The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-20
THAT is The MAN
w. F. Kuntz Identifies Heck
as His Assailant.
''Grabbed Ne and Tried to Kill
Me-" He Said.
HE LEAVES NO DOUBT.
Cross Examination Fails to
Shake Him.
Tells Pitiful Story of the Crime
to a Jury.
HE LEAVES NO DOUBT.

al 1ISSh, now on trial on the
charge OF highway robbery upon W F.
huhtz the night of January s, and
John Croft. who is yet to be tried for
the same offense. stood before their ac-
euser and he identified them in a posi-
tive manner.
Are you positive these are the men
Who assaulted and robbed you?" asked
County Attorney Hungate
L am replied Kuntz
On oss-examination when Kun+z
was asked if he recugnized Heck the
man on trial. when he was assaulted.
Kuntz said: 7 recognized him as Heck
when he grabbed me. There he sits
now. He grabbed me by the throat and
tried to kill me. I knew he was Heck
and know he is the man who is sit
ting there
The court room was crowded Cal
Heck, the accused man on trial. sat
with his attorneys, William Deford. of
Ottawa, and Galen Nichols. Behind
him sat his father and mother. Mr.
ana Mrs Frank Heck. and his two sis
lefss MISS Pearl Heck and Ffia Heck
all of Ottawa. Close by sat John Croft
Who was arrested with Heck on the
same charge, but who is expected to
give states evidence al the trial
On the side of the table with the
prosecutors, County Attorney Hungate
and Assistant County Attorney Nc
Nary, sat Mrs. Kuntz and her little
daughter and Calvin Kuntz, son of the
prosecuting witness.
On the witness stand was William F.
Kuntz, who on the night of January g.
between 11:30 o'clock and midnight
was held up and assaulted at the alley
between Sixth avenue and Seventh
street, on Van Buren, within a few
doors Of his home shocked into insensi-
bility, dragged into a barn, pounded on
the head with a hammer, robbed of his
money and watch and left to die or to
freeze to death. The next morning he
was found, barely alive and taken to
the hospital where he was for seven
week. His skull was fractured in five
places and at first it was thought i'm
possible that he could live.
Kuntz faced the twelve jurors and
they could see on his forehead two
round, deep indentatons. One was near
the right temple and the other near the
left. On The table in front of the jury
was the bloody hammer with which the
assault was committed. Kuntz, pale
and enfeebled, spoke in a clear and pos
tive manner and gave most damaging
and convincing testimony.
It required but three-quarters of an
hour to select the jury. Neither the
prosecution nor the defense challenged
a juror but accepted the y men called
to the jury box without eXcuSing one.
In his statement to the jury County
4
attempt to prove in this case that Cal
Heck and John Croft assaulted and rob
bed W. T. Kuntz on the night Of jan
uary and by violence took from him
a SO bill, four dollars in silver, gold
watch chain, a nickled watch, chain
and a charm. Mr.. kuntz keeps drug
store at 612 North Kansas avenue and
lives at $40 South Van Buren street. On
the night of January 8, as he. was re-
turning home about midnight. he was
assaulted and robbed and Cal Heck and
John Croft are charged with the assault
and robbery. These two young men
were friends and lived at restaurant
on Sixth street. near where the assault
took place. We will attempt to show
that they planned together to commit
some crime At that time Pearl Sher1-
dan. sweetheart of Heck's, was at Stor-
mont hospital at Heck's expense He
needed money for this extra expense.
Croft was keeping company with sis
ter of Pearl Sheridan's. She became
sick. Croft cared for her at home
near Seventh and Van Buren streets
s1These two men went to Kuntz's
drug store in North Topeka. They
decided that this little man would be
a good man to hold up. They laid in
wait for him one night a month be-
fore they got him and they waited for
him night after night before they got
him The night before they assault
ed him Kuntz saw them on the cor
ner of Sixth and Van Buren, streets.
Kuntz had worked for Lew Blackman
at a drug store. Croft worked at
Blackman's brick yard some months
ago and on several occasions kuntz
cashed his pay check. A year ago
Heck worked at the Kuntz home dur
ing the house cleaning. We will show
that before the assault Heck and
Croft figured out how far man
would be from the alley when his
shadow, thrown by the street light,
could be seen from the alley. We
Will show that Heck grabbed Kuntz
and carried him into the barn where
he was robbed, assaulted and left to
die
after the assault Heck told many
different stories. He said there was
no blood on his clothe sand that if
there was he could not account for 1t.
Blood was found on his clothes"
During few minutes intermission
Efie Heck sat on the lap of her
brother, Cal Heck. with her arm
around his neck and they talked to-
gether-
cution were called to be sworn forty
i've answered to their names.
Ed Cooper was the first witness call
ed He is a teamster in the employ of
the Thomas Lumber company and tes-
fi6e5 to the finding of W. F. Kuntz in
the barn where he was left after the
Harry Jones. who was employed at
the lumber yard, was with Cooper when
Kuntz was found He and Cooper went
to the police station and notified the
officers.
Mr. Kuntz. the victim Of the assault,
was the third witness called.
DO you recollect the occasion of your
being robbed ?" asked County Attorney
Hungate.
Yes. sir" replied Kuntz.
What time was it,
About % minutes of 12.'
Continued on PAGE six.9