The Sentinel=record., 1913-03-23
EYES GOUGED OUT
 BY UNKNOWN MAN
BLINDED TOM MATTHIAS swEARs HE AND SEWARD NEVER HAD
 FORMER DIFFICULTY
State's Case Proves Little Else Than Drunken Man Cursed Another and the Attack Which Blind.
 ed Him Followed.

Tom Matthias. blinded by Jim Sew ard when the latter gouged his thumb nails into the eyes of the former and tore one eye ball completely out lac eraling the other, testified in the case yeeterday before Justice J w. Afford, and told the story of the difficulty.
 The eyes Of Matthias were heavily handaged, and he was led into the court room by his wife. There was little of bitterness insthe story he re- lated, and his whole attitude was one rather of deep humiliation over ths drinking that had led to lis trouble, than of reyengefulness towards his sombataHt of drunken spree
 Matthias was drunk when he and Jim Seward met The latter was so- her They were not friends, nor ac- qaaintances, according to the story told by Matthias He knew who Sew ard was, that he resided here, but there was nothing between them that could have been an underground ln- sniration for the act
 Prosecuting Attorney Witt conduct cd the case for the state, and Attor- ney Tom J Gladson for the defense. Harry whipKey, an important witness for the state was unable to be pres. ent. and before the states case was closed Attorney Witt made a motion for continuance until Tuesday, which was granted by Justice Afford
 Tom Matthias was the first witness called. He testified that he was i0 years of age That on March 5th he had been drinking, and was about the Sigman saloon Oil Park avenue. He had been there talking with several parties when Seward came in. He states he was very much intoxicated, and that when he drinks hard he does not remember incidents well, and fre- Quently not at all He believes he was about the middle of the bar when he said Seward, who was standing at the front of the saloon, called him.
 Matthias said he went to Seward, and Seward grabbed him and threw him down by tue door of the saloon, and was gouging his eyes, when the rest he does not remember Seward and l never had any previous difficulty and were not acquainted testified Matthias. He said they had no conyer- sation that he could remember pre- vious to Seward calling him. T never went to the front of the saloon to fight. or with any intention or idea of lighting" testified the witness.
 On cross examination Matthias said that Seward was standing in the front door Of the saloon when he called the witness. The witness did not remember making any remark to Seward and did not remember being taken to the back of the saloon away from Seward neither did he remem- her ever having called Seward bad names.
 Justice Afford questioned the wit ness and developed from him that his left eye was totally blinded. and from the right eye he could distinguish daylight from dark, but had no clear vision. His eyes were both good be- lore the trouble.
 W. w Hunter. connected with the saloon. testified that he was in the place, and Matthias was there first, and was drinking. Seward came in later. The first Hunter knew of any trouble was when he heard Seward say GU can call ne tiidt. buH- ter told the men they could not have any trouble in his place. and he took hold Of Matthias and led him to the back room, and the bar tender took Seward and accompanied him out the front door Later Hunter saw Ma thias going out the front door
 T expected to hear seuffling,' the witness testified. and when l did not hear a sound, I went outside to see about 1t and Seward had Matthias down. was over him, and was gouging his thumbs into the eyes of Matthias. told him to get up. and sent him home, and then helped Matthias up. don't know what was said before the difficulty Just before Matthias went out l saw Seward standing out there in front and told Matthias not to go out I expected to hear scuffling when he did go out and il was so quiet. that went out to see what had happened, and found the men down, with Seward on top
 On The cross examination Hunter