Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-07-30
AN APPALLING RECORD.


Mysterious Deaths and Murders Com
mitted in Hazleton and Vicinity.
The record of Lower Luzerne for un-
punished crime can scarcely be equally
by any other portion of the United
States containing the same number of
inhabitants. 1t is certainly most start
ling one, as proven by the long list of
the past six years. Harry Rood, one of
the many bright pencil-pushers who
gather news for the columns of the
Philadelphia Press, was in the region
this week to write up the Lattimer
murder, and while here compiled the
following for the paper he represents.
1t will be noticed that Freeland with all
its faults) did nothing to dishonor itself
or Luzerne County.
March "a 1SS5-Frederick Margraf. of Eber-
vale. Found dead in his house with bullet
hole in his head. At first supposed to be sui
eide, but no revolver was found near him.
Remains still mystery.
April 0, 1SS5-Thomas Hogan, operator at
Penn Haven, shot dead by Michael Kollier
Kollier was acquitted, the plea of his lawyers
being insanity.
October 10, 1SS5-John and William Kester,
aged bacherlor brothers, murdered by being
shot at Seybertsville, and robbed of consider
able money. The crime still mystery.
March %, lSS5-Danel Murdock, found dead
at Beaver Brook in coal shed. Body and head
teffbly battered. No clue ever found.
February q 1SS6-Mrs Kraencock, of Hope
vile, shot and stabbed. Murderer never ar
rested.
June IA, 1SS6-Valentne Galovitz, of York
town, shot and killed by John Machinsky.
Murderer never captured.
October 2, lSS6-Mike Yatkowitzki stabbed
Peter Komorando at Lattimer- Yatkowitzki
found guilty of manslaughter; 10 years.
October 2, lSS6-Andrew Lavenski found
dead at the bottom of a deep mine hole at
Harleigh. Mystery never cleared up.
December 26, lSS6-Frank Muman, of Halle
ton, stabbed by an Italian. Murderer made
his escape to Italy.
February 10, 1ss7-Michael Parnica, of Jeddo,
found hanging to a tree in Diamond Addition.
Pockets turned inside out. No clue as to sui
eide or murder.
May 10, lSS7-Frank Henry, of Yorktown,
found dead in mine hole at Jeanesville. Mys-
terry never solved.
May IA, lSS7-Antonio Matz murdered in
Hazleton with stiletto Dozen arrests, but no
conviction.
July 2, lSS7-George Wagro shot dead by
Joseph Lazer, of Derringer. Lazer acquitted,
claiming self-defense.
August o. lSS,-John Matthews, of Cranberry,
pulled from his carriage, stabbed and left
lying on the road to die. Criminal escaped.
August 25, 1SS1-George Prestus, of Hum
boldt, stabbed in the heart by John Shimesick
Murderer escaped.
February IL, lSSS-John Fetter quarreled
with his boarding boss, Laurence Mellick, at
Silver Brook, and during Il fierce struggle a
lamp was upset by Fetter. The house took
fire and six people were roasted to death.
Fe:ter made his escape.
April IL, lSSs-Jacob Brehm stabbed Robert
Paisley in saloon. Paisley died several weeks
later. Brehm found not guilty.
April 2S lsSS-An unknown man found muir
dered in II swamp near Honeybrook. No ar
rests.
April 2S, lSsS-The body of Luke Cooper, of
Milnesville, found in the woods. No arrests.
May 20, lSsS-Joseph Grozold, murdered with
a hatchet by John Kodowlic, who escaped
June 2 lSSS-Nicholas Dobos, of Derrnger,
found murdered. Robbery the motive of the
crime. The murderer or murderers are still at
large.
June II, 1SSS-James Copley, while ntoxi-
Gated with William Perry and others, was shot
dead. Perry was arrested, tried and acquitted.
September -, lSS8-Adam Disco plunged a
knife into Michael Borax, causing his death
several days later. Disco fled and was never
captured.
October 8, lsss-John Smith, of Audenried
was mysteriously drowned in reservoir near
his own door. No arrests.
October 4, 1SSS-Owen Leslie, of Jeddo, was
pushed from the pavement falling on his head
and breaking his neck. Henry Smink, Jr., and
N,It- lt,l
was an accident They were acquitted.
October 2l, lSsS-August Terio, enraged with
jealousy, shot Louis Rosa, killing him instant
ly. Terio was tried and acquitted.
October21, lSSS-James Dougherty, of Drifton
Junction, was found dead in creek. His
death is still a mystery.
November Is, lSSS-Andrew Horvat, shot and
instantly killed Berti Kosesick, ut Mt. Pleasant
The murderer is still at large.
Deoember23, 1SsS-Thomas Thomas, of Beaver
Brook, foully murdered. His body was then
laid across the railroad track, but was discover
ed before train passed over it. 1t still re-
mains a mystery.
December rs, lSSS-An unknown man found
dead in an abandoned stripping at Ebervale.
Marks of violence were found on his person.
No arrests.
Supple at Humboldt. No arrests.
January |, 1S90-John Houdack fatally stab
bed George McCollogh at Honeybrook. No
arrests.
August II, lS90-Nicholas Bandan roasted to
death by his shanty burning down. There is
mystery connected with the case.
September 4, lS90-The clothing and other
vahables belonging to Peter Henshue found
near the Mount Pleasant reservoir. Nothing
has up to the present time been heard of the
man.
January 20, lS9l-Nchoas Shutack plunged
sharp pointed steel file into the chest of Paul
kocher. Tried, found guilty of murder in sec
ond degree and sentenced to eight years in the
Eastern Penitentiary.
March 28 lS9l.-Nicholas Paludina, killed with
club in the hands of William Richardson.
Richardson acquitted.
April 10, lS9l-Mike Darfoski killed by Stanley
Rizzolo with stlletto The murderer ac-
quilted.
July 7, 1S9l-Joseph Cortes killed by Adam
Petrck with a stlletto. Murderer now in Jail
awaiting trial.
The Alleged Murderer Arrested.