The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-30
KILLED IN
SQUAbb[E WITH
FOREMAN
REsIsTs ELECTION FROM Gan
FoUNDRY-sHovE TO FLOOR
RESULTS IN BROKEN NECK
ACCIDENT, POLICE sELIevE.

In an alteration with John Reinke.
timekeeper and assistant foreman In
the Clark-ave. plant OF the American
Car & Foundry Co., Clark and Michi-
gan-aves.. about 1880 o'clock, Thurs
day morning, Stephen Gewandowski.
a helper in the steel shop. sustained
a broken neck and died within q few
minutes. His death Is being investi-
gated by the police department. but
no prosecutions are likely. Reinke
and several other witnesses were
questioned by Chief Of Detectives Nc
Donnell during the morning. Reinko
was allowed to leave police head
quarters at noon on his promise to
come back after dinner. He is not
under arrest
according to Reinke's version of tha
o ffair, which Is corroborated In part
at least by witnesses, II was an UNI
fortunate accident. Reinke admits
showing the man. but says he was de-
Tending himAelf and looked for no sucn
result as followed. Reinke is greatly,
broken up over the mans death and
Is receiving the sympathy of host
OF friends, who stand by him and give
him an excellent certificate of cha--
acter. Reinke. insists that he had no
Intention of harming Gewandoski and
his friends accept the statement at It's
face value.
Gewandowski. though he had been
employed In the plant for a dozen
years. had mot been working regular
ly for several weeks on account OF the
dull times. Reinke. however, had ar
ranged to put him on Thursday morn.
lug. When Gewandowski reported for
duty he was under the influence of
liquor and In no condition to work.
| II is said.
when the foreman saw that Steve
was drunk he ordered me TO send him
home" said Reinke Steve said all
right and started on. but little
while later found him In another
part Of the shop and again ordered
him to leave. He said he would, but
made no move to do So repeated
the order three or four times, ana
when he showed no disposition to
obey. took hold of him and started
to put him out by main force. M
| II got him out through the door
way and was taking him down the
railroad track between the two foun-
L
yards by way of the chipping room.
when we came to a loading platform
leading from the ground up to one Of
the box cars. Steve resisted when
tried to get him over the obstruction.
With an oath, he raised q glass jar
containing coffee for his lunch and
tried to strike me with 1T. l put up
my arms to defend myself and at
the same time gave him q shove to
| push him out of the way. He fell
backwards, struck his head on the
platform and the fuss was over"
In the fall, Steve's head struck the
platform In such way that his neck
was broken. DR.. f. N. Henry was
summoned, but the injured man died
before his arrival Coroner Parker
took charge OF the remains and order
ed them removed to the county
morgue. Reinke willingly accompan-
led officers to police headquarters to
tell his story.
The company officials all speak
highly of Reinke and declare he was
wholly in the right In ordering Ge-
wandowsk from the yards. They up
hold his action and do not consider
that he is responsible for the mans
death, Though deeply regretting the
| affair.
Reinke Is well known In bowling
and boating circles and Is part owner
OF the yacht Hoy" He Is q warm
personal friend of Police Justice Stein
and the latter speaks highly OF him.
Immediately after his court adjourn
ed, Thursday, Justice Stein called to
see Reinke In police headquarters and
left the building with him. During
the examination by Capt. Mcdonnell.
Attorney Sheehan was present In
Reinke's behalf. Reinke lives at No.
$50 Twenty-third-st.
Gewandowski was 35 years old and
lived at No. 1894 Twenty-ffth-st- He
is survived by his widow and four
children.