South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-13
WITNESSES BLAME
SALOON OWNER AS
CAUSE OF TRAGEDY
Say Strzelecki Morally Re-
spOnsible -Refute Stories of
Schricker and Meyers.


The inquest was featured by al
legations by half score OF wit
uesses that Frank Strzelecki, selling
l.quor 20 the dead man and his two
companions. was morally response
bic for the events that led up 20
Saturdays early morning tragedy
Schricker was recalled TO the
stand after other members OF the
arresting party. denying their own
responsibility for the affair. made
statements 10 the effect that the
bullet had been fired by him
Schricker held his ground IN
cross-fire OF questions hurled AT
him by Justice Hosinskl. in charge
% the inquiry in the absence Of
Coroner Crumpacker.
To Meet This Morning.
The inquest will run into IT'S third
day as Friday afternoon. Hoslnski
adjourned the hearing until $40
o'clock this morning Three wit
nesses subpoenaed at the last mo-
Tnent 20 qualify as experts in the
hope OF determining the calibre OF
the flattsned lead bullet viii COM
plete the investigation.
Admissions were made by several
OF the witnesses. including Leo Gle
siolka and John Gotowka. com
panions Of the dead man. tina:
Strze1ecki sold drinks 20 the trio the
evening OF the fatal tragedy Stree
lecli the day before was positive in
his denials Of knowing WisniewsN
and OF having a speaking acquaint-
ance with either OF the men.
Evidence against Strzeleck! was
piled up when one w1->ss after an
other repeated the same story. that
the emporium was a verltable oasis
for residents Of the section In
Guided in the array were Walenty
Beaukiewicz. Louis Przybylskf
George Nowicki. william Prentkow-
ski Walter Cwidak. Joseph Levane-
ski. John Macy and Joe MikolaJ
czak. Nagy was the star witness
IN this respect and threw a new light
upon the circumstances leading up
u the fatal shooting OF Wisniewskl
when he swore that StrzelecId had
Informed him and others. Including
the dead lad, that at any time OF
the day or night they wanted liquor.
they would be welcome. Macy de-
clared that Strzelecki invited them
20 kno1lS on the door IN case his
place was locked M for the night.
Refute Allegations.
These startling disclosures. which
changes the character Of the
I'd
and his two companions refute the
allegations that the men had forced
their attack upon Strzelecki with
criminal intent II was shown mat
their only purpose IN Weakening
Strzelecki and his wife the night OF
their arrest was 20 obtain liquoU.
But one witness remained 20 be
heard following the testimony or the
8 rzelacl<i Gust mers" who IN CON
sequence OF the shooting turned
upon the man they alleged had sold
them drinks Motorcycle Sergt
Bert Olmstead had been subpoenaed
70 testify As an expert on the calibre
OF the bullet which was found IN
Visni ewskis brain on the stand
hcwever. he refused 10 commit HIM
self declaring that he could not
qualify as an expert sufficiently 20
prove the original size OF the flat
tened bullet
Adjourning the inquest until to-
dav Hosiusk issued suhpoenaes for
Herbert Weber. $40 r PokaEon 81
Straub. S07 s. Michigan 81. and
John w Camper. ". Colfax sv
These men are expected 90 conclude
the quiz by giving expert testimony
relative 20 the bullets caIibre.
Yesterdays session was delayed
for half hour when A " Humes
court reporter. raised the question
whether his work OF taking down
the testimony was collectble. Coun-
~ ATTY Cyrus Pattee was called IN
a this tuncture and declared that
the statute provided a cost OF only
50 a day for clerk hire Al an in
quest. that the additional cost would
have 20 be borne by Interested par
ties. Atty. Wypiszynski permitted
counsel FOR the father OF the dead
man he assured Humes his bill
would be paid
Against the testimony OF Schrick-
e. and Russell D Meyers county
highwy policeman. each OF whom
denied the fatal shooting. three
witnesses OF the affair took
the stand Friday and before Justice
A.. Hosinsld recounted the details
OF Saturday mornings tragedy
Sworn statements by each OF the
two officers were refuted
A corrObOratsd story. erring only
IN minor details was told Friday
morning by Andrew Rokop. Roy
Poure and Howard Noble Rokop
admitted firing one shot. but from a
% calibre revolver Both Rokop
and Noble practically fastened the
responsibility OF the hring OF the IS
calibre lead bullet upon Offoer
Schrtcker Rokop swore that Myers
had fred four shots
Rokop's story was comprehensive
as 20 detail. admitting he was the
first &c leave the door Of the build
ing IN the wake OF the fleeing Wis
niewslci. Schricker and Meyers. fol-
lowed. he said. He heard two shots
fred OF similar report presumably
BY Meyers Then he fred. A
fourth shot. making louder report
than the previous three followed an
instant later AZ which tine Wisniew-
81 was seen 20 disappear Two
more shots were hred. according 70
Rokop. these two also OF a lesser
report and similar % the frst two