The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-09-28
DEATH BED CONFESSION.
A Dying Mans Startling State
ments to q Priest.

The Hazleton Sentinel of Satu.i con-
tained the following startling story:
Yesterday afternoon Father Andru-
kowicz, the Hungarian priest of Shenan-
doah, was called up TO Silver Brook to at.
tend the death bed of John Giroc, who has
been i'll for some time past The visit re-
suited in one Of the most startling stories Of
crimes ever heard of in this section.
The story as far as can be learned is to
the effect that seven years ago Giroc killed
a man named Olscz at Shamokin. The
body was buried at place called Reeds
Station down on the Northern Central
K. X. Shortly afterward Olscs's brother
came to Reeds Station and charged Giroe
with having made away with his brother
Giroc and man named Ward it is claimed
put the brother out of the way. Then
they moved to Enterprise collery, place
not far from Shamokin. 1t will be re.
membered that in October 1885, arpeddler
named Hornwell disappeared. He was
supposed TO have had large amount of
money on his clothes, He was last seen
going from Bear Gap to Enterprise colilerv
and Girco and Ward made away with him
on that night
On his death bed Giroo gave full and
explicit directions as to where the BODY of
Olacz could be found at Reeds. It was
buried short distance from the railroad
track. The murdered man had S17Oin
silver ut the time. Giroc wanted to borrow
$40 to 20 to Tyrone but Olacz refused.
Giroc met him the next morning, in the
cut, and asked him again but was again re.
fused. They were alone at the time.
Giroc struck him on the head with pick.
The rest of the lsborers we're down around
the curve. He hurriedly carried the BODY
to the swamp near by and buried it. When
the section boss came up and asked where
No. 36 was Giroc said Him sharp. Him
no work tor 80 cent. Him go Sunbury.
Him quit. Give me check" He then
showed the section boss the check and
actually drew the dead mans S wages.
His accomplice in the second crime, the
murder of Olscz's brother, was big Hun.
garian called Ward. Ward had been
around Shsmokin for some time They
killed the brother because he accused Giroc
of the murder and they buried his body
under tool box, digging hole first,
throwing the body in, and then placing the
tool box back in its place. Ward also had
a share in the murder of the peddler. The
peddler had S8l0 on his person. They threw
the pack in the bushes after taking what
they wanted out of it. After that murder
he and Ward went to Shenandoah and
lived there until last January, when Ward
came to Hazeton, and was now living in
saloon on North Wyoming street. Giroc
has been at Silver Brook since March.
His death was caused by typhus, and he
has been i'll for the last two months. Be-
sides the priest he told the story to several
and said that ne was not sorry
that he lad killed the three men and that
if he got better he would kill more, He
said that men were not treated right in
this country and that man had to rob or
starye and If he had gotten well he would
have made a business of robbery.
This is the way the story came to us
from Shsmokin. In the brief time allowed
Us before going to press we were unable to
hun. ~ further particulars but one of our
hunted through the North Wy
oming street saloons for man named
Ward but at no place was there any man
of that name.