The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1912-06-21
WITNESSES
TO MURDER
S[UGGED
Ernest Berlog and III. A.
Shaw Assaulted for Ad-
mitting That They Knew
Something of Sonnan-
stine's Death.

What appears to have been an ef-
fort to intimidate the witnesses in the
murder case in which NJ L. Sonanstine
was killed in front of William Stew
ems saloon at No IL state street.
West Hammond, came to light today.
According to stories that were told
by Ernest Berlog 154 Sibley street,
and Harry c. Shaw, 41S State street,
they We're set upon by several young
men whom they never saw before and
were badly beaten.
The assault occurred near the cor
ners of State and Holman streets.
Hammond. along about 1 o'clock Fol-
lowing the assault Belog says that
he was chased for a block before he
finally made his escape down an al
| ley.
Shaw and Berlog were together when
young man approached them and
| said, Were you in the saloon when
| that man was hit" Berlog admitted
that he was.
At that he was struck a vicious
blow in the face. He was knocked
down. but managed to scramble to mis-
feet and ran away. He finally disap-
peared in the alley in back of the First
| National bank.
shaw Badly Beaten.
Shaw was not so fortunate He was
| knocked down, beaten and kicked un-
til he was black and blue. His eye was
badly injured and afterwards became
green.
| The assailant is described as young
man with a straw hat and a white
shirt 1t is believed that this may ac-
| count for the disappearance of A.
Worsee of Gary who is said to know
enough to worry the defense consid-
/ erably
Or. E. M. Shanklin, deputy coroner,
| revealed the fact that there is a new
| witness in the case whose name has
| not been mentioned heretofore. He is
| Charles Kuhns, young man who is
| employed a butcher. Kuhns is said
| to have testified at the inquest that
Stevens did not strike Sonnanstine
| An effort is being made by Stevens
/ friends to smooth the whole thing over
| for him. Pressure is being brought to
bear from a number of sources II is
| thought, however, that the testimony
| before the coroner and the affdavits
that have been secured by Chief of
Police John Kulczyk will prevent the
witnesses from changing their testi-
mony.
| Case Keeps Alive.
The only thing that can now be done
is to get them out of town, as it seems
to have been done in the case of A.
| Worseke, whom the police have not
yet been able to locate.
The disappearance of worseke, the
| assault on the two principal witnesses
for the state, Shaw and Berlog, and
hn lf ,v1< rc+ fo hAf,
smooth things over all indicate the ef-
forts that being made to have the
whole matter dropped.
i II Sonnanstine had been a friend
less and homeless man the case would
probably be forgotten in a month. but
under the circumstances there is likely
to be a vigorous prosecution.
There has arisen a question of jur-
isdiction among the lawyers in the
case. Some say that in view OF the
J assaults taking place in Illinois that
States Attorney Wayman should take
hold OF 1t and others contend that in
view of the fact that the death oc-
Cured in Indiana that Deputy Prose
! cutting Attorney Ross should take hold
of it.
Takes New Turns.
This question of jurisdiction has
also been considered by Deputy Cor
oner F. M Shanklin and may have
some thing to do with the form Of his
verdict. Shanklin does not know
whether 10 recommend to the Indiana
or the Illinois authorities that. ar
rests be made and accordingly will
probably make no recommendations.
the case is taking many peculiar
turns. and promises to become muir
der case Of much interest. The assault
| of tbs: witnesses is the newest phase o.
the situation and an effort is to b,
: made to apprehend and arrest the plG
. uglies who were responsible for it.
How such an assault could have oc
, CURED on the principal corners il
Hammond even though it was
| o'clock in the morning is a matter o.
| orSiderab SilrnriSe 70 the peOnle n