The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-18
TESTIMONY IS ALL heard
Arguments to Jury 10 Vishniski Case
Will BE Made Today. -
DEFENDANT PUT ON THE STAND
Says lie Shot Felix Davidzak In Self.
Defense = After tho Murder he
Walked to Plymouth and Then
Came Back Here.

Among those who have heard the evil
dence of the commonwealth and the
defense in the Vishniski murder case
there Is now much speculation as 10
what the verdict will be, as the testi-
mony has all been heard. At 3.lO yes
terday afternoon the last witness was
heard and further proceedings were
adjourned until this morning In or
der to give Attorney Mckinley time
to prepare law points and arrange his
argument The main feature yesterday
was the testimony of Vishniski him
self.
Alexander Jankowski. the defend
ants brother-in-law, was the FIRST W.T.
ness called He denied that he saw the
shooting. There was scuffle between
Vishniski and three of the companions
of the dead man. The witness heard
the shot but he would not admit that
1t was the defendant who fired 1t.
Vishniski walked steadily to the stand
and gazed around the court room with
out showing any embarrassment. His
answers in English were so unsatis-
factory that the interpreter had to be
called into reQuisition. He is 20 years
of age, was born in Prussia Poland.
and came to America In May 1898. His
father Is dead but his mother Is still
living in the old country.
Tells Something Of His History.
After landing in New York. he came
sister. Mrs. Jankowski, where he board
ed until the night of the murder He
worked a while in the woods. quarry
ing stone for Contractor Max Phillips,
and next went TO work at laboring in
the South Steel mill. Last February he
worked at the steel mill. The morning
of the 9th he went to work. but an un-
usually heavy fall of snow had de-
scended during the previous night,
causing operations to suspend at the
mill. He came home at 10 o'clock that
morning. After removing his working
clothes he went to bed and took nap
until late in the afternoon.
Joe Terreshevitz came to Nishniskis
boarding house and coaXed him out
drinking. They were Joined by Joe
Erling. Micharlcwskrs saloon attract
ed them and before they left it, each
had drunk about fifteen or twenty
schooners of beer.
At 3 O'Clock they started home: their
path homeward led past Peter Kojio-
lecks unlicensed shop. and in there
they went. Martsall Seminski and 4
fellow named Stofski who We're in ahead
of the defendant, as soon as they saw
him enter, began to stir up quarrel.
They We're successful in their design,
Vishniski says he was rendered uncon-
sc.ous from a blow on the head. recov-
cred, got up and ran. was pursued, and,
in self-defense, shot Felix Davidzak,
the foremost of his pursuers. Vishniski
swore that he had the revolver in his
pocket when ne went out that night,
that he did not go home to get 1t.
lie Walked to plymouth.
He walked 20 Plymouth after the
murder, came back day later to Scran-
ton and took the train for Buffalo. His
sis.er save him the money. He worked
for a farmer a few miles out from Buff
falo and as soon as he earned IS re-
turned 20 the city to buy some new
clothes and was arrested.
Coroner ]. A. Kelley was recalled.
An anatomical chart was set up before
the jury box and the coroner showed
to the jury the course taken by the bull
let. DR.. John O'Alalley of Spruce
street. was called after Coroner Kelley.
The defense proposed to prove by him
that two scars on Vishniskrs head came
from wounds which We're inflicted less
than year ago, and that one of the
wounds was an incised and the other
a confused one. DR.. O'Mal!ey examined
the defendant at the county Jail a
month ago. There was scar of a
wound on the top of the head which
appeared to have been made with a
knife or some sharp instrument. and
another on the side of the head, ap-
pea ring to have been made with a club
or some dull instrument. The witness
gave as his opinion that the wounds
were produced less than year ago,
judging from the process of cicatriza-
ton.
I'r. John Burnett and DR.. Ludwig
Wehlau gave similar testimony.
Said Davidzak Was Vicious.
Albert Ludka was called to prove
that Davidzak, the murdered man, was
a vicious, law-breaking character. Lud-
ka is a special officer and was pre-
| sumed to know Davidzak. The court
on the objection of the district attor-
ney ruled that this evidence was not
admissible. County Detective Leyshon
was called on the part of the common
| wealth in rebuttal to contradict the
evidence of Julius Dhrabant, who was
| a witness for the defense. Mr.. Leyshon
| said he went to the South Side the Mon
| day after the murder. had a talk with
Dhra bant and was informed by him
| that he knew nothing at all about the
case.
The district attorney intended to have
| the testimony taken at the coroners in
quest read before the jury. but he was
una ole to find the notes. There was
no further testimony on either side.
| The jury went ito their room at $40. This
| morning at Q O'Clock Attorney Mckinley
will present law points to the court and
will address his argument to the jury.
1t Is probable that the jury will retire