The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-10-15
CAFE OWNER IS
BETTER TODAY
He Walks to Hospital With
Bullet in Abdomen

John cicoria. for years n promi'
nent character in senttle's under
world. who was shot In the abdomen
by Edward T.. Klenstrn. n Pioneer
building lawyer. late Tuesday after
noon. In tho lawyers office. follow.
ing bitter verbal feud OF several
months standing. WINS reported by
physicians OF the city hospital Wed
neHday 20 be progressing"
While cicorin'H condition II ex.
tremeiy serious. they expressed hope
OF his recovery.
clcorin. who walked four blocks 70
tho hospital following the shooting,
was operated upon. His chances OF
recovery are good, II IN said The
Al caiiber bullet pierced the In
teztinen five times.
ciooria told the police. while on the
operating table. that he had had an
argument with kicntra nt noon In
the Mecca cafe while he was eating
lunch. cicorla asserted he did not
wish 20 make a scene and told the
attorney he would call upon him In
his office.
Statements Differ
When he appeared at tho law Of
flces OF Wooten a Rockwell. where
he waa 20 meet kienntrn. the lawyer
pulled gun and shot him. following
a short conversation. according 10
Gloria.
clooria then left for the hospital.
When the police arrived nj the Pho
neer building. klsnstra had disap.
peared. lilo was arrested few
minutes later In the offices OF his
brother. w. q. kienstra. In the Sea.
board building.
Ills statement 20 tho police differed
from Cicoria's account OF the shoot.
Ing.
Says Gloria Threatened
81 shot Gloria after he had struck
me and threatened my lifc." said
kienntra. II Jaw him reach ns n 10
draw "A gun and fired. am sorry
TO have injured him. but he came TO
my office looking for trouble. We
have had considerable troubi. ever
since ! was engaged by an Italian
three months ago to handle divorce
case. cleoria had circulated many
stories against mo. went 10 his
cafe once and tried 10 reason with
him.
"fIe insuited me AZ that time. aitho
tried 10 bc polite with him. ! was
eating lunch Tuesday at the Mecca
and aw him. went over 10 his
table and began a conversation con.
corning our trouble. He insulted me
again. lie told me not 20 stand on
the same side Of the table with him
while smoking. insinuating that my
cigar was offensive.
Struck on Head
II had no idea he would como 70
my office and was surprised when he
knocked az my door and called me
outside. had a revolver In my
drawer. Thinking he might do me
bodily injury. slipped the gun into
my pocket
when we got outside in tho hall
he began insulting me again and
calling me vile names lie struck.
me on the side OF the head and said
he would kan me. Then he reached
for his pocket and fired lie did
not seem hurt lie simply held his
side and left"
Charges OF assault in the first de.
gree were filed against Klcnstra by
the prosecuting attorney Wednesday
morning. Bail for his release was set
at f5.0eo.
kisnstra IL Al He has been prac
ticing law in Seattle since 1900. He
IL married and has two children. The
family home II at sS2s bist ave. s.
kicnstra's father was once a promin.
ent produce merchant on Western
ave.
Cicoria first opened n saloon in
Seattle In 1899. His place was well
known 10 the police In tho early gold
rush days. Following prohibition.
Cicoria was arrested for violating the
liquor ordinance. GLORIA was shot
In 1909 by Joe Masocro. an Italian.
who accused him OF causing a di.
vorcc In the Maxocro family.
Cicoria lives at coll Yesler way.
He has two sons. william. 20. and
Victor. II. The wife is dead.