The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-28
LIFE
HANGS BY VERY
FRAGILE CORD
One Blow Struck in Saloon
Tiff May Cost Young
Mans Life.
PAUL S. WILKINSON
HELD IN CITY PRISON
w. E. SCHRANTZ THOUGHT TO
BE DYING IN HOSPITAL
FROM HEMORRHAGES

A single blow, struck in resentment,
young man lying on d hospital cot
near death, another with leaden steps
pacing the narrow passage of jail
CELL haunted with the fear that he may
be a murderer-these are the main In
cidents of an occurrence yesterday fol-
lowing the use of a vile epithet.
Yesterday afternoon w. E. Schrsntz,
aged % years, and Paul 5. Wilkinson.
hut few years older, became involved
in an alteration at the Railroad Ex-
change bar on West South Temple
street. SchTaatzs taUDt led WIktn-
son to strike blow with the bare fist
that landed on the nose and cheek
bone of Sehrantz. This happened about
1:30 O'Clock in the afternoon, and at 2
o'clock this morning Schrantz-s life
was despaired.
The blow struck fractured the nose IN
two places, causing hemorrhages that
the physicians found impossible 10
stop. Part of the story of the incident
was told to a Herald reported last night
by Wilkinson, who is held in the city
jail. He said:
WiIkinson's Story.
met W llhlIlSUit lOE TIE tilSL time
Friday night in the Railroad Exchange
saloon. There were several OF us there,
and We were drinking. This afternoon,
at about 1 o'clock, I went back to the
saloon and with some others was still
drinking. Schrantz 'butted in and we
had q roe. 1 understood him 10 call
me a - and I struck him.
He didn't fight back, but went out Of
the saloon"
The story of the one blow being
struck and Schrantz leaving the saloon
IS corroborated by several VINO were
present and eyewitnesses. The blow,
however, less severe than that re-
ceived in many fight without causing
a finch, seems to have been the knock
out for Schrantz. Shortly after ne was
found by Patrolmen Phillips and Dcty
wandering about the street, the blood
streaming from his nostrfls and his
breast smeared with the dull red-col-
ored life fluid. He was taken to the
Emergency hospital. where DR.. f. 3.
Steele attended him, and for an hour
and a half the hemorrhage continued,
leaving the man fainting and with the
pallor of death on his face.
About 1890 o'clock last night there
was recurrent hemorrhage, and when
Dr.. Paul was summoned by the police
department he ordered that the man De
removed to the hospital. At the hos
pital early this morning it was reported
that the condition of Schrantz was very
low. and that there was little hope for
his life. Schrantz is the son Of J.
Schrantz. foreman of the Oregon Short
Line roundhouse, and residing at No. 8
Phipps court.
The Fathers Story.
When the father was notified last
night of his sons condition, he went to
and remained at the bedside In the hos
pital. He said that his son had until
about two weeks ago been employed II
the shops, but that about ten days ago
had begun drinking carousal and had
practically abandoned his home Dur
ing that period the father had heard
nothing of the son, who, he said, had
before than been strictly temperate and
industrious. He could give no reason
for the change in his boy. The father
and son were living together in SAT-
Lake the mother and brothers and
sisters residing at Colorado Springs.
In the words Good God, I hope he
don't die" Paul Wilkinson gTipDed the
barred cage of the jail cell last night
and expressed his eontrition. 1t was
sleepiess night for, him. When Schrantz
was taken to the hospital Wilkinson was
told of his condition and that there was
little hope for his life. When the re
porter entered the cell house Wilkinson
was lying on the little narrow cot. his
face buried in his hands. his shoulders
QuiveTing under cOnvulsive sobs Of grief
His story of the occurrence was told with
a dread shudder of fear. the eyelids con-
stantiy shutting o. if to pull a curtain
over the scene of the blow.
Il didn't mean or want to hurt him.
God! ] hope he don't Ole was the pitt
ful wall. He called me a bad name, and
was drinking. and / hit him-thats all
but my God! 1 didn't mean to hurt him."
Wilkinson is well known in Salt Lake
railroad circles, having been in the en-
play of the Oregon Short Line as
switchman for several years, and lately
in the employ of the Bamberger railroad