The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-23
GRISHKA Is HELD.
Coroner's Jury Finds Him. Responsible
for Nickus' Death.

An attempt to bribe witnesses at sat
urday. nights coroner's inquest into
the death of John Mickus had its in
fiuence probably, in causing verdict
which holds John Grishka responsible
for his fellow Poander's death. The
new evidence heard by the jury was not
convincing in it's eXplicitness. but it was
very damaging in its contradiction, so
much so that Coroner Lonsstreet was
satisfied thai Grishka was a murderer
and he told the jury so.
The jury required only a few min
utes tn return their verdict to the effect
that blunt instrument In the hands
of Grishka had caused Mickus death
The jurors We're George w. Keyes, NJ
5. Matthews. j. G. Howell, Evan j. Ev-
ans, II. +. Mellon and Alfred G. Pace
Mickus' dead body was found with
its forehead and face beaten almost to
a Jelly lying beneath Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western culvert near
the Tripp homestead last Wednesday
morning Grishka. with blood stains
on the lapel and skirt of his light col
ored OvercOat, was eSpied among the
crowd of curious spectators surrounding
the body while Coroner Longstreet was
conducting his investigat tion. and as he
did not satisfactorily answer the cOro-
ner's questions about the blood stains,
he was placed under arrest.
The attempt to bribe witnesses was
made by relatives of Mrs. Mickus,
whose fondness for Grishka. it is be-
lieved. really led up to the crime Their
efforts. We're detected in the corridor by
Deputy Coroner DR.. Pennypacker out
side the arbitration room, where the
inquest. which was continued from
Wednesday night. was being held He
reported the occurrence to the coroner.
The bribers were not aDDrehended, but
the circumstance was admitted in the
testimony of William Black and An
drew Gordon. two witnesses who had
been approached.
THEY HAD QUARRELED.
1t had been expected that some con-
elusive evidence would be heard show
ing that Mickus and Grishka were out
together during the night of the mur-
der. but County Detective LeyshOn. it
was found. had been unable to secure
such testimony. II was shown. how
ever. that Mickus, his wife and their
lodge. Grishka, had quarreled the
night of the murder.
Mrs. Mickus was the principal wit
ness She made contradiction upon
contradiction of the time her husband
or Grishka left the house, and of the
hour they ate supper, but admitted that
Mickus was angry and slightly intoxi-
Gated when he left
Previously she had admitted to COun-
/ ty Detective Leyshon that the overcOat
on which the blood stains had been
/ found was worn by Grishka the night
Mickus met his death. although Grish-
ka AYERS he had not worn the coat from
March 10. pay day at the Brisbin mine.
until the day on which the body was
! found.
Johnnie Mickus. the ,0-year-old son
of Mickus, and a stepson of Mrs. Mick
us, testified tina. he was awake in bed
| Tuesday night and heard his father
and Mrs. Mickus quarreling.
! A number Of other witnesses were
sworn. Their testimony. while throw
Ing no light on the occurrences of Tues
day night. i'm some instances went to
show :hat Mickus and his wife quar-
relied constantly. and that Grishka was
the cause of the trouble.
1t appeared that the nature of the
verdict was largely caused by Mrs.
Mickus' avowal that the garment that
was blood stained on Wednesday, was
worn by Grishka Tuesday night: by
Grishka's avowal that he did not wear
the coat until Wednesday, and by the
discovery of the attempt to bribe the
| witnesses.