The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-06-26

Now on Trial Before the
Court at Pottsville.
MANY WITNESSES HEARD
A Full History of the Case Briefly Chron'-
cled, Giving the Names of the Prosecu-
tors-The Doctor Is Charged with Libel,
Interesting Developments Expected.

Special TO Evening Herald,
PoTTsv1LLE, June 26.-The criminal
court opened here yesterday and from the
large attendance in the various court
rooms it looked as if the residents of
Shenandoah had flocked into our town as
the animals focked out of the ark after
the food, One man who kept tally said
he counted two hundred and seventy-two
Shenandoah people on our streets during
the day.
One of the cases which was responsible
for part of this large attendance was the
Szlupas libel case, in which there are five
prosecutors, five defendants and twenty
eight witnesses. Originally there were
hve suits, but in order to save time and
expense the counsel on both sides agreed
that for the purposes of the trial the cases
should be merged into one. The case is
exciting considerable interest
The prosecutors in the case are Charles
Radzewicz, Anthony Alex, Joseph KEEP
The defendants are designated a DR.
John Szlupas, George Manjunas, Josep }
keiser George Shemanski and Joun
Petrika.
J. w. Whiteho Use, NJ. NJ. Burke and A.
l.. Shay, ESqs., represent the prosecution,
anu IlOu - ~. DIuul III HAS LudllplOutu
the cause of the defendants s!ngle-handed.
All parties interested in the case were
Obliged 10 lOiter about the court house all
day, momrntarily exp citing h : ca sc to e
called up and finally were sent home at
adjournment time with instructions to
re-appear early this morning.
Owing to the pressure of business Judge
Savidge, of Sunbury, had been requested
to assist Judges Bechtel and Weidman
and as the former was to take charge of
the Silver Brook murder case and did not
arrive until after the noon recess, the
SZlupas case was obliged to hang fire, as
the murder case had first call on the panel
of jurors and a jury tor the libel case
could only be taken from the remains.
The jury in the murder case was secured
at about half past four in court room No.
, and the jurors who escaped service on it
then filed into court room No. l, before
Judge Weidman, to whom the libel suit
had been assigned.
Just before the work of securing Jury
was undertaken Mr.. Brumm moved to
quash the indictment on the ground that
the offense charged, as shown on the face
of the Indictment, was not an iRdictable
one. Judge Weidman overruled the
motion.
a jury was secured shortly after five
O'Clock and then NJ NJ. Burke, Esq, pro
ceeded to open the case in behalf of the
Commonwealth.
Mr. Burke did not dwell long, but
clearly and concisely reviewed the circum-
stances leading up to the case. He said
that in April last one NJ. j. Andrukaitis
died and was buried from the residence
of DR.. SZlupas at shenandoah, the funeral
being in charge of a society of which DR..
SZlupas and others were members. Dur
ing the progress of the funeral through
the streets on the way to the cemetery
was a disturbance which caused great
excitement in the town. Subsequently
DIR. SZlupas and the o her defendants In
the suit on rial prepared and published bv
presentation aud reading in the Borough
Council of Shenandoah the petition upon
which the suit for libehis based charging
that the prosecutors in the case were re-
sponsible for the unlawful demonstration
on the streets during the funeral.
After Mr.. Burke closed his opening
John j. Cardin, Town Clerk of the Bor-
ough of Shenandoah, was called as the
first witness for the prosecution. He was
sworn and Judge Weidman said that as
it was time for adjournment no evidence
would be taken until this morning.
The case was resumed this morning
with Town Clerk Cardin as.the first wit |
ness. He testified as to the records of the |
Borough Council showing the presence of |
DR.. John Szlupas and the presentation by |
that gentleman of the petition upon |
which the suit for libel is based.
Councilman A. d. Gable was the next |
witness called. He testified as to the |
holding of the investigation by the Lamp |
and Watch committee of Council, and |
outside of this his evidence brought out |
no material developments.
just before adjournment of court for
the noon recess, W. j. Watkins was called |
rs a witness for the prosecution. 1t was
to show by the latter the manner
n which the HERALD secured possession
IF the petition which appeared in your
columns at the time action was being
AIKEN upon the matter by the Borough
Council. Mr.. Brumm. counsel for the
lefense, here raised an objection
Judge Weidman sustained the objec-
he present.
Councilman Dougherty was called, but
IS + defense admitted everything which
he prosecution desired 70 prove by the
his evidence was not taken.