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Saint Joseph County by John B. Stall Vol 3
(Dayton, Ohio - Dayton Historical Publishing Co. 1923) :
". . . [John Jegier] was a mason in his native country [Poland], and in 1886,
seeking to better his condition in life, brought his family to South Bend.
Here he followed his trade throughout his active life, becoming one of the
well-known members of the Polish population.
John's grandaughter, ADELINE JEGIER, recalls hearing that her
grandfather was a drunken bum.
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From an article in the "South Bend Tribune" for 14 June 1903:
JOHN JAGER KILLED
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DEPUTY SHERRIF SHOOTS IN SELF-DEFENSE
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Tragedy at Notre Dame in Which Alfred Smith is Assaulted
by Fisherman Who Paid Penalty,
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John Jager, of 606 South Chapin Street was shot and almost instantly
killed by Deputy Sherrif Alfred Smith at 3 o'clock yesterday morning.
The shooting took place on the Niles road about 20 rods south of the
entrance to the grounds of St. Mary's Academy and was an act of
self-defense on the part of the officer. An inquest was held yesterday
afternoon in the office of the Chief of Police McWeeny and Coroner
Rennoe exonerated Smith and ordered his release.
The shooting followed a cowardly and unprovoked assault of Jager on
Smith. The latter who is employed as a watchman at the university of
Notre Dame found Jager and a companion named Putz fishing in St. Mary's
lake and ordered them off the grounds of the university. The two men
started for the road, Putz going first and Jager following. Smith
accompanied the men to see that his order was obeyed. When within 21
feet of the fence along the Niles road, Jager turned on Smith and in a
scuffle which carried the two men to within five feet of the fence, Jager
took the policeman's baton away from him and hit him on the head. Jager
then jumped the fence, Smith followed. Outside the fence the fight was
renewed, Jager using the club with so much effect that Smith who is
without a left hand, turned and ran north. Jager persued him, shouting,
"Damn you, I'll kill you!" Jager was overtaking Smith and the later to protect
himself turned and shot his persuer. When the shot was fired, only 13 feet
separated the two men.
The bullet was of 38 calibre out of a Smith & Wesson revolver. It
struck Jager just above the right nipple and glanced downward passing
the lower part of the heart, lodging just outside the left hip bone. When
the bullet hit Jager he turned to the left in a half circle and retraced his
steps about 25 feet and when 38 feet from the point where Smith stood,
he fell and died.
Smith at once went to the university and telephoned the police and
when the patrol wagon with Officers Dickman, Cordier, and Bailey
arrived at the scene, he surrendered himself and assisted in placing the
body in the wagon. Mrs. Jager who had been notified of the shooting by
Mr. Putz met the returned wagon near the police station. The body was
taken to Jones undertaking rooms and Smith was locked up. He remained in
custody until 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, at which hour the
coroner's inquest was held.
Jager was about 40 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 175
pounds, while Smith is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs only 140 pounds.
The later is 40 years old and has been employed by the university of
Notre Dame for about 14 years and in 1890 lost his left hand in a corn
husker. He is a widower.
Jager was employed at Oliver's and is survived by a wife and five
children. He left his home at 9 o'clock Saturday evening and put in the
entire night at the Notre Dame lakes.
The funeral will be held Tuesday morning at 9:30 o'clock with burial in
the Cedar Grove Cemetery.
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According to the records of Cedar Grove Cemetery at the University of
Notre Dame, he was buried in 1904 at the age of 44 on the same lot
(#139 in section B) with his son, JOHN, and an unnamed child. A fire in
1930, which destroyed many of the cemetery's records would explain the
one year variance in the death date and the date on the cemetery's card.
The monument is 9'X18' wide grey stone insribed; "Father John Jegier"
1860-1904.