The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-08
EIGHT STAB WOUNDS.
John Kneirm Terribly Injured by
His Friend William Bowman at
Petersburg Saturday Night.

John Kneirim. a blacksmith, living
of Paul street. Petersburg. was stabbed
and terribly injured, Saturday night at
10 o'clock by William Bowman OF
the same street, who is now in the
county Jail.
Bowman committed the deed while
intoxicated. The motive for his ac-
tion is unknown. as he and Kneirim
have always been good friends and
have never quarrelled so far as is
known.
Yesterday when Kneirim was seen by
Tribune man, he was at a loss for
any reason for the stabbing, but said
that Bowman had been drinking
heavily and that was probably the
cause Of his action. The wounds in
nicted are eight in number. and are
principally on the body and arms. Only
two of them are serious, one being a
cut in the jugular vein, and the other
in the left lung.
DIR. a. II. Bernstein is attending the
injured man, and was pleased yester-
day with the progress the latter made,
as he had passed very good day.
Opiates, however had to be given
to ease his pain. and It Is very doubt
injuries.
The fracas occurred near Joseph
Hans saloon, at the corner Of Ash and
Cross streets. Kneirim and a friend.
John Christ had left the place, and
| near the corner met a crowd OF the
men living in the neighborhood. Bow
| man was one Of them, and had with
| him his dog.
;,,f. L. ,,,Iyn t,n,, y,
| animal. and on Bowman'S answering
roughly, a slight alteration took
place.
Bowman then challenged Kneirim to
| fight, and in q moment they were en-
gagged in wrestling match. One Of
the bystanders saw a knife flashing
in Bowmans hand, and the fight was
Immediately brought to stop. but not
until Kneirim had been stabbed again
and again.
In the excitement that ensued Bow
man left the place and quietly walked
home while Kneirim was carried to
his residence nearby. DIR. Bernstein
was called and stanched the blood
which was flowing freely from
Kneirim's body. Patrolmen Fred
KaIius and Louis Goerlitz. who live
in the vicinity We're notified OF the
affair, and going to Bowman's house.
arrested him and took him to police
headquarters In the city hail.
He was yesterday morning sent to
the county jail Bowman is a man OF
about forty years, and n carpenter by
trade. He has wife and five chill
dren and his action is a source Of mys-
terry to everyone.
..;.
OF age and married. He has known
Bowman since the latter was a boy.
Bowman, when interviewed at the
Jail yesterday. confirmed Kneirim's s
story as to there having been no pre-
vious ill-feeling between them. He
gave. however. different version ~
the affair and says that he stabbed
Kneirim while in a very drunken con-
dition and not knowing what he did.
According to him. about ten minutes
before the stabbing, Kneirim came ou,
OF Hans saloon and without any
warning sprang upon him and threw
him to the ground. Kneirim is a large
heavy man and Bowman. who. though
of medium height, is slightly built, did
not offer much resistance. He consid-
cred the affair as a mere pleasantly
on the part of Kneirin, whom he says
was intoxicated.
He himself was also drunk and did
not see any more of Kneirim unit
about 10 o'clock when, he says, the
latter appeared and repeated his per-
formance by jumping on him again.
This time the two wrestled awhils
and Bowman says he knew nothing
further until his knife was snatchec
out of his hand.
He claims that In his drunkenness
he struck without knowing what h.