Submitted by: Nadine A. Hardin

Names mentioned:  Batcho, Danch, Deak, Farkas, Horvath, Kovach, Lanyl, Lasar,  Nagy, Ripczo, Simon, Szucs, Toth, Walz

 South Bend Tribune, November 12, 1945.

“Jury to Study Danch Stabbing.”

Circumstances of the fatal stabbing of Michael Danch, aged 58, well known west side business man, will be laid before a county grand jury next Monday to determine the charges to be lodged against the man accused as his assailant. Alexander Batcho, 64, of 1519 South Taylor street.

This was announced today by St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Wilford W. Walz, who said that Batcho will continue to be held without bond in the county jail.

Mr. Danch died at 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the Memorial (Epworth) hospital of a knife wound in his liver. Two operations failed.

He was stabbed Thursday night in his tavern at 712-714 West Indiana avenue. Police quoted witnesses as saying that Mr. Danch had ordered Batcho out of his tavern for being quarrelsome but that Batcho had returned in a few minutes. When Mr. Danch stepped out from behind the bar and approached Batcho. Batcho stabbed him with a pocket knife, witnesses said.

Mr. Danch was born in Pade, Torantal Megye, Hugary Sept. 20, 1887, and came to the United States at the age of 16. In 1906, he came to South Bend from New York city. He was first employed by Singer Manufacturing company and then went to the Studebaker corporation to work in the blacksmith shop there for a year. From there he went into business for himself., opening a barber shop at 1308 South Catalpa avenue. After his marriage to Theresa Nagy in St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic church in 1913, he moved to 712 West Indiana avenue, where he had lived since.

In Business 36 Years.

In 1922 he gave up the barber business and opened a meat market at 716 West Indiana avenue. He sold this business in 1926 to return to the barber shop until 1935. In 1935 he opened his present business. He was the oldest business man on Indiana avenue being in business continuously for 36 years.

Surviving are his widow, Theresa, five children; Chief Warrant Officer Alfred J., back from two and one half years in the Pacific area; Elmer J. Danch, 110 East Marion street, former Tribune employee, and now editor of the Studebaker News; Mrs. Joseph Geza Szucs, jr.; Mrs. Joseph Horvath, rural route No. 5, box 414; and three sisters, Mrs. Louis Toth, Mrs. John Lanyl and Mrs. Posar Lasar, all of Pade, Torantal Megye, Hungary. Mr. Danch was the 11^th child in a family of 12.

Friends may call in the Nemeth funeral home until the hour of funeral services at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Hungary Roman Catholic church. Rev. Stephen Stephenson will sing the requiem high mass. Burial will be in Highland cemetery. Mr. Danch was a member of St. Anthony society.

South Bend Tribune, Funeral Notes; November 13, 1945.