The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-12-21
THE BLOW
FATAL
Young QuinIan Assaults Aged
GuStaye KOetter--Latfer IieS.
Old Man Struck Down Without
Warning Skull Fractured by the
Blow QuInIan Runs and is Cop
tured by a. Citizen Later
Charged With Manslaughter.

NuESu Dy CtClZen Later
Charged with MansIaughter.
Gustave Koetter an aged German
uphc sterer, who had shop in the
rear of the McAlpin Block, was
bfutally assaulted on Saturday night
by Charles Quinlan, young man
eighteen years of age. who lives on
Bndd street. Mr.. Koetter, who is
about seventy years Of age, was
standing on the sidewalk near Rothss
butcher shop when Qninlan coming
up the street, jostled him. The old
man was nearly thrown from his feet
and, looking around to see who it was,
the young man turned and struck
him terrific blow in the face. He
fell to the sidewalk and Quinlan took
to his heels.
Frank Cihlar, who lives in the
McAlpin Block, saw the affair and
Immediately gave chase. Quinian ran.
no High street and Cihlar called upon
him to halt or he would shoot. The
young man stopped and Cihlar placed
him under arrest. He was bringi <
him to police headquarters when he
was met by Chief Holloway into
whose charge he gave the prisoner.
During the chase. the old man lay
on the sidewalk unconscious and on
the arrival of the police he was taken
to headquarters. Police Surgeon
McCarroll was summoned and order ed
him taken to the Memorial. Hospital,
where lit was found his nose was
broken by the blow and his skull
fractured. Young Quinlan was
committed to Jail, without bail, to
await the result Of Koetter 8 injuries.
He has never been under arrest before.
Frank Cinlar, who witnessed the
affair said that the attack was entirely
uhprovoked, aud that Quinlan 5ostled
ard struck the old uan out of pure
maliciousness. Koetter, Cihlar says,
was a harmless old man, who had
never done any one an injury.
Gnstave Koe.ter was German
Polander and had worked in aud
aro md Morristown for about thirty
years. He was d cabinet maker aud
polisher. having learned his trade in
Poland 4, and in his his aas.lier aaYs s@s.ss s.
workman Of the highest skill. He
lived by himself and was an inoffen-
sive man, being deaf, and suffering
many physical defects due to advanced
age. Last Saturday afternoon those
who saw him about his usual haunts
noticed that he appeared unusually
weak and several remarked thai he
would not last long
He was known in many homes in
Morristown where he had been
employed to repair and polish furni-
ture. He gained some repute as a
wood carver, doing work at times for
carpenters and builders, his carvings
being used for Interior decoration. He
was especially noted for his ability
to rejuvenate old furniture and restore
to it its original lustre. In doing
this he used a liquid Of his own make,
the ingredients of which were known
only to himself At one time his
friends, who knew the value of his
polish, endeavorea to have it manu-
factured on a large scale, but the old
man refused and would make only
enough for his own use TIE secret of
its composition died with him.
Charles Quinlan in his statement to
the police said that he bumped into'
Koetter by accident He .olaims that
the old man struck him, he returning
the blow in self defense. Cihlar, who
witnessed the affair, denies this.
Koetter, he says, turned to see who
his assailant was, when the blow
was struck
Koetter died ON Monday afternoon
at three O'Clock and Coroner Leonard
was notified and impanelled jury,
The funeral Of Gustave Koetter was
held Wednesday morning from Strub-
les undertaking rooms. Rev. Samuel
q Batten OF the Baptist Church offic-
lated and delivered brief address in
which he dicusssed the crime which
resulted in the old mans death. The
interment took place in Evergreen
cemetery.
Coroner Leonard neld the inquest
Wednesday afternoon in the County
Hall of the Court House. A number
of witnesses were examined by Prose-
cutor Of Pleas, Alfred E. Mills and
counsel for the defense, Willard W.
Cutler.
Fra-k Cihlar the principal witness,
was sworn and testified that he saw
the fatal blow struck and the capture
of Quinlan.
Several other witnesses were ex-
amined and the jury, consisting of
Joseph Blanchard, o. H. Hawley,
William Hughson William Wulfers
and John F.. Lyons, rendered the fol-
lowing verdict:
The verdict of this jury is that the
said Gustave Koetter came to his
death by a blow on the face delivered
by one Charles Qainlan, on the 10th
Of December, 1900. between the hours
Of six and seven o'clock III the even.
ing, on Speedwell avenue, between
Lippman's aud Roths stores