Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-07-20
ONE EYED AND ONE
IDEA MEN FIGURE IN
NE|GHRORHOOD FUSS.
TESTIMONY IN JUSTICE COURT
VEERS FROM ACTUAL STORY
OF FIGHT TO BLIND AND IN
SANE WITNESSES --- DECISION
DELAYED BY JUSTICE.

a neighbOrhood quarrel, the Culmi
nation Of somo trouble which had eX-
isted for years back, was threshed
through yesterday afternoon in Judge
/ KCenig's court room, when Joseph
I Gritzman, Federal Plate bad man
was arraigned before Judge Maicr
hofer on complaints made by John
/ Kusmich, who charged Gritzman with
threats to gouge out the latter's only
I eye, The trial was a mixed up affais
from start to finish, and included eyi-
denCc offered by both the defendant
and the complaining witness and
horde Of witnesses for both sides
The court room was packed with
spectators from the Fcneral Plate.
Foreigners of al breeds and kinds
packed into the little court room to
hear the conclusion OF the trouble.
Attorney r. W. Smurr acting fer
Grit2msr, and Attorney George Glein
prosecuting the case, had a hard time
understanding some Of the testimony
Two interpreters were used
John Kusmich, complaining witness,
was first to take the stand. Because
OF his inability to talk good English, !
only small portions Of his testimony |
could be taken. Kusmich alleged that
on the night of June II, as he was sit
ting on the front porch OF his home
Gritzman started an argument kus-
mich also alleged that Gritzman call |
ed him blind man, and threatened |
to cut out his other eye, and invited |
the complainant out to the street to !
fight it out.
John Toula, witness on the Ku9mich /
side, testified that on that night he
went to the Federal Plate district to |
visit friend and that he was on the |
Kusmich porch when Gritzman made |
the threat He supported the charge
that Gritzman was enraged and asked
kusmich to 80 out into the street
and fight it out.
Adam f'rollu, who has been livinG
with Kusmich, also testified When
he took the stand Attorney Smurr
protested, stating that the witness
was mentally unbalanced, and offered
a record from County Clerk Fergu-
sons office showing that FrOlau had
been committed to the Kankakee in
sane asylum Nevertheless, Frolau
was allowed to take the stand, His
testimony was practically the same as
that Of Tonla's. He said that he had
been released from the asylum eight
years ago The records showed that
be was committed there in 1915.
D~l, -. al
12urk also testified in favor Of KGs-
mich.
when asked to take the stand, Crit
man, the defendant in the case, de.
MED that he thrcateied to gouge out
Kusmich's eye. He stated that he
did have quarrel with Kusmich on
The night OF June q and invited him
lut into the street to talk, not to fight
nor gouge out his eye.
Mrs. Gritzman, Mrs john Kuper-
check and Mrs Herman Brethaucr
also took the stand for the defense
and all testified that kusmich had
gene into his house and reappearod
With revolver protruding from his
light hip pocket, after Gritzman had
"Ned IErsmich to come out into the
treet. They also testified that short
y after the argument on that night
lusmich beat his wife, causing her 20
ry out for help.
Judge Mairehofer took the case un
Ter adviscment until tomorrow after
loon at 2 O'Clock, when he will rem '
Ter his decision. The KusmiCh side
ire in hopes that Gritzman will be {
,laced under a peace bond to keep !
he peace for six months.