The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-09

forty dollars Sunday morning and sup
didn't get home last night it began to
worry me. I got up about O'Clock and
might have met with an accident and
thought might find him on the sidewalk.
barn. all beaten up. so close to home
Mrs. Kunz was overcome with grief
An Operation Performed.
After Kunz was removed to Christ
hospital, Sheriff A. T. Lucas and COun-
ty Attorney Otis Hungate were called
to secure statement. After some diff
! hculty, Kunz was aroused from his
semi-comatose condition and said: Il
left the store at II O'Clock and caught
the last car. I got of at Sixth street
! and Kansas avenue and walked west on
Sixth street. At the lumber yard
| turned to walk south on Van Buren,.
remember getting as far as the alley.
After that knew nothing"
1t was only with a great deal of coax
ing that Mr.. Hungate succeeded in get
ting Kunz to say this much. His de-
| lirfous condition caused him to talk IN
an incoherent manner. He recognized
Sheriff Lucas. The latter looked over
kunz's clothes at the hospital and
found $50 In a side trousers pocket,
which his assailants had evidently over
looked.
At noon today the attending physi-
clans, DR.. W. F. Bowen, DR.. S. G. Stew
art and DR.. c. B. Van Horn completed
their examination and stated that
Kunz's skull had been fractured in i've
I
above, and below the right ear. Another
1 long wound was at the base of the
skull. It could not be determined at
the time, whether a fracture exists
there also or not.
DR.. Bowen trephined all five frac-
lures. After the operation the patient
regained entireSconsciousness. The doc
tors held out no hope for his recovery.
His vitality naturally was low. He is
a small man, and has Deen in poor
health for some time. The viciousness
81 r, r,.o
suited disastrously with probably any
man.
Mrs Kunz was apprised of her hus-
bands condition at noon She was al
most beside herself with grief when in
formed that practically no chance of
recovery remains. She was taken to
her husbands bedside this afternoon.
Suspect Is Captured.
The police believe that they have cap
tured the man who committed the deed.
About II o'clock Sergeant McElrOy and
Detective Joe Ross arrested John
Croft a young man about % years of
age at his rooming and boarding
place, Pasho's restaurant, at 219 West
Sixth avenue. This place adjoins
Thomas lumber yard.
Croft formerly worked for Thomas,
leaving his employ however about five
weeks ago. For a time he worked with
the Bell Telephone company, but lately
has been out of a job.
He came to Thomas Lumber yard
this morning about the same time that
the police arrived. He acted rather
nervous and frightened. Sergeant Nc
Elroy and Chief Stahl thought they
had better look him up.
He was arrested and talxan to the po-
lice station. An examination OF his
clothes showed three unmistakable
blood spots on his trousers, two almost
as large as a quarter. Blood marks
were found on no other parts of his
clothes.
How did these blood spots get on
your pants?'' was asked OF him.
IT suppose" replied Croft, that
when I went into the little room this
morning when the police were there,
that rubbed up against some Of the
blood on the bench ana It got on me.
That is the only way I can figure it
out"
That. to the police. looked like a
mighty poor excuse. fo- this morning
the blood on the benches and against
the walls was frozen and dry
Croft stoutly maintains that he can
tell just exactly where he was last
night and can account for every min
ute of the twelve hours between dark |
ness last night and daylight this morn
II know that I am innocent Of this
crime which they charge against me.
That is all have to say was his in
sistent statement when asked ques-
tons.
Sweating Brings Nothing.
The police sweated Croft for over
TWO hours. he Sd1Q IndL he spent
of the night waiting upon sick girl
by the name of ''Tillfe." Then he said |
he went to his room and slept.
His answers were so disjointed and
mixed up that the police decided to |
give him up and turned him over to
the county authorities. He was placed |
In the county jail at noon.
Sheriff Lucas and County Attorney |
Hungate will sweat him late this after
noon or this evening, and may be
able to wiring some information from
him one way or the other
Sheriff Lucas found a hammer in /
the Thomas barn lying on a little
ledge. close to the place where Kunz
was found. 1t is thought that this is
the weapon with which the deed was
committed. The hammer is of the |
ordinary carpenter variety. with face
about one inch in width. This is
about the size of the two wounds /
fractures bear evidence of having been
made with a round instrument. Two |
brown spots, appearing to be blood |
are on the side of the hammer. The |
handle is covered with black bicycle |
tire tape, and has no blood on it. Mr. |
Hungate has the hammer. cit is sell !
DOM he said, that you will find /
blood marks on a hammer or ak with |
which a deed of this kind has been
committed. So you can go little on |
that phase of the matter"
what do you think about Croft? |
Did he have any connection with the
affair ~ was asked of Mr.. Hungate.
ct have nothing to say until I have |
seen him. was the county attorneys |
reply
Watch Is Found.
The police this afternoon found Kunz's
watch in an clubhouse at 725 Van
Buren, street, where John Groff's |
sweetheart lives. The officers feel
now that they have the right man.
Detective Joe Ross made the discOv-
cry. Croft stated that he had visited |
his ''girr' on Sunday night up until |
midnight, when he left for home. Ross
thought that some traces might be dis