Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-21


the Delaware Hospital.
At the instance OF a jury empaneIed
by Coroner Alfred d. Vandever, Albert
Conrad. who stabbed George Leyrer
at the Bayarian Brewery on Wednesday,
lune G. was held without bail, Thursday
n;vht ia await the result of the grand
;nry,s investigation into the cause of
invrer's death. The jury, which met
at The City Hall, after hearing the
testimony OF several witnesses, decided
that
"George Leyrer came to his death on
lime 10th, 1900, from meningitis,
snnerinduced by stab wound inflicted
nv Albert Conrad at the Bayarian
brewery, on June 9th, 1900, and recon-
mend that the said Albert Conrad be
committed without bail to await the
action of the grand inquest.
The Jury was in charge of the coroner.
who swore the witnesses and occasions
ally asked questions. Deputy Attorney
General ay aI' Peter i. Cooper, Jr., who
was present on behalf of the State,
| conducted the examination. Conrad
was in the prisoners dock, having been
| Drought UVbf rum lNoW N!uotlC Jui',
upop the order Of the coroner, by
Warden Bowers. He was manacled
when placed in the dock, but on the
order Of Deputy Attorney General
| Cooper, the handouts were removed
during the investigation. The prisoner
sat quietly and almost motionless,
eagerly listening to every word that was
said. At the conclusion of the inquest
be lighted cigar, which he smoked
as he walked out OF the dock with
Warden Bowers, on his way to the street
car, to be taken back to Jail. He
showed no outward signs OF surprise
when the verdict was announced.
The testimony of the witnesses was
taken down by Deputy Coroner Ferris
Giles, who acted as secretary of the
Jury.
Jacob Seiman, secretary and trea-
surer of the Bavarian Brewing Co., the
first witness, said Leyrer, who was
foreman of the washhouse, had been in
the employ Of the company between
four and five years and Conrad had
been working there only since May 28th.
The first witness knew of the stahhing
was when be saw Conrad pursuing
leyrer. Leyrer had a lung. hook In
his hand and witness and Jacob Steiger
Jumped between Leyrer and Conrad.
leyrer told him his lung had been
pierced and after having Leyrer taken
care of he sent for physician and an
ambulance and seeing Conrad go to
John Spahn's place, told Mr.. Spain
10 keep watch on him until the arrival
Of an officer. Before Conrad left the
brewery yard he went to the upper
story of onu Of the buildings.
MI. Steiger oorrobnrated Mr.. Seiman's
statement. Witness talked to Conrad,
but the latter appeared too much fright
ened TO say anything. He did not
know of Leyrer and Conrad having
touble before. He did not hear any
uouble in tie washhouse before the
men ran out.
Alexander ryo of No. 300 Head
street, who was in the wagon house at
the brewery at the time, had been
talking 10 Leyrer aoont five minutes
before the trouble. After leaving witt
ness Ieyrer went to the Mushroom and
shortly afterward he saw Leyrer and
Conrad run to the wagon house. Con-
rad was about 10 feet back of Leyrer
and they ran about 40 feet. Witness
never knew Conrad but he had been
ACQUAINTED with Lsyrer for about two
years and thought he was a fire man.
John SPAIN of the southwest corner
OF Fifth and du Pont streets, with
whom Conrad boarded, said while he
was crossing the street Conrad pass ed
him and looked as il he was sick.
Conrad entered his saloon and upon
Clearing that he had stabbed Leyrer.
witness ran back to his saloon and
would not permit Conrad to drink Q
glass Of beer he had ordered. The arrest
followed.
Dr.. J. A. Draper, Jr., coroner't
physician, who made a post-morten
examination of Leyrer's body, said be
saw Leyrer at the hospital about hall
an hour after he was taken there. Hi
found a rip fractured and the lune
pnnctured. The patient was in fairl,
good condition. That night he did no
sleep and on the following night de
rium tremens developed On Satur
day meningitis set in and death resulted
on Sunday. Witness said death resulted
from meningitis, an affection of tn
brain, and the meningitis was evidenti,
lie result of the delirirm tremeus
awhich resulted from the use of alcoholic
drink. Leyrer might have had tn
delirium il he had not been stabbed
and the delirium might have resultet
from liquor being shut off. Leyrer ha'
had no liquor since his admission I,
tho hospital. The affection might hav
been caused by the shock from tn
wound. Witness could not say positivel'
whether the delirium tremens resulte,
from the wound or not, but the shoo
may have been partially responsible.
Jacob Steiger, who had worked Will
i'eyrer fol four or five years, neye
knew of Leyrer's having the deliriur
,lremens. He never saw Leyrer drunk
Or, John Palmer, Jr., who cav LeyIe
an hour or so after the latter had bee
admitted to the hospital, found I'd
condition such as had been testified +
Dr. Draper. On the first day and nigh
me patient did pretty we'll, but on tn
night of the second day deliriui
'fomens set id and Leyrer grew wors
until meningitis developed, which wa
followed by death At the post.mortel
examination the wound was found J
Inc condition Of healing, but the iun
was somewhat congested. Death r.
suited from meningitis. The shuttin
oil Of liquor and shock might have pre-
duced the delirium.
Coroner Vandever made n statemer
70 which he said he had been informe
~ tho superintendent of the brewer
nat when Leyrer was sent down tow
with beer he sometimes drank rats,
and on one occasion. on his return
lhe brewery was SO full that he was ~
permitted to go to work.
lollceman Flynn, who arrested Col
fs0, said he had known Leyrer for abol.
Three years and never saw him drum