The herald., 1896-03-07
Fred Czarske Cut in the AbdO-
men in a Row
1T WILL RESULT FATALLY
His AssaiIant Said to Be a BicycIisl
Named Burke
Operated Upon at the Receiving HospitaI-A
Pocketknife the Weapon Used-Trouble
Caused by Whisky

A stabbipg affray, which will probably
result fatally, occurred at a little after 10
o'clock last night at the saloon run by Fred
Csarske, on Third street, just below Spring.
The place is directly opposite the Stimson
block, and is a small onestory structure
with a bootblack and cigar stand in front.
At about o'clock three men entered the
place and called all hands up to drink.
All we're evidently the worse for liquor,
but two of them were sufficiently sober TO
realize what they were doing. The third,
who is described as man somewhat
above average height with a scanty light
mustache, was in d fighting mood and
soon made his proclivities known.
They were evidently wheelmen, and as
the proprietor, Czarske, rides bicycle and
keeps his wheel in the saloon, spirited
conversation ensued. Czarske had doffed
his apron and come from behind the bar,
while his brother-n-law, Jim Mcdowell, /,
took his place. One round of drinks was
taken and the newcomers proceeded to
show their skill OF the wheel by mounting
Czarske's bicycle and riding around the
pool table in the rear of the saloon.
After the exhibition, and another round
of driHks, the ;party gathered in front of
the bar. A dispute arose with the bar
tender, and while he was leaning down be-
hind the counter the loader of the trio
struck him blow over The eye with his
fist. Aruarrel seemed imminent. but was
Quelled by the action of the two friends,
who begged Mcdowell not to mind the
drunken mans act, that he was all right
and intended no harm.
The leader, and the most intoxicated of
the party, is described as clad in bicycle
togs and wearing a wine colored or brown
sweater. His companions addressed him
AS Jim, and his name is said to be Burke.
He declared himself as able to whip any
man on earth, and wanted to fight. Mat
ters being once more restored to normal
Burke ordered another round of drinks.
These were disposed of and the conversa-
ton renewed. All this had occurred be-
tween and 10 o'clock. Some nine or
ten men we're in the place, and Czarske's
wife had come and was in the front end
waiting to go home with her husband.
Standing talking to her was "a friend of
the family who had lately arrived from
Orange county, where Czarske formerly
resided. Suddenly the knot of men in
front of the bar, who had been talking in
rather loud and boisterous tones, became
involved in another row. Eyewitnesses
state that Burke said something to Czarske,
at which the latter took umbrage and he
struck Burke blow that sent him reeling
across the room. He fell against the OPP
posite wall with blood streaming from his
nose.
Then cooliy rising to his feet he drew
from his pocket a large horn handled
pocketknfe, opened the large blade and
started for his assailant. No one particu-
Iarly noticed that he had a weapon and be-
fore hand could be raised he had rushed
upon the saloonman and delivered terrible
cut with the knife in the abdomen. Czarske
lid not seem to realize that he had been
stabbed and struck another blow at the
drunken murderer.
Mrs. Czarske. who had seen the whole
proceeding, shrieked at the top of her
voice and called to her husband that he
had been stabbed. The two companions
of the knife wielder at this started from
the saloon in different directions and were
soon lost to sight. The murderer, for such
he will prove to be, retreated to the posi-
ton he had been in when producing the
knife, shut the murderous blade and re-
placed the instrument in his pocket. He
then walked rapidly from the place and
disappeared.
During all this, which took but a few
moments to occur, no one in the place
moved hand to detain the murderer, and
in fact no one seemed to realize what had
occurred. Czarske walked over to where
his fredd stood and. loosening his trous-
ers, discovered the ugly wound where the
blade had penetrated. He was in no pain
and hardly seemed TO think that he had
been dangerously hurt.
and the injured man removed to the re-
ceiving hospital, where Drs. Ainsworth and
Bryant gave immediate attention. 1t was
found that the knife had penetrated the
abdomen just above the groin, on the left
side, and that the intestines had been sew
cred. An immediate operation was neces-
sary to give the man any chance for life,
and this was performed. An incison was
made and the abdominal wall laid open,
exposing the cash. The severed in
testines were sewed up and everything
done to relieve the condition of the
patient. While the operation is a desperate
one and the wounded man has but one
chance in thousand to live, it is hoped he
may pull through. On coming from the
operating table, however, DR.. Ainsworth
expressed it as his opinion that Czarske
could not live till morning.
His faithful wife remained at the station
the greater part of the night, as did his
brother, Gene, and Mcdowell, the brother
in-law. The terrible news was carefully
concealed from Mrs. Czarske and she was
given to hope that her husband was not
dangerously hurt.
Detective Hawley and Sergeant Smith at
once started on a search for the murderous
assailant and as they have a good descrp-
tion of all the trio and know their haunts
it will probably not be long before they are
apprehended.
Fred Czarske, the injured man, is one of
the oldest saioonkeepers in the city, hav-
ing kept place at the corner of Ord and
Upper Main streets some seven years ago.
He is man about five feet ten inches tall.
of dark complexion and curly hair. His
saloon at ] 81 West Third street is known
as the True Blue. The family resides at
1923 South Broadway, and the members
are well and favorably known in the city
Czarske is n Hungarian by birth and about
35 years Of age. Al . o'clock this morning
he was still living.
detectives were securing the city all
night in an endeavor to apprehend the
fugitive. but up TO late hour he had not
been found.