FRANCISZCK NITKA
(1891 - 1912)

MURDERED MAN LAID AT REST
Aluminum Co. Closes, and Men Bury Frank Nitka

The funeral of Frank Nitka, the 20 year old union boy, who was murdered last Saturday night, for which crime Joseph Ramar must stand trial was held at 9 o'clock this morning from St. Mary's Catholic church. The Rev. Father Cubizenski said requiem high mass. The body was buried in the Polish cemetery near the orphan asylum.

Attended by 150 union men in a body, and many others, the funeral was one of the largest ever held in the city. The Aluminum Goods company, where the young man was employed, closed down for the funeral. The union men marched to the church and thence to the grave. Six fellow workers of the deceased were pall bearers; Peter Kubalsky, Paul Zarnik, Albert Jagodinsky, Reuben Gospodarek, Mich Revolmski and Matt Zarnik.

Manitowoc Daily Herald, Wis., July 31, 1912 pg. 3

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FATAL STABBING AFFRAY

Frank Nitka, a resident of the 7th ward, aged 20 years, was fatally stabbed last Saturday evening on the street, near Madison and Fifteenth streets by Joseph Ramar late of Akron, Ohio. Ramar and his companion at the time, Tony Ruska, both came to the city recently to take jobs left vacant by the strike of the moulders at the Aluminum Casting Company and this fatality is said to have grown out of bitterness engendered by the labor situation. Nitka was a former employee of the Aluminum Goods Co. and sympathized with the strikers.

Saturday evening he called at the Wergen saloon at Madison and Fifteenth streets on his way home and there met Ramar and Ruska. No physical encounter occurred in the saloon but the two latter are said to have followed Nitka out and to have attacked him. There was a short affray in the street during which Nitka received two slight wounds and one thrust in the side that severed an artery and ended his life within ten minutes and before a physician could be gotten to the scene. The police and the sheriff's office both were at work within a short time. Ramar and Ruska roomed together at Clark and Fifteenth street. Ruska was found there but Ramar, who is charged with the killing had discarded a bloody coat and hat and then fled. The surrounding county was warned by telephone and the fugitive was located at Cleveland, he having made 14 miles across the country on foot. He was taken into custody by Sheriff Pellett and landed in jail.

An inquest was held Tuesday. The jury drawn consisted of Henry Shreihart, Mayor Henry Stolze, city; Henry Rehbein, Gibson; H.F. Knor, Meeme; F. Meisnest, Branch; Jos. Strouf, Mishicot.

At the inquest at which coroner Falge presided, nothing of importance developed, except that Ruska probably is not accountable in any degree for the tragedy and will be discharged from custody. The verdict was as follows: "We the jury sitting in the matter of the death of Frank Nitka find that death was caused by a hemorrhage produced by a wound from some sharp instrument wielded by Joseph Ramar on the night of July 27." Ramar was present and was represented by attorney L.W. Ledvina.

This is the first homicide in the city in many years although the county has had several in recent years.

Manitowoc Pilot, Wis., Thursday, August 1, 1912 pg. 8

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