The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-09
Thrown Down Stairs and Kicked
While Helpless.
ARE LIKELY.
COrOner's Jury Will Probably
Hold Some One for Murder.
Inquest Will BE Resumed ON
Saturday.

| man was brutally murdered instead of
accidentally injured so that he died will
be introduced at the adjourned hearing
over his remains to be held next Sat
urday. Five witnesses who saw him
beaten and kicked and dragged away to
a coal house in the rear of the build
| ing at 21S West First street, will be
present to testify according to the po-
lice. 1t is declared that there can be
no mistake in the evidence and 1t is
limited that man who claims to have
befriended the dead man is responsible
for the injuries which resulted in
Bjorkman's death.
1t is through little children who play
ed that Sunday afternoon on the street
near where the alleged fight occurred
that the first clue as to the identity of
witnesses who could tell the facts con-
nected with Biorkman's death was
found. They did not understand, as
their elders seem to have understood,
that the truth concerning the manner
IT, which the dead man was injured
must not be told. And through them
the police learned of witnesses who can
and who, it is declared will tell the
facts.
Attacked Helpless Man. 1
1t was scarcely a fight in which
Bjorkman was fatally injured, accord
irg to eye witnesses. Rather 1t was the
brutal assault on a well nigh helpless
man. Bjorkmans head. it is alleged
was crushed when he fell upon the ce-
ment steps but he was either pushed
or kicked off the landing at the top or
the steps according to the witness
While he was yet PROSTATE as the re-
suit of the fall man who is declared
to answer the description of man VINO
claims to have befriended Bjorkman'
jumped upon him and kicked him in
the lower abdomen and later Bjorkinan,
still unconscious, was dragged to the
coal house in the rear of the building
This is all the witness saw.
The police believe the row started
when Bjorkman tried to gain entrance
to the Swedish Library society. He was
president of rival organization and
there was more or less feeling. He
was intoxicated and resented 1t When
he was refused admission
Kicked Down the Steps.
Here, however, the police theory
ends and the testimony of witnesses
begins. There was a quarrel Loud
words and threatening language were
noticed. Then Bjorkman was either
kicked or pushed off the landing at
the top of the step. He pitched head
long down the steps, striking the lower
step on the left side of his head and
his feet going on over and striking the
sidewalk.
Biorkman lay still, but this did not
appease the wrath of his assailants.
They ran down the steps jumped upon
him and kicked him, causing the
bruises which first caused Coroner
Keith to believe an assault and not
an accident was responsible for BJork- |
mans death Had the men who are
declared to be responsible for Bjork- |
mans death foregone the pleasure of
kicking their victim while he was |
down there would probably be less dan |
ger of their spending a few years in
prison.
For a few minutes Bjorkman was
allowed to lie on the sidewalk. While !
his assailants mounted the steps and
stood, gazing at his PROSTATE form. |
Then after consultation, they descend |
ed to where the victim lay and. seiz- |
ing him by the shoulders, dragged him
to the coal house. The witnesses gave
every detail Of their movements, even |
to the manner in which the feet of
the injured man had dragged upon
the ground.
After watching this much of the af- |
fair the witnesses left, fearing that
trouble would result from their be-
ing found near the scene of the trou- |
bic. They did not come forward and
tell their story at the time of the first
hearing over the remains of Bjorkman
for the same reason. But the children
who knew of the witnesses mentioned
it and accidentally the police heard of
this. Diligent work resulted in the To-
eating of five witnesses.
Bjorkman died at 10 o'clock Sun
day night, January 80. He was brought
nome ana put TO D0Q III what was
believed to be an intoxicated condi |
ton. The men who were with him did
not mention a serious accident and it
was thought by his wife that after a
sleep her husband would be himself
again. AT 9 O'Clock it was discovered
that blood was flowing from his left
ear and his nose. Further investiga
ton showed that he was seriously in
jured. DR.. Keith was called and
death occurred about 10 o'clock.
Then the story was advanced that
he had fallen and injured himself. An
autopsy by Drs. Anis and Johnson re-
vealed a broken skull and the bruises
about the lower part of the abdomen,
and then suspicion of foul play arose.
Investigation was fruitless for a time,
but now that witnesses have been
found it is believed that the facts con-
corning Bjorkmans death will come
out Saturday at the hearing of the
coroner's inquest.
nUFAN ron nFRRNe