The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-02-22

The mystery surrounding the death of
Frank j. Kosterman of Racine who
died at the Kenosha hospital on Janu-
airy 18th of this year and whose death
was alleged by physicians to have been
in part caused by wounds which be re-
ceived in fight some time before was
cleared up on Sunday afternoon when
Fred Bishop, nineteen-year-old boy
residing at No. 500 Park street, made a
full confession to Chief Of Police Owen
O'Hart in which he admitted that he
had slugged Kosterman in q jitney bus
several days before his death occurred
at the Kenosha hospital. Bishop was
arrested in company with Sanders San
derson and Joseph Cunningham and his
statement while declaring that the other
two men were vita him in the jttney
bus relieves them of blame for the
injury of Kosierman. Bishop and his
two companions are held at the city
lookup pending further investigation
they will probably have a hearing in
the Municipal court on Tuesday morn
ing. Ever since the death of Roster
man and the post norton which showed
that his death had in part resulted from
the beating which he had suffered Chief
o Hare and members Of the police de-
partment have been at work on the case.
More than dozen men had been picked
up before Chief o Hare got tip that
Bishop might be able to tell something
OF the assault on Kosterman. Bishop
comes from South Bend, Ind, as does
Cunningham. The other man held by
the police is from Marinette.
When they were first taken into Gus
tody they denied any knowledge of the
case but on Sunday afternoon Bishop
broke down and made q full statement
of the facts in the case. He declared
that the trio and Kosterman had been
in down town saloon and that there
had been some dispute as to change
which had been handed over the bar.
The four men left the saloon and Kos
terman got into the Van Duzer auto
mobile and started to his room on Eliz-
abeth street The three men followed
and got into the same automobile.
Bishop declared that the trouble in the
saloon was taken up again and that
finally Kosterman struck him with his
fist, Then a real fight started and
Bishop admitted that he might have
struck Kosterman five or six times.
Bishop said that when the jitney reach
ed the corner of Elizabeth street and
Fremont avenue the driver Of the auto
mobile forced all the men to get out ard
after they got out that tho trouble be-
tween himself and Kosterman was re.
newed and that he struck Kosterman
several times after they left the a&to.
mobile. He asserted that the other two
men had urged him not to strike Kos
terman and that neither of them had
any part in tae assault. The story told
by Bishop was confirmed by the stories
If the other two men This afternoon
Chief Of Police O'HaSe called Charles
r. Kostermau of Racine to Kenosha.
He is brother of Che maE and the
Chief desires to confer with him before
any further action is taken III 3he mat
ter. The three me2 under arrest were
not booked on charges of man slaughter
hut on charges of suspicion. - cit
is 2 matter of interest to clear up this
rystery,' said the Chief this morning,
"but | do not know just what charge
we can bring against Bishop or the
other two men. Bishop asserts that he
stuck Kosterman in self defense and
after Kosterman was in fighting mood.
His story is confirmed by the other
tvro men in the ease. In addition to this
it would be pretty hard to say that Kos
terman died from his wounds. -
The Chief declared that the solution
Of these problems was matter for the
District Attorney and not for him
Bishop declared to the police that ne
was ready to go into court and tell his
part of the story but he made no state
ment IS to why he had not volunteered
a statement before this time.