The times., 1899-07-07

Frederick Eckhardt, .twenty-seven years
of age, and son of Nicholas Eckhardt,
the well-known contractor and builder, is
lying in a critical condition at his home,
1140 Eighteenth Street northwest. He is
suffering from the effects of a blow on the
nose delivered by William Ryan, a timer,
thirty years of age, at about 10 o'clock
Tuesday morning.
The blow was struck at the triangular
Pennsylvania Avenue northwest, and it is
said was entirely without provocation. AS
the result of the blow Eckhardt sustained
a rupture of several blood vessels of the
nose and head, and has been subject TO
hemorrtages since then. At a late hour
last night Drs. Charles w. Richardson and
John Van Rensselaer,, who are attending
the young man, pronounced his injuries
as likely to result in death. Ryan is
locked up at No 8 station, where he will
be held to await the result of Eckhardt's
injury. He was arrested by Policeman
Boland, and is charged with contempt OF
court
Ryan was arrested for the assault on
Eckhardt Immediately after the oecur-
renee. He was released on $40 collateral
for his appearance in court Wednesday
morning. AT that time the injury to Eek
hardt appeared to be only slight and as
Ryan was charged with assault and bat
terry and saw fit to forfeit his collateral,
the case would have been dropped had it
not been for the alarming Developments in
the condition of the injured man. AS soon
as it became known to Lieutenant Boyle,
of the Third precinct, that Eckhardt was
likely to die. he Immediately ordered
Ryan again taken into custody.
1t appears that at the time of the as
sault Ryan was in an intoxicated condition.
He is said TO have become SO early in the
morning, and was for a while so disorder
ly and profane that Policeman Russell ar
rested him and licked him UP at No. 3
station. Subsequently Ryan deposited S5
collateral for his appearance in court and
was released. When he left the station
he walked toward Twenty-first Street
and Pennsylvania Avenue, and there en-
countered Eckhardt, who was seated on
the chains surrounding the-triangular
parking referred to. 1t is said that Ryan
approached Eckhardt and wanted to know
at whom he was looking. Eckhardt re-
piled that he was not looking at anything,
whereupon, Ryan,. it is claimed rushed
upon the seated man and struck him vi
cious blow on the nose. Sergeant Bradley,
Of the Third precinct, who was passing the
spot on a street car, witnessed the affair,
and at once went in pursuit of Ryan, who
had left the scene. Bradley followed the
man. and found him seated on the door
step of a house at the corner of Twenty
third Street and Washington Circle. An
alley adjoins the house, and Sergeant
Bradley realized that the man would es-
cape through the alley If he exposed him
self, and called to Policeman Cats, who
was passing on his bicycle, and instructed
Cats to proceed toward the man from
one direction and he approached from the
other. The result was that both officers
were upon him at about the same time.
Ryan rushed into the house and through
TO the rear, where he was attempting TO
get over the fence when captured. He was
taken TO the station and locked up until
released on collateral as stated.
When the case against Ryan was called
in the Police Court Wednesday morning
the defendant failed TO put in an appear
ance and forfeited his collateral. Eek
hardt was present in court to prosecute
and though he presented a very battered
appearance, he did not feel that he had
been seriously injured. He returned to
his home and was seized with violent hem
orrhages. He became extremely weak,
but despite that fact, he insisted on going
to work. While at work Eckhardt again
suffered with hemorrhages and was sent To
the Emergency Hospital, where he was
treated for simple nose bleed, the physi-
clans not knowing the history OF his case.
From the hospital Eckhardt went home
fhera haray1p cariOtfElU i'll that
Richardson was called in to attend him
Dr. Richardson found him critically i'll
and stated that the injury would proba-
bly, result fatally. He advised that the
police be notified of the condition of Eek
hadrt- Acting on this advice, David Klapp
brother-in-law of the injured man, yes
terday went TO the Third precinct and laid
the matter before Lieutenant Boyle with
the result that Ryan was rearrested by
Policeman Bolden. Mr.. Klapp also called
on Major Sylvester and informed him ol
the facts in the case Mr.. Klapp was of the
opinion that Ryan had been tried for the
assault on his brother-in-law and so in
| formed the major, who expressed regret
| as il then appeared that Ryan could moi
| be again tried for the same offence Real
| izing. however, that the case was an eX-
| traordinary one, and that the victim of tht
assault was likely TO die. Major Sylvester
/ decided tnal IL WOulu De ldhlNS q IOHE
| chance to allow Ryan TO remain at liberty
| He ordered that the man be again take1
| into custody and was informed that Lieu
| tenant Boyle had already taken that steI
and that the man was then a prisoner
| Lieutenant Boyle explained to Major Syl
vester that Ryan had not been tried, anC
he felt justified in arresting the man fo
contempt of court, with the opportunity o
changing the charge later as the outcome
of the affair would warrant.
Sergeant Bradley, in company with {
| Times reporter called at the Eckhard
home last night to learn the condition o
the injured man. EcAhardt was then onl!
half conscious and was suffering &rea
pain. He had lost n great quantity o
blood and was 50 weakened as 4 con.
sequence that he could not move. Eek
hardt's mother and sisters were in con
| stant attendance upon him and showed
keenly the anxiety they felt, as did hi
father and brothers. u" Van Rensselaer,
| who had been hastily called in because o
a serious attack. stated to The Times re
porter that the situation was very grave
He said he hoped the patient would 1--we
l b.1