South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-23
PROBE FOR BULLET
IN KINCH'S BACK;
zOsS IS IN CELL
Youth Who Defied Brothers
Warning Near Death-"I
Did 1t To Protect Ida," Says
Accused Boy.

waiting the outcome of an opera
IL - remove bullet from the back
of Clifford Kinch, authorities Mon
day held Harry Zoss. his alleged as
saiiant, in close confinement at the
police station. no one being allowed
to see the accused boy.
ZoSs himself was awaiting the out
come with more than official anxiety,
for in case Kinch dies, Zoss will face
a charge OF murder. At present he is
being held without any formal charge
being lodged against him.
'Be was leading my sister astray
and that's why 1 shot him." is what
Zoss is said by the police to have ad-
mitted Sunday night during a close
cross examination after the shooting
of Kinch.
Kinch is I'm a serious condition ac-
cOrding to the report from EpwOrth
hospital Monday noon. Until the op-
GRAFTON for the removal of the bullet
which grazed the lower end of the
spine is completed his chance for re-
cOVery can not be accurately guaged.
ZOss, the accused assailant is 81
years old and boarded at 1902 $.
Lafayette st. Kinch is but IS years
old. The parents of the Zoss children
sre dead and Harry said he was try
ing to act as a father TO his sister.
Ida ZOss, the girl over whom the
two quarreled, had until about two
weeks ago made her home with a
married brother at NOtre Dame. Her
father is dead and her mother has
been living with her son at Notre
Dame also. The girl was employed
at Studebaker's and the girls brother
induced his sister to come to 1902
Lafayette st. to make her home at the
same place he was boarding, as she
would be nearer her work and he
thought he could keep a closer watch
on her actions.
ON the evening Of the shooting the
girl had her supper early and had
left the house without any word as TO
where she was going. Her brother
was not at home when she left. but
came in shortly after and inquired for
his sister He was told that she had
left and went out soon after himself.
The family with whom he lived did
not know whether or not he owned
a revolver. 1t was known that he
did not approve of Kinch and that he
did not want his sister to have any
thing to do With him but he had
never quarreled with his sister over
Kinch.
In his statement to the police Zoss
said he warned Kinch two weeks
ago not to meet his sister again
understanding. Last night, however,
he said, ne learned that Kinch was
again out with his sister. He accord
ingly waited for them after the last
performance at the Orpheup, at Sam
pie and Lafayette SITS. When they
came up he stepped out he said, and
seized his sister to pull her away from
Kinch. a struggle followed with
Kinch during which the gun was fired
and Kinch fell.
The police were called and the
wounded man taken Immediately to
Epworth hospital.
When the police first arrived on the
scene the shooting seemed a mystery.
The girl said a shot had suddenly
been heard and that a second after,
Kinch fell. Sergeant Harry Jennings
arrived a Few minutes later and met a
Nandalia watchman who had seen the
struggle. Jennings then went to the
girls home TO question her further,
when Harry Zoss arrived and said he
had fired the shot and told why. The
girl then changed her former story
10 conform with that of her brother.
The brother was taken TO the police
station while the girl was taken to
the county Jail
Zoss gave up the gun with which
sc said he shot Kinch. Tt contained
one empty cartridge. Officer McMa-
hon assisted jennings in the arrest
and obtaining the story.
Kinch was reported resting COM
fOrtably at the hospital early this
morning. The bullet entered his back
grazing the lower end of the spine
He is attended by DR.. j. w. Hill.