Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-07
MAY RESULT IN MURDER
Albert Conrad YiCiouSly Assaults George
Leyrer at BaYarlan Brewery.
pLUNGES A KNIFE IN HIS BACK
Men Have a Quarrel In the
Washing Room. AZ
THE VICTIM BELIEVES He IS DYING

foremar OF the washing room at the
Bavarian Brewery, was seriously and
probably fatally stabbed about $50
O'Clock yesterday morning, in washing
room Of the brewey, by Albert Conrad,
q cooper in tho employ of tho company,
who was helping him. Conrad used a
dangerous coorer's knife. with a blade
about five inches long, and plunged its
full length into Leyrer's back Just
below the left shoulder blade. With
the same knife be also inflicted another
wound near the middle of the back and
chopped the ends of tho fingers Of
Leyrer's left hand almost of. Leyrer
was taken to the Delaware Hospital,
where his condition at neon was re-.
ported to he extremely critical. He
made deposition at VI o'clock, in
which he said he believed he was
dying. At that time the extent Of his
injuries had not been ascertained by
the physicians. Conrad is locked up
at the police station on the charge Of
assault, with intent 10 commit murder.
Both men are about 80 years of age.
Leyrer, who has been in the employ Of
the brewing company for about five
years and is generally liked, has only a
wife, and after his arrival at the hos.
pital lie pleaded hard to have her come
to him. She was sent for.
Conrad has been employed at the
brewery Only about week. He came
from Philadelphia, where he has a
wife ard child living at No. 1443 EttIng
street, between Master and Jefferson
streets. Since his arrival In this city he
has been boarding with John SPAIN,
at the southwest corner of Fifth and
du Pont streets, diagonally across the
street from the brewery, and had been
looking for a house, with a view to
bringing his family to this city. He
is q cooper by trade, and since obtain
ing employment at the brewery had
been working part Of each day In the
washing room and the remainder OF the
day in the cooper shop.
Willis in the washing room be was
under the Suspension OF Leyrer, who
has been in charge OF that department
for some time. Yesterday Leyrer
and Conrad were at work In the wash
ing room washing kegs, when contro-
versy arose, with the result as stated
above The first report was that Conrad
Grst struck Leyrer with q steel punch
about seven iuches long and afterward
assaulted him with the knife, but,
according to Leyrer, he has no knowl.
edge OF the punch being used. Conrad
would not say whether he used the
punch. After the stabhIng Leyrer ian
out of the washing room toward the
wagon house, Just across the yard. A
bar for the employed of the brewery IL
located Just inside the door Of the
carriage house and at the time a mum
her OF mon were there, including John
Stsers, boss brewer. When Leyrer
ran into the wagon house he was pur-
sued by Conrad, who still had the knife
in his hand. The people ut the entrance
we're armed and Mr.. Stigers stopped
Conrad and attempted to disarm him,
nut did not know at the time that no
had committed an assault. Conrad
broke away from Mr.. Stigers and ran
70 the cooper shop, where he hid the
Rnlfo, He returned to the wagon
mouse and quietly drank glass of beer,
with tho other men, who we're there
shortly afterward he went to John
spahn s saloon, across the sti eet, where
he ordered another glass of beer.
In the meantime the people in tho
wagon house and others about the
brewery had learned what had har-
Pened. After Leyrer entered the wagon
mouse he became exhausted from the
loss OF blood and fell to the floor.
Mhen this was noticed the people
nearby ran toward him and obtained
1he story OF the assault from him.
AS II was known that Conrad had
gone TO Mr.. Spabu's saloon. the people
VINO we're hooking for him went there.
and before be had time to drink the
oeer which had been ordered Mr..
SPAIN took 1T away from him and pre-
vented bis escape from the building.
Messages had been sent to the police
natlon and the Phoenix engine house
ior the ambulance, and 10 short time
roIiceman Maurice Flynn arrived and
paced Conrad under arrest. Shortly
al'erward Sergeant Kelleher and Pa
man Riley were also on the scene
aal the three officers began an investi-
cation. When the ambulance arrived
leiyrer was taken to the hospital.
Inc knife which had been used by
conrad IN his attack upon Leyrer was
iouhei by the police, as was also the
punch, and both were taken to the
ppiice station. As soon as possible,
wing to Leyrer critical condition. ar
iahgements were made to hare his
opposition taken. and at 1870 O'Clock
SSeefgeant Kelleher, Acting Sergeant
6nerry, Special Officers Schell and
tufGell and Magistrate Kelley visited
wy. hospital and secured Leyrer's sworn
statement.
Leyrer. in his deposition, said he be-
'e'ea he was DIVING. He said while
work yesterday he ordered Con-
ny ny, 70 move some Kegs and the latter
Wy MN to go to h, whereupon he
picked up bung hook for the purpose
emphasizing his order. He said
nad no intention of striking Conrad,
ul the latter became enraged, and,
slaing to the cooper shop. secured
auiit, and upon his return said he was
suiag TO XIII Leyrer and plunged the
lule 10 his back twice and chopped
NJ nneers. Leyrer then told the story
us running out Of the washing room
Ee5 away from Conrad and what fol-
I've agrees with what is stated above.
~ SAID he had never before qusrreled
rmn conrad. but he did not like him
1"ch from the day he entered the
unInIoy OF the company.
eonrad, when seen by a repof ter of
ue Halette, said Leyrer had been
oWling about the work each day and
s.erday again grurnbled and re-
uSed to let HIM enter the room when
went out once. He declined to 80
w. y; details concerning the assault. He
aaehty regrets his action, as be broke
SSh and cried after being arrested
~ when confronted by Leyrer at the
uspitai wanted to apologize, but was
sVented by the police FROM going
,ar him. AT the hospital Leyrer
10