Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-06
CUTLER TO HOLD AN INQUEST
Coroner Seeks to Fix Responsibility
for the Death Of Chris Liebrock,
Whose Skull Was Fractured.
DISCLOSED BY POST MORTEM

Coroner Cutler Of Council Bluffs has
ordered an inquest TO fix the responsible
ity for the death OF Chris Liebrock. who
died at tho Edmundson hospital in that
city Thursday night after he had been
struck over the head with an iron bar
during a quarrel in the room In the Metro
politan hotel. occupied by Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Goetting. The blow il alleged to
have been struck by Goetting, and he
does not deny II. but so far has refused
TO make any further statement than that
a quarrel had occurred over family mat
tiers.
Goetting was yesterday removed from
the police station and taken to the county
jail and charge of murder placed
against him on the police court docket.
Coroner cutler yesterday caused post
mortem examination to be made, which
disclosed that LIebrock had died from a
fracture Of the skull and injury TO the
brain. The inquest will not be held be-
fore Monday and the date will be fixed
today.
Quarrel in the Room.
II is asserted the fatal blow was struck
within few minutes after Goetting en-
tered his room when he returned from
his work at the noon hour and found Lie
brock there. N. p Jorgenaen. proprietor
OF the hotel. and Hans Petersen, a cook.
were in the kitchen. which adjoins the
room occupied by the Goettings, and
heard the words spoken during the quar-
rel and the thud of the blow from the
heavy poker. According to their story
told yesterday, the quarrel was of short
duration. They assert they heard Goet-
ting enter the room and Immediately
after heard someone say:
'You get out of here" followed by a
woman's voice, saying. "He don't have
to go unless he wants to-"
Z Then I'll put him out" came the re-
Joinder from the man who had first
spoken. This was followed Immediately
by the sound of the blow
The stories of jorgensen and Petersen
conceded, with the exception that one
thought the command to get out was re-
peated several times. A few minuns
later, according to H. c. Leel, hotel
clerk, Mrs. Goetting appeared In the Of
flee. In the meantime Lisbrock was 50
to go staggering from the hotel, dia-
gonaIly across the street until he came
into contact with the brick wall of the
barn on the premises Of the Council
Bluffs Coal and Ice company, where he
sank down unconscious.
Had Been Warm Friends,
Inquiry yesterday disclosed the fact that
the men had been warm friends for many
years. Both lived formerly at Seward,
Neb, and together came to Council
Bluffs. Both were working for the Bur-
lington, shoveling snow. Liebrock fire.
quently visited Goetting and his wife at
their rooms in the hotel and Goetting
often called on Liebrock at the Burlng-
ton hotel. where he boarded. Wednesday
night LiebroclS spent the evening with
the Goettings and they played cards, the
hotel employees say, until o'clock in the
morning. Liebrock tried to get room
in the hotel for the night but was re-
fused. Both men bear excellent reputa-
tions and both have worked steadily
when work was available
Mrs. Gcetttng is apparently in feeble
health. She suffered recently from &
paralytic stroke that has caused her left
side TO be almost useless Six months ago
she gave birth to baby. The baby has
been very feeble and a week ago, when
1t was believed to have developed small
pox, it was taken by Mrs. l.. 4. Creppen
to her home to be cared for on account
OF the fear that the mother in her crippled
condition would not be able to give IL
the attention required. Mrs. Goetting is
of middle age.