair shop,
testified that he knew Czech, who on the
morning in question met him and asked
him to have a glass of beer. Czech
treated him twice and told him his wife
went away from him the day before,
and that he had slept that night under
the rail bridge. Witness did not see hin
after that until after the shooting, When
Czech approached and said: Wont you
get a glass of beer"
81 said. Yes. I'll get some
81 want a glass of beer before 1 am
arrested" Czech continued.
.Why what nave you done?" Gardiner
inquired.
.Ive shot Mary" replied Czech.
81 thought he was Joking" continued
Gardiner, until he said"
Eyes, rye shot her and she is dead
Will you see if she is dead?"
Gardner looked dow the street and
saw some people around the dead
woman
SEE IF MARY IS DEAD.
Cross-examined, witness sad: John
asked me 10 go to Pretzmann's and see
if Mary was dead. I never before knew
of Johns searching for Mary In that
neighborhood. Mary and John mad a
quarrel on one occasion in my house,
and Mary, who was a large woman.
knocked John down"
He did not know whether she broke
Johns rib.
: Sergeant Battersby of the Oakland
avenue police station. testified that he
was informed of the murder fifteen
minutes after eight o'cloc. He and
Patrolman Mcguire went to West New
ark avenue and there learned that Czech
was at No. 1908 Newark avenue. Batters-
10y took off his coat and hat and he and
= Mcguire went to the house. Czech was
sitting in the back room. He. held a re-
-volver in his hand with its ruzzle pointed
toward his heart. Mcguire said some
thing to John and was about to enter
the room when Czech said
Don't come too near me, or I'll
shoot"
Mcguire fell back and Sergeant Bat
tersby directed him to go around to the
back of the house and try to get in that
way. Mcguire broke a pane Of glass in
the rear of the house and Czech looked
around. Battersby seized him and took
the revolver away. Mcguire came to his
aid.
Chief Murphy testified that 'Fish
John" confessed to him that he and
Fish Mary were married and that she
had left him. He said he had asked her
to go back home with him and she had
refused and that then he shot her.
The confession was placed in writing
and read to Czech. who signed it, and
he afterward said he was sorry he had
Killed Mary.
County Physicians Converse testified
that death resulted from an internal
hemorrhage caused by a bullet wound in
the neck. which took a downward course
and severed an artery. With this testi-
mony IN. Prosecutor Winfield announced
that the State rested it's case.
Counsellor Frambach made a very
brief opening for the defense, and said
that evidence would be produced to
show that Czech was not guilty as
charged in the Indictment of murder in
The first witness he called was Czech,
and the old man gave his history in an
affecting manner. Czech had heretofore
haG1L I q M 4 h1Tt M n r Tho in ny
his history his nature appeared to change
and he. became excited, and at times al
4fmas d and aestic He TSeP With bit forcs H as
story was effective and created consider
able sympathy. particularly when he
its unpleasant character.
His daughter Rosa was in court, and
she listened al attteRhitiveGly to the tale Of
home to work as a servant because of
CZECH TELLS HIS STORY.
Czech testifed:-"I was born in 1886,
and married in 1881. I was born in Ger
many ,ags AYE been i, in this e9ppntry
picked up elsewhere. My child Rosa is
When was first married had my own
boat on the Passaic River. I lived there
where we now live. Our first house was
burned in 1884. Next we lived with Gulze
on Howell street, and after with Mrs.
Meklofuki. I was arrested while living
on Howell street. and got a year at
Trenton. We also lived on Van Wrinkle
street and moved to the Newark Plank
Road two years ago.
81 last saw my wife prior to June 8
(Monday). on Sunday morning. at home,
at six o'clock in the morning. She went
away to get groceries. She said she was
going to Hudson City for them. I gave
her 81; I offered her more, and she said
that was enough. ] don't know whether
she took a basket or demijohn with
her. She said she was dry and waited
to get Some beer. and I told her to take
a can and get 1t. and come home and
drink 1t. I told her not to be gone long,
and she said:-Pappy, III be back
soon,
ark. and was back IN tbree-fourths of
AN hour. My wife had not returned. ]
don't remember Mr.. Spiras being to my
house. / don't know the mar and never
saw him" (Spiras had testified that he
saw Czech in his home with a whiskey
bottle in one hand and a revolver in
an other. which he intended to use on
Asked again by Mr.. Frambach If he
had seen Spiras. Czech replied
called at dinner time. but I don't remem-
Der who they Were. I went then to
Charlie Gardeners and afterward ret,1rn-
ed home. | went to Gardeners to look
for nv wife. | went to Gulse's also. ]
had searched for nv wife in that neigh
borhond before. Once she was away
from me- for seven weeks in last Janu-