Six Stiches in His Heart

1920

Trial Jury Is Shown Photograph Made by the Surgeon

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The story of a remarkable surgical operation was told in the Criminal Court by Dr. J. F. Berg of St. John's Hospital in the trial of John Hoza, accused of attempting to kill Steve Belonik in a fight last April 9.

Dr. Berg exhibited X-ray plates which provided a startling record of Belonik's case. He testified that Belonik had received a stab wound in the back, which had cut the left ventricle of the heart.

"I opened the chest, removing several ribs, and sewed the heart up, putting six stitches in it," said the surgeon. "The man was out of danger on April 21."

The photographs showed the heart and the sutured incision.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 9.