Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-21
A FIENDISH FATHER.
The Johnstown Brute, Zitman, Is
Tried, Fined $40 and Jailed.
HORRIBLE TALES OF INHUMANITY
Told by Neighbors and Ctficers Who In
vestigated the Case.
NEwsY NOTES FROM NEARBY TOWNS

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.1
JoHNsrowN, April 2O.-The hearing in
the case of Albert Zitman, charged
by Humane Agent Rocques with cru
city to his wife and children and old
man Bloombleshek, took place before
Alderman Harris to-day. Zitman, his wife
and two children were on hand. while the
prosecution had subpenaed "a witnesses.
A terrible tale was unfolded. Witness ].
D. Riblett testified to seeing the woman
leading the horses in the hottest weather
while her husband held the pillow. John
Schriver, of Conemaugb, testified that the
woman and her children had been at his
house frequently; that Mrs. Zitman stated
that her husband had frequently whipped
her and put her and her children out of
doors in the winter after beating them; that
she often led the horses, and if she did not
do the work to suit her husband he would
pick up stone and hurl it at her with
curse. Mrs. Zitman told him she wanted
something done, as she feared her husband
would kill her.
why Ono OF His Boys Ran on.
C. Gossard, of Conemaugh township, testi-
his place and exhibited large bruise on
his head, which he said his fat her had in
flicted with poker. The boy ran away
and has not been here since. Samuel Rib
blet testified to seeing the woman one day
leading two heifers while her husband fol-
lowed behind. The animals ran away,
throwing the woman and badly injuring her
back.
Sr1irA Chn<Y ~ ,~f~ cknkn &lxak
he and DR.. Martin had gone to the Zitman
place to look at old man Bloombeshek, to see
If he was dead. Zitman took them upstairs
to back room, where the old German was
found lying on pile OF straw. All his CLOTH
ing had been removed except his shirt, and
from the appearance OF the man the physi-
clan believed he had been dead several days,
though Zitman said he only died that morn
ing. There were marks on his head and face.
and the old mans arms looked as II they had
been tied to his body. DR.. Martin was called
and corroborated the testimony. He said
there were several wounds on the old mans
head, which had evidently been inflicted
several days before his death.
Humane Agent Sharp, OF Conemau2h, tes-
titled that he found the babe and a six-year
old boy locked up in the house with the
dead man. He tried to turn the body over,
but Zitman told him to let it alone. The
old mans arms were marked as ifby chains.
wounds being on his limbs that broke the
skin and ate into the flesh. Other witnesses
were called who testified to the extreme
filth of the place and the cruel treatment to
which Mrs. Zitman was subjected.
Zitman's Strange Defense.
Zitman, the defendant, was then called to
the stand. He testified that old man
Bloombesheck was q friend of his in the old
country, and that he had sent money to him
to bring him over here. Soon after the OLD
man arrived he became sick and finally
crazy and died. Altogether the old man
cost him $50 in expenses and for the coffin.
He said no religious ceremony was per-
formed over the body, as he (Zttman) did
not believe in religion. His children had
to school, because he did not believe in
American schools. but intended to take them
back to Germany and send them to school
there. He denied that he had treated his
children or wife badly.
When asked where his children were now.
he said they were at home locked mp. He
had left them there at o'clock in the morn
ing, and at O'Clock this afternoon he said
he guessed they were still there. One is a
boy aged years, and the other babe aged
"A months. When Zitman said lie had
locked them up alone all day without fire in
the house. the. greatest indignation was
manifested by the spectators who crowded
the court room. There was no one living
within mile Of the and
take care OF the little ones until the case was
decided.
At the conclusion Of the testimony the Al
derman stated that, while the treatment of
the old German must have been brutal in
the extreme, he could only impose penalty
for abusing his family. He therefore fined
Zitman $40 and costs. and said he would not
send him to Jail, as he was needed at home
to work for his family. The Alderman also
read the man n terrible lecture on the proper
way to treat his dependents.
Zitman had no ready money to meet the
fine and went to Jail until he could raise it.
His poor wife will be allowed to go home
and take care of the deserted babe. The
Alderman gave orders that O strict watch
be kept on the place, and warned Zitman
that any repetition of his former actions
would result in the severest penalty possible
To ha in of nd ha In w