The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-16
IN 4 DRUNKEN ROW.
Facts Coming to Light Regard
ing Death Of Nicholas Fish.

New York. Sept 1s.-The police are
still seeking for the exact facts which
led I'D to the death Of Nicholas Fish.
the banker who was found with his
skull fractured In front of q saloon In
West Thirty fourth street yesterday and
who died early this morning In Roose-
welt hospital.
Mrs. Libbie ]. Phillips, So years old;
Mrs. Nellie Casey. 30 years old. and
Thomas ]. Eharkey, - years old. pri-
yate detective, were arrested early to-
day in connection with the case.
According to the police Mr.. Fish en-
tered EnrRardt's saioon.2k West Thirty
fourth street yesterday afternoon with
Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Casey. The po-
lice say that Mrs. Phillips knew who
Fish was. but that neither Mrs.. Casey
nor Sharkey. who subsequently Joined
the party, were aware OF his identity.
Sharkey, who knew the women, was not
reluctant to join the party when one of
the women invited him to do SO. The
police say that Fish did most of the
buying. Fish then discovered that his
money was exhausted, and he ANNOUNCE
ed that he would have to Eraw a check.
Sharkey, ignorant of Ftshs identity,
questioned his ability to make his
check good. Fish. it is said, took Oh
Tense at This and angry words ensued.
Then. according to the police. some one
slapped Fishs face. One Of the women.
clingfng 20 Fish's arm dra eyed him
toward the door of the saloon and out
to the sidewalk. The police say that
Sharkey attempted to follow Fish, but
was for moment restrained by the
other woman. He finally went out of
the saloon and he and Fish encountered
each other on the sidewalk. Sharkey's
hat had been knocked on and he was
bareheaded. There was scuf1ie by
whom commenced. it is not known.
Fish fell or was knocked down, his head
striking naestone: just before the
Casey, becoming alarmed. hurriedly left
the party. After Fish fell it is said that
Sharkey reertered the saloon and then
left it and went into saloon a few
doors away and a moment later left
He was closely followed by Mrs. Phil
lips, who was carrying his hat and who
a nnsco osoen the me car nn was vas iying UNI n
people gathered about him and some men
carried him into the hallway of the saloon
full they again brought him. to the street.
thinking he might revive there. He was
pea a The OFFICER called an ambulance
from the Roosevelt hospital Fish's iden-
tity was not learned until the hospital
As soon as It was learned who he was
he was entered as a private patient
Mrs. Casey, Mrs. Phillips and sharlxey
were held for the coroner A detective
said to the sitting MAGISTRATE that the
!
Nicholas Fish
Mrs. Casey denied all knowledge of the
case. Mrs Phillips when questioned
about the case said:
You'll find out later
Coroner jackson held Sharkey in so 900
bail and Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Casey in
500 bail each as witnesses
Sharlzey made the following statement
preliminary to his arraighment:
It went into Ehrhardt,s and saw two
women with whom am acquainted They
called out when they saw me: Come over
and have a drink / went over and sat
down with them, and after / had talked
to them some this banker, Fish, seemed
to take offense at my being there. We
had q few words. and all at once he
drew OF with his arm and struck me.
Then we both got up. went out one
door and he the other. He must have
stumbled down the steps and fallen in
going out
Coroner jackson made an examination
of Mr.. Ffsh's body He says no fracture
OF the skull has been found. He believed
the death had been caused by paralysis
of the brain, caused by q blow on the
side of the head. The coroner said that a
knockout blow usually caused paralysis
or conclusion of the brain. The pupil of
MFR Efshs right eye was dilated. while
the left was contracted, and that the cor
oner said was symptom of paralysis OF
the brain.
DR.. O'Hanlon, coroner's physician, per-
formed autopsy on the body OF Mr.
Fish. He found that death was caused by
cerebral hemorrhage due to violence.