Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-10-24
SWUNG OFF.

Execution of BaranovskI - His Double
Crime.
PoTTsvILLE, PA, October 23.-Pietro
Baranovski, or Peter Baranovski, as his
name is comm only given, was hanged at
the county prison, this city, this morning,
for the murder Of Mrs. Butlsvtoh and
Ague Katcb, at "Busky Track, on May
II. 1855 The condemned man slept
soundly from II o'clock last night until g
this morning, when he arose and dOnned a
new suit of black clothes provided by the
authorities for the occasion. At o'clock
st. Jose ph's mass for the dying WAS cele-
brsted by Father Lenarkawiz, of the Pol
ish Catholic Church of Shenandoah, as
sisted by Father Dnflice, OF 81. Patrick's
Church of this city, and Father Patterson,
of Ashland. After the religious services,
Baranovski psrtook sparingly OF a sub
stautial breakfast and WAS then again
taken in charge by the priests. AT 1922
the march to the gsllows commenced.
Bnanovsk ascended the scaffold with a
firm step and stood upon the trap without
flinching. His face was psllid and his
lips quivered slightly. The priests en-
gagged in brief religious exercises, the con-
demned man joining devoutly. After the
moose had been placed about the culprits'
neck and his legs pinioned, the bolt was
at 1890 drawn by an unseen hand, and
the drop fell. In seven and one half min
utps he WAS pronounced dead and at 1890
the body was cut down. Death was
caused by fracture OF the neck. Between
400 and 500 spectators witnessed the exc
cu,ion.
THE CRIME
The double murder for which Pietro
Baranovski suffered death was committed
on Saturday, May - 1883, and was one Of
the most atrociOus Ia the criminal record Of
a county unenyiably dislin-
guished for crimes OF violence and blood.
At "Busky Tract, an isolated spot near
Middleport, eight miles east Of POttsyille,
IN an humble dwelling lived Anthony Pat
lavitch and his wife, with his brother John
Putlavitch and Agnes Katch, domestic
and the aft ianced Of John. The men were
miners, working at the Big Vein collitry,a a
mile or two distant.
Upon his return from work on the even
ing of May II. Anthony Putlavitch found
his home blrned to the ground and 10 the
still smoking ruins he WAS Mortified to dis
cover the charred remains Of his wife and
Agnes Katch Robbery had evidently
been the murderer's motive, as a bureau
had been broken open and some $500 eb-
stracted. A cash in Mrs. Putsvitch's
skull snd an axe lying by her side revealed
the method Of the double murderer. Sus-
picion was soon directed to Baranovski,
who had worked at the Big Vein colliery
and boarded at Putlavitch's, and who bad
drawn his pay on the day Of the murder
and disappeared. He was traced to Shen-
andoah and thence to Losiere, where il
il was learned that he had purchased
ticket for Buffalo ard taken Lehigh Val
ley train.
Teleprams were sent cut TO the author
tiles on the road, and on Tuesday after
noon, May 10, Biranovski was arrested on
a train at Mauch Chunk He at once con-
fessed the murder and robbery, but said the
killing was not premeditated, but the re-
suit of Quarrel with the women He sur
rendered Sl25. which, with S34 he said be
spent. he claimed WAS all the money he
secured. He was lodged 10 Jail at Potts.
Vile and at the next term Of court was
tried and convicted OF murder Ia the first
degree.
Daring the trial and ever since Bara-
novski gave strong evidence Of or feigued
insanity. and, Efforts to OBJ ain a new trial o.
having failed, his counsel secured respites
with a view of showing his mental in.
cspablity. Falling in this last effort
WAS ade before the Board Of Psrdons, bat
that tribunal refosed to interfere and the
sentence Of the Law WAS carried out to-day.
sarnsovski was born in Poland, in 1862,
wss single map, and had been in this
country about four months at the time OF
the murder.