The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-22

MURDERER LAUGHS.
John Czech on Trial for the
Murder of His Wife Is
Amused by the
Testimony.
FERMENTATION CLEARLY SHOWN
The Prisoner Flourished a Re-
volver and Said He Would
Shoot His Wife.
FERMENTATION CLEARLY SHOWN

The trial of John Czech. who mas at
various times been known as Czoch,
Czech. and Szeuch. for the murder OF his
wife on June 8. was begun today in the
Court of Oyer and Terminer before a
jury composed as follows
Daniel Coffey. foreman; George w.
simmons. Timothy Regain, Sherman De
Clarke. Christopher c.. Slessman, John
B. Hoffman. Edward Murphy, James
Chambers. Henry Payne, Nathan R. VAL
entine, Dennis O'Halleran and Frederlck
1. Bergman.
The defense made thirteen and the
State three challenges, and one juror
was excused at his own request. Ex-
Judge Abel I.Smith and Frederick FRAN
bach defended the accused, while the
state as usual was represented by Pros
ecutor Winfield.
Czech, who is better known as FISH
John" is a smooth face untidy looking
old man. weather beaten and phleg-
matte. He was brought from the County
Jail by Constable Wells and immediate
ly conversed in German with Counsellor
Frambach. He looked thoughtful, and
as if he did not wholly comprehend the
preliminaries of the trial.
In opening the case for the prosecution
Mr.. Winfield said
PROSECUTOR WINFIELD OPENS.
..John Czech was indicted for the muir
der of his wife Mary on Monday, June 8.
On Sunday she was seen crossing the
| Hackensack road bridge. from the west
side of the river where she lived. inns
was at fifteen minutes before eight
O'Clock. All trace of her was then LOST
until half-past five Monday morning,
when she again crossed from the west
side of the river, remarking to an ac-
nlaintance that she had slept in the
meadows all night. AT eight o'clock the
defendant was also seen on this sac OF
the river. and he asked a Mr.. McClos-
kew if he had seen her. He told Nc
Closkey. as he showed him a revolver
'..That is for Mary, and when L eaten
her she'll be at rest orever.'
Al half-past eight Mary entered Carl
Pretzman's house, and almost immedl-
ately after Czech knocked at the door
and asked if his wife was there. When
told that she was and asked if he
wanted to see her. Czech replied, No,
I'll fix the ---- when I get her
He went away. and lay in wait around
a corner. When she went out of the
house she only walked twenty feet when
Czech shot her. He fired three shots,
one of which entered her neck"
JOHN THREATENED HIS WIFE.
Ernst Henckel. a saloon keeper at No.
1876 Van Wrinkle street, testified that on
Sunday "Fish Mary went to his place
and got some food but no beer.
Mrs. Francesca Meklofuki, of Van
Wrinkle street, testified that Czech had
visited her house on Monday and asked
where his wife was. Mrs. Meklofuki
said she did not know, she was not in
her house. Czech showed her a pistol,
and said thai the day would be Mary's
last day when he found her.
Cross-examined by Counsellor Fran
bach with a view of showing that wit
ness had a feeling against Fish Mary"
the witness said that the woman and
Fish john had frequently visited her,
but that Mary never remained long
when she visited witness alone. She
would go away very soon. Witness
said she was no friend of Mary's, but
was not unfriendly towards her. On the
morning in question when witness went
to a saloon for whiskey for her husband,
she saw Mary enter the saloon.
WITNESS MAKES CZECH LAUGH.
While this cross-examination was taxi
ing place. Czech appeared to find con-
siderable amusement in it. for ne low
cred his head SO that his face could not
be seen by the Court and jury, and
laughed gleefully, shaking his head
from side to side convulsively. When he
sat erect again his coarse face was red
and a broad grin was on his face.
Louis Spiras. who now lives at No.
70 Fourth street, was called next, and
testified that On Sunday, June 2, he
met Fish John" while he was mending
a fish net at his house on the meadows,
teach him. Czech showed him a bottle
of whiskey and a revolver. Witness
told him to put the revolver away, and
that his wife had gone away from home.
He had given her some money to buy
groceries with. and she had not re-
Cross-examined by Counsellor Franz
bach, witness testified that Fish John"
ga s MIN a drink OF whiskey out Of the
revolver for Mary and that he thought
witness and Mrs. Spiras, who was with
him., was Mary when they approached
August Williams of No. III Van
Wrinkle street. testified he had known
h%alf-past five o'clock on the morning of
the murder. She had bruises on her
face and walked lame.
witness said he met Mary on Newark
II don know whore she WENT said
witness. but she had a can in her
hand. 1 frequently saw her buy beer and
nave It in a can. 1 saw her do This
three and four times a week. l once
saw her alone in a saloon. She did not
seem to nave any men with her"
SOMETHING TO KILL HER WITH.
Mrs. Margaret Pretzmann of No. 8
Howell street. testified that Mary went
to her house Monday. morning: Czech
came to the fence in front of the house
light or ten minutes later.
aIJo % M tn ttha door and Caid SIC
Mary in,' " witness continued, "and my
little hoy said. yes. will YOU come in,