Submitted by: Nadine A. Hardin

Names mentioned:  Benninghoff, Danch, Holmes, Horvath, Szucs

 
South Bend Tribune, April 12, 1972.

"Tavern Owner Slain"

The unarmed owner of a tavern on the city's South Side was shot and killed late Tuesday night when two men apparently tried to rob him.

Alfred J. Danch, 56, of 804 Ridgedale Rd., who owned and operated the 700 Bar with and adjacent liquor store at 712 W. Indiana Ave., died at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, about an hour once he was shot once in the chest inside the liquor store.

Danch's father, Michael, was killed similarly when an irate customer stabbed him to death in the same tavern on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1945, after the slayer reportedly inebriated, was refused service.

Memorial Hospital officials said Danch died while undergoing emergency surgery.

Leaves Bar Section.

Capt. Walter Benninghoff, head of the police felony squad, said Danch reportedly had left the bar section of the tavern to wait on customers in the liquor store when he was shot.

Although robbery apparently was the motive for the slaying, police said no money had been taken by two men who fled after customers heard a "cracking" sound in the tavern, but who, at the time, did not know it was a gunshot.

The tavern and liquor store are connected by an open doorway through which Danch went to wait on liquor store customers. A bell sounds when the liquor door is opened to signal that someone has entered the store.

Police said that witnesses told them that before they heard the gun-shot, Danch was seen backing away from the liquor store through the open door-way, and had said, "Put that thing away and leave me alone." He fell to the floor, according to witnesses, and two men described by police as "young looking," leaped over his fallen body and ran out the door. Police believe the men then fled on foot. No getaway car was seen or heard leaving the tavern area.

Witnesses told police that Danch staggered back inside the tavern and collapsed to the floor on his back at the south end of the bar. Some money fell from Danch's shirt pocket when he collapsed.

Before falling to the floor, Danch called for someone to call the police. Police believe he was shot with a small caliber handgun. An autopsy was performed at the hospital today.

Several patrons, who had been in the tavern when Danch was shot, have looked at hundreds of pictures shown them by police in attempts to identify the slayers.

Danch was born on July 4, 1915 in South Bend, and had lived here all his life. On May 11, 1943, in Alexandria,  La., he married Vera Holmes, who survives, along with a son, John, at home; three daughters, Miss Susan Danch of Mishawaka, Miss Lynn and Miss Deborah Danch, both at home; two brothers, Elmer and Michael A. Jr., and two sisters, Mrs. Joseph Szucs and Mrs. Joseph Horvath, all of South Bend.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today and 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Zahoran Funeral Home, where a vigil service will be held at 8:15 p.m. Thursday. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Matthew Cathedral by Rev. Patrick McNulty. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

Mr. Danch was a member of Santa Maria Council 553, Knights of Columbus, and Father Nieuwland General Assembly, Fourth Degree K. of C.; Post 360 V.F.W., and the St. Anthony Society. He was a board member of the Rum Village Business Men's Assn. and the 4th District president of the Indiana Alcoholic Beverage Taverns Assn. He was a veteran of World War II.