A Hartford Saloon Stabbing in 1901
Saloons could be dangerous places in old Hartford. In my last post, I mentioned a saloon at 359 Main Street that had its awning burned in 1904 by a passing self-propelled fire engine. F. W. Franzen's saloon was located in the McKone building, which still stands today. The saloon would have been in the space now occupied by Peppercorn’s Grill. Looking into the saloon, I also found the following article, which appeared in the Hartford Courant on February 16, 1901:
Jeremiah J. Kane, a well known young man who has been employed in some of the drygoods stores, was stabbed in the upper thigh, in Frederick W. Franzen's Blue Label saloon, No. 359 Main street, about 11:30 o'clock last night. Jonathan Pilling, a painter, 57 years old, is locked up at the police station for the crime and he will be charged with assault with intent to kill.
From the testimony of those who were in the saloon at the time Kane was blameless in the mutter and he was attacked without any cause. It was sold that Pilling had been warned by Franzen to keep out of the place as he did not want his trade. Pilling went into the saloon late last night and the bartender ordered him to leave, saying that he was acting under the proprietor’s instructions. Pilling had been drinking and he did not go out as ordered.
Kane was in the saloon with several friends and he invited Pilling to sit down in a chair. Then Pilling cut him in the leg with a sharp pocketknife. "I'm cut, he has stabbed me," said Kane. The knife, was taken away from Pilling and he was detained in the saloon until Officers White and Noonan arrived. At the police station Pilling said his wife lived in Fall River. When asked by Lieutenant Gunn why he cut Kane he said, "He riffed at me." He said he meant that Kane made a pass at him. Others in the saloon said that Kane did not make any attempt to strike Pilling. The lat[t]er had two pocket knives.
Dr. Bunce was called to the police station to look after Kane's wound. The cut was about four inches long and quite deep. The knife just missed a big artery and if the cut had been a few inches higher Kane would probably have been killed. Dr. Bunce said that Kane would be unable to apear [sic] in court this morning and he said he did not believe he should go out until Wednesday. The case against Pilling will be adjourned until that time. Kane was taken to his home in a carriage.
Pilling appeared in Police Court on February 27. As the Courant reported the next day:
Pilling recognized the knife shown in court us belonging to him. He gave his age as 56 years and said that he had carried the knife since he was six years old. He said he had no recollection of what occurred on the night of the assault. Judge Bill held him for the March term of the criminal court under bonds of $5,000. He was unable to procure ball and went to jail.