Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-09-08
J. F. FLEnING'S CASE.
Hit on Head With Club by a Nauga. tuck Man.

Joseph F. Fleming of 3S Center
 street, who was injured at Naugatuck
 Wednesday night, is still in semi. conscious condition, but his physicians say that he is somewhat improved to, 1 day.
 In company with Thomas Brennan
 of South Leonard street Mir Fleming
 made trip to Naugatuck Wednesday night and intended to to return home
 about 10:50 on trolley car. While on the way to the car they met Frank
 Nolan, a Naugatuck newspaper man,
 and the trio got talking about the game
 of base ball to be played Saturday be- tween the Independents of Waterbury
 and the Naugatuck firemen. Of course they were not all of the same mind
 and the difference resulted in an agree
 ment to put up little money on it. They went into Barbiero's fruit store
 to complete the details and while there
 it appears that they talked more than
 the proprietor cared to have them. al
 though nothing was said at which any
 body could have taken offense. Elem ing and Brennan finally went out, whereupon the proprietor told Nolan that he didn't want any more wager ing parties in his place and intimated that if they should call again he would show them the door. After hearing this the scribe went out and told Fleming and Brennan. With a view to disabusing Barbiero that they meant to be offensive, the two Water bury fellows dropped into the store again and Fleming leaned over the counter and asked Barbiero if he had told Nolan that he didn't want them in there any more, adding that he was not aware of anything having occurred to which he or anybody that might have been in the place at the time could take exception. The fruit dealer was not in a mood to be catechized on the question and is said to have re- piled by reaching for club and giving Fleming a stunning blow on the head. felling him to the floor. Brennan picked him up and put him sitting in a chair. after which Barbiero cooled down somewhat and declared that he meant to hit the fellow on the hands, but missed his aim. He was in hurry to close the store and the in- iured man and his friend had to get out. Nolan and somebody else who were in the vicinity heard the racket and notified Officer Malone. who called at the place and found Fleming bleed
 ing from the ears and mouth. He sug- gested that he be taken to the station house, but Brennan promised to get him on a car and see that he reached his own home and with this under standing and the further stipulation that Brennan should report to the Naugatuck police if anything serious resulted, he was permitted to board car and arrived here about 1 o'clock in the morning. Brennan escorted him to the family residence, remaining with him until he entered his room. Evidently Brennan didn't think his companion was badly hurt and thought it best not to disturb the family and hurried to his own home without say ing anything about it. Some time later Fieming's sister. Mrs Robert Short. who lives with her mother. got up to see if Joe was in and on going into his room found him lying on the bed. Upon further investigation she discovered that he was unable to speak and blood was oozing from his head. The woman forthwith alarmed the rest of the family and Dr Poore was summoned and after a nasty examina- ton concluded that the man had suf- fered a fracture of the base of the skull. Last evening a consultation was held between Dr Poore and Dr Mona gan and both agreed as to the nature of the injury. His condition was some what improved this morning and it is thought that he will recover.
 The police were notified and Detec- tive Keegan was dispatched to Nauga- tuck to see what he could find out about the case. He found that Elem ing had made call on Miss Catherine O'Brien Wednesday night, but left about 10 o'clock to return on the 10:30 car. The detective unearthed other par ticulars which led to the arrest last night of BarbIero by Chief Schmidt
 Joseph Fleming is an emplOye of the Novelty Manufacturing Co and one of the best known bicycle riders in the state. breaking all records some time ago in a wheeling trip between here and Hartford. He has a wide circle of friends. all of whom claim that the fruit dealer must have acted without provOcatiOn. for Fleming, they say. does not pretend to he a fighter and never before figured in a row of that character.