The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-15
ARCHBALD'S Cay OFFICER
Johnathan VenisOn Tried for Shoot
ing Hun in the Thigh.
THE RIDGE MUCH IN EVIDENCE
If n Few More Places Like 1t Were in the
County, Court Would Have Its Hands
Full-polander Who Did Not Know
War Was Over.


War Was Over.
Constable Jonathan Venison's case
took up nearly all of the day before
Judge Edwards yesterday. 1t was
cross suit, Venison being both defend
ant and prosecutor. District Attorney
Kelley looked after the interests of the
constable and Attorney NJ. A. mckinley
represented the other side. On Sunday,
Aug. 81 a number of Polish deniZens of
the Ridge were jollifcating and law
abiding citizen named Thomas Stiles
had a warrant sworn out and it was
placed in the constable's hands to serve.
When Venison, as he alleges, attempted
to serve the warrant he was set upon
by almost the entire community and he
had to retreat to save himself When
pushed to the wall he drew his revolver
and fired, the ball striking a Hun named
Joseph Wooleschesky in the thigh,
going in on one side and out on the
other.
The wounded man was prosecuting
the constable yesterday for firing that
shot and the constable was prosecuting
him and others on the charge of resist
ing an officer while making an arrest.
The defense claimed that Venison
pulled his revolver without cause and
that it was only to prevent him from
committing murder that they inter-
fered. Judge Edwards charged the
jury carefully and instructed them to
np,,ity OF
verdict which will meet the approval of
their consciences A constable has
right to carry arms while in the dis
charge of his duty, and he must be
responsible to the law that gives him
that power for propoer use of these
arms. He cannot use his Office for per-
sonal ends and the jury must believe
that he was conscientiously executing
his duty when he got into the trouble.
No verdict had been returned at ad-
journment.
Another Miglin Case.
The last case for the week was called
for trial at $3.50 before Judge Edwards.
Joseph Gruminsky was charged in the
indictment in which Joseph Miglin Is
prosecutor with having obtained
money under false pretenses, District
Attorney Kelly represented the COM
monwealth, and Attorney Charles f.
Oliver the defendant. The prosecutor
was the first witness on the stand ana
he swore that in the early part of Last
August Ruminisky came into his store
situated at the Ridge and asked for
the change of a bill of United States
currency valued at $50.
By scraping together all the money
he had in the store and with the loan
of $50 from his brother, the guileless
storekeeper changed the bill. A few
days afterward he came down to Scran-
ton to stow the half-hundred safely
away in the bank. The cashier told
him he was thirty years behind the
times, that the war ended in 1865, that
Jefferson Davis was dead, the govern
ment at Washington still lives, and sew
eral other allied remarks. In plain
words it was Confederate bill
Attorney Oliver was instructed to
open his case, but instead he argued for
binding instructions. He submitted
authorities and went on to show that
no fraudulent intent had been proven
by the prosecution. Judge Edwards
said he would pass upon the arguments
this morning.
Two little boys, Theodore Harvey and
William Mclaughlin, as the result of
an assault and battery committed on
the person of Joseph Andrewkitis, were
put on trial before the court. Attorney
John f. Scragg prosecuted the boys and
eX-Judge w. H. Stanton defended them.
The tale of woe told by Andrewkitis
was that on Oct. 16 last he was passing
along the gangway road from his work
as laborer, and at certain point met
the two defendants, who were driver
boys They refused to let him pass and
blocked the road with a vicious mule
which would kick at any one that at
tempted to go by. When he asked
them to take the mule out of the way,
they paid no attention, but kept on teas
ing the animal. Afterward they stoned
him and repeated the same operation
after they got outside at the mule barn.
There they struck him with a stone in
the face and inflicted painful cuts.
The defendants asserted that the
prosecutor began the assault and that
they were acting only to protect them
selves. They admitted having thrown
stones at him. 1t was the last case
heard in No. court room. The jury
did not wait long to reach verdict.
After being out a half hour they filed
into court again and declared that the
defendants We're guilty in manner and
Judge Albright told the jury that they
could rely that no severe punishment
would follow their verdict.
Plea of Guilty Entered.
Mary Roberts plead guilty to the Of
fense Of larceny and receiving and was
sentenced to 81 fine the costs, restora-
tion of the stolen property and ten days
i'm the county jail. The jury acquitted
William G. Miller of malicious mischief
under the indictment of hewing down
timber trees, but placed the costs upon
him. Thomas Logan was sentenced to
the costs, and capias was issued for
Mary Moran, who was indicted for
keeping tippling house, and later she
was brought into court and pleaded
guilty. Judge Archibald Sentenced her
to fine of $500, costs in the case, and
three months in the county jail.
In the cases against Constables Pat
rick Hennegan and j, w Clark charged
with eXtortion, verdicts of not guilty
We're taken upon promise of defendants
to pay the costs, Gwennie James was
tried for assaulting Jennie Fleming.
The jury divided the costs. A capias
was sent out for James Dunleavy who
was indicted for feloniously wounding
Michael Noonan. James Carroll was
tried for assaulting ]. A. Hubert and