The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-15
VISN|SkIE IS A Captive
Arrested 10 Buffalo for q Murder Com
mitted in This City.
THE WAY HE MAS IDENTIFIED
Certain Birthmarko Led to His Arrest
for Murder Of Fcli1 Davidziak ON
Maple Street In This City
ON Night of Feb. 0.

After eluding Justice for six months
Joseph Visniskie, the young Pole who
murdered his countryman, Felix DAN
dziak. on the night of Feb. 9 In this
city. has been captured in Buffalo.
Two peculiar birthmarks were the
principal means Of disclosing his iden-
tity. One was mole on his face near
the nose and the other consists Of two
fingers of his right hand. which are
welded" or grown together. lmmedi-
ately after the flight of Visniskie. Chief
Simpson sent out circulars giving de-
scription of tlhe murderer and enclosed
with each a photograph, of which the
accompanying cut Is q copy. This
photograph was secured from a group
picture Of a party to the number of
about twenty of young Polish men and
women. Vasnlskie's face was repro
duced and enlarged and thereby an ex-
cellent likeness of him was secured.
Circular That Was Sent Out.
The type written circular read as fol-
lows:
ARREST, charged with murder, Jo-
se.h Visniskie. He is "a years Of age.
10 pounds. we'll built. blue eyes, light
hair, light complexion. has a mole on
the cheek near the nose. Two fingers
on the right hand are webbed together.
He wore light clothes and a soft hat.
He last worked in the steel mills OF This
city as a laborer. If found, arrest. and
wire me Immediately at my expense
and 1 will send an officer for him with
out delay. William 7. Simpson, chief
Of police" :.
The police have felt confident all
along that unless the murderer left the
country Immediately after his flight
from this city he would In time be cap
tured. Nevertheless 1t was no small
amount of surprise that Chief Simpson
on Saturday afternoon read the folloW-
ing telegram: -
Buffalo. N. Y, July 13.
Joseph Visniskie, wanted by you Tor
murder arrested. Send for him. See your
circular of Feb. 20. william s. Bull
Superintendent Of Police.
Immediately upon the receipt OF the
telegram Chief Simpson set about Sc
curing the witnesses who will be want
ed IN tine trlal anu StttiH6 III hioe'o'' 49,
legal machinery which will extradite
the murderer. 1t is likely that he Will
be brought here before Tuesday night.
In the telegraph dispatches 1t is
stated that Visniskie not only does not
attempt to deny his identity, but ad-
mits his crime.
story OF the Case.
On Saturday. Feb. 9, at late hour In
the evening Visniskie shot and almost
instantly killed Felix Barkantz, alias
Davidzeak. who stepped in as peace
maker in quarrel in which the young
Polander was engaged.
The police sought for the murderer
but could not find him. although 1t is
alleged he was hiding IN bed in his own
house when the police were there look
ing for him. Under cover Of darkness
the next night he fled from the city,
having SO which his sister gave him to
help in his escape and for which she
was afterwards arrested. A great
number of Poles are under bail to ap-
pear as witnesses when wanted, having
been arrested at the time of the coro-
ner's investigation.
Chief Simpson said last night that
there is sure case Of first degree mur-
der against Visnlskie.