Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-03-26

iN' anu olucS' Inc DeSleSeu man
seemed to be possessed of the activity OF
half dozen men, for with his two re.
Volvers he ran from window to window
and kept up such hot return to the fu.
silade of the besiegers that they were
compelled to retreat, though fortunately
none were injured.
By this time every window in the
place was shattered and even the sashes
had been torn out by the hail Of shots
which had been directed at the building.
The men who had some ammunition
left were then distributed in various
parts Of the battle ground, and they be-
gan sharp shooting, firing every time
they saw the shadow of the man through
the windows, as he still kept lights burn
ing in the front room and the kitchen.
Some of these shots must have gone
pretty close to him, as he very shortly
put out the lights and kept the house in
total darkness.
Thinking his ammunition had given
out, one man approached a window and
cried, Come out, John, we won't hurt
you" The reply was a pistol shot, and
the man hastily retreated.
SENT FOR THE SHERIFF.
The leaders of the attack were now in
a quandary. Some one suggested that
the house be burned down and the mur-
derer burned to death unless he sur
rendered. The idea met with favor at
once, and there was a rush to the near
by houses for kerosene oil and straw to
start the blaze, but Detective Whalen
objected to this, and message was de-
spatched to Wilkes-Barre for Sheriff
Walters.
In the meantime Squire Perkins, of
Wilkes Barre, headed party which en-
TERED the house. They found the muir
derer helpless, his ammunition haying
been exhausted. He was found lying
under the bed with the rifle and two
empty revolvers lying by his side.
Blood was streaming from a wound in
the back of his head which was thought
to have been inflicted by a stone thrown
through the window.
When the murderer was brought out
of the house the crowd wanted to lynch
him to the nearest tree. Sheriff Walters,
who had arrived, appealed to them to let
the law take its course. Several men
attempted to take the prisoner by force,
but the wisdom of the better element
prevailed, and Saunders was finally
safely lodged in jail
Mrs. Saunders was taken to the house
of friend. She has a bullet wound in
the thigh, is very weak from loss of
blood and may not recover.
CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY.
The detectives have gathered tke fol-
lowing facts concerning the cause of the
tragedy. Saunders and Mike Bushock
had worked a half day in the Midvale
mines. They left the slope together
and on the way home went into a saloon
and drank several glasses of whiskey.
When they reached Saunders house
they found several men there drinking
and quarreling. Saunders became angry
with his wife for allowing such a crowd
at the house, and in jealous rage seized
an axe and attempted to strike her with
it.
Mike Chutosko, who seems to have
been the instigator of the fight, inter-
fered and Saunders turned on him. The
fighting then became general. Chutos-
ko was cut on the head with the axe
and John Polochink was seriously cut
and stabbed by Saunders. Finally Bush
ock got possession of the axe and carried
it away and it was when he returned
afterward that the shooting occurred.
Saunders bears a bad reputation in
Midvae. He has been in this country
about four years. Two years ago he got
into fight with fellow countrynan
and stabbed him twice in the back. He
was arrested for this crime. At the last
fall election he got into another fight
and stabbed fellow countryman and
was in return seriously stabbed and cut
himself, He is about 65 years old and
was married two years ago.
Trout Not to be Killed Before April IL.
The Freeland Game and Fish Protec-
tive Club will pay reward of SO for
information that will lead to the arrest
and conviction of any person or persons
catching, or having in his or her possess
sion after being caught or killed, any
brook trout or California trout, in any
of the streams or waters within fifteen
miles of Freeland. Pa, before the 18th
day of April, 1894
Hugh Maloy, President.
Freeland, Pa, March %, 1894.
PLEASURE CALENDAR.