The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-08-03

A SUSPECT
Remarkable Case Heard Before Justice
Shoemaker Last Night.
BRUTALITY TO FORCE CONFESSION
The Victim Bound, Gagged and Suspended
From a Nail in wall While His
Tormentors Applied Lighted
Matches to His Feet

One of the most remarkable cases Of atrOci-
GUS conduct ever called before the Justices in
this town was heard last night by Justice
Shoemaker, who says it ecipses everything
else in his experience. It brings to ones
mind the awful systems of torture resorted
in ancient times to extort confessions from
the hapless inmates of the Spanish prisons
Lukasz Sondez, Andrew Petckak and
Wladislaw Fredima, Slavs, board in a house
near the Shenandoah City colliery Several
days ago Fredima missed thirty dollars from
his trunk and his suspicious fell upon Soudez
When accused the latter stoutly affirmed his
innocence Fredima still adhered to his
theories and he and Petchak frequently dis
cussed methods by which they might secure
evidence upon which to base a warrant for
the arrest of sondez. They finally concluded
that the only way by which they could ac-
complish their purpose was to torture the
suspected man until he confessed.
Sunday evening Sondez was sitting on his
bed reading book which he brought with
him when he came from his native land
Suddenly his two roOmmates, Fredima and
Petchak, sprang upon him. One pinioned
his arms while the other forced a gag into
his mouth. Sondez was then bound hand
and foot after which be was suspended with
piece of rope under his arms from a nail in
the wall of the room. But this was only half
the work the fiendish assailants had in view.
With their victim in proper position they pro-
ceeded with a torture that almost drove
the unfortunate victim crazy with pain. Pro
curing matches they lit one by one, holding
the flames close to the socs Of Sondez's feet.
They repeated the afllictiou until the feet
were badly burned and blistcred occasionally
removing the gag from the victims mouth
sufficiently to allow him to speak, but not to
make an outcry. Each time the gag was
removed SOndez was asked if he would
confess that he had stolen the money and tell
where he placed it. SOndez reiterated his in
nocence and pleaded to be released While
the deyilish work was going on another
boarder entered tho room. He hastily re-
tired to secure help for the tortured man.
Andrew Koszar, special officer, was called
and he went to the house, to his sorrow.
As he entered the place Fredima and his
brother, Joseph Fredima, pounced upon him
and administered an unmerciful beating.
Koszar was only too glad to get out Of the
house alive and did not take pains to see
whether the tortured man was released.
Yesterday afternoon the facts in the case
were laid before Justice Shoemaker and he
prepared warrants upon which Andrew
Petchak and Wladislaw and Joseph Fredima
were arrested last night. The first named
two were put under bail for trial at court on
complaint of Sondez and the Fredinas were
held for trial for heating Koszar, the special
officer. SOndez has almost recovered from
the effects of the treatment he received, but
still walks as if stepping on upturned spikes.