The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-08
WOMAN in THE CASE.
Duryea Gallant Stabbed by His Rival
While Escorting the Young Lady
Home from a Christening.

Pittston, June 7.-Says the Gazette:
After a season of comparative quiet
ness in news circles Duryea, as usual,
opened the week with an addition to
her already long list of crimes, with a
stabbing affray which, in all prob
ability, will result fatally to at least
one of the victims.
The christening of an innocent little
infant brought about the tragedy. The
christening took place at the home
of Joe Miledsky, at the corner of Don
nelly and Stevenson streets, Sunday.
Miledsky also conducts a saloon at
this place. Numerous friends of both
sexes were in attendance and consider
able fire water was consumed. This
may or may not have been the cause
of the tragedy Certain it is that one
Simon Wilkalis, who now langushes in
the Luzerne county Jail, apparently OBJ
jected to Peter Dapken escorting a lady
friend home from the christening, and
the liquor may have inspired him to
commit the terrible deed which fol-
lowed.
THE STABBING.
Everything went on harmoniously
until about II o'clock when the lady
above mentioned started for home
in company with Dapken. The latter,
who boards with the saloon keeper, and
who is a fine looking and well-built
fellow, was on his way home when, he
says, his assailant met him in the road
in front of the saloon and, without a
word of warning, drew an ugly weapon
and stabbed him. The knife entered
the right side and penetrated the lungs.
Dapken uttered a piercing Shrek of
pain and sank to the ground. The cry
brought the large number of inmates of
the house to the scene and free fight
ensued, extending into the saloon. In
the fracas Frank Watzsewitz, one Of
the guests, was badly injured by being
stabbed in several places. The keen
edge of the knife almost severed the
left arm, while his face and shoulder
are horribly mutilated. His injuries,
though serious, are not necessarily
fatal.
Dapken's injuries will probably prove
fatal. After being struck he was car
ried into the house and Dr. Burlington
summoned. When the injured man
was seen by a reporter, although able
to talk, he was in a sinking condition.
Ele could not give any reason for the
foul attack and said he had never
had any trouble with Wilkalis. He
said he had accompanied the woman
to her home merely for a walk and
was not aware that his wou,d-be mur-
derer had more than a passing ac-
quaintance with the lady. The doctor
was Of the opinion that the man would
die.
CAPTURED.
Immediately after committing the
act, Wilkalis made his escape. At 6
o'clock this morning Constable Rittie
went to the fellows boarding house
on the back road Apparently Wilka-
lis had not retired during the night
for, he was watching for the appear
ance of the officers. AS the constable
entered the back door Wilkalis hurried
| out Of the front door and made with
all haste to the woods. Here he hid
himself. The constable with three as
sistart1, secured the woods for several
| hours in a fruitless effort to find their
man, which was not accomplished un-
| til 8 o'clock. He, with two other prin-
cipals in the affair-William Stankos-
| ky and Matthias Lurowsky-were taken
before Squire Motiska and giveql a
| hearing. Wilkalis was committed tc
await the result Of his victims intur.
les and the other two were each held
in $1,000 bail.