The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-08

a great deal more than its real value,
the $4,000 store building, for instance,
being insured for $4,000; that Olchefski
had become mixed up in a church quar-
rel and in consequence his business
was going to pieces; that he tried to
purchase dynamite at two different
places in the city, only u short time
before the explosion; that he acknowl-
edged having had sixty-five sticks of
dynamite in the cellar, but afterwards
denied it; that he was seen carrying
away goods from the store and that
some of these goods were afterwards
discovered in his barn; that his wife
had taken a number of her dresses to
a neighbor's house shortly before the
day of the crime and soon afterwards
called and got them back again; that
in contradiction of Olchefsk's state
ment that he went to bed at . o'clock,
he was seen about the building as late
as 1890 and that people in Michalow-
skis saloon heard hammering going
on in the Olchefski store much later
than that.
EVIDENCES OF KEROSENE.
These circumstances, together with
the finding of kerosene in the bureau
drawers, on the carpet, in the stuffed
bottoms of mohair covered chairs, the
covers of which appeared to have been
cut open with a knife. and the other
evidences Of kerosene having been
scattered about the dwelling house, was
sufficient. the district attorney con-
tended to establish Olchefski's guilt
beyond a doubt.
Fire Chief =. J. Hickey was the first
witness to take the stand. His testi-
mony tended TO establish the fact that
there had been severe explosion,
damaging to property and dangerous
to life, and that it was a criminal act.
In describir g the force Of the explo-
sion, he stated that the side walls Of
the building were strewn over the en-
tire width of both streets, the bottom
boards being farthest out from the
shattered building. Some pieces of
scantling were found two hundred feet
away and in the brick directly across
Pittston avenue, both the front and
rear windows were blown completely
out of their sashes. He also described
the finding of the kerosene soaked fur
nture and said further in this con-
nection that he ran his fingers through
Olchefslii's hair and found it soaked
with Kerosene.
was contented to show that Olchefski's
family lived in the building adjoining
and only a few feet away from the
wrecked store and that kerosene lamps
were used for lighting the dwelling
apartments.
Peter Robling. jr., stoker of the Nep-
tune Engine company; Sterrick Sim
reli, of the William Connell Hose COM
pany. and William Fickus, of the Nep-
tunes, also described the condition of
the building after the explosion, the
scenes Immediately following the fire
and the discovery that the furniture
and carpets were soaked with kero-
sene.
Casper Schelly, whose residence dag
onaiiy opposite the Olchefski building.
was badly damaged, and Henry Hines,
another nelghbor, told of the damage
10 nearby buildings resulting from the
explosion.
Charles Kiefer, whose home Is one
hundred and eighty feet from the scene
of the explosion, told of being thrown
out of bed by the conclusion and upon
| hurying to the scene, found Mrs. Oh
| chefski in front of her home, completely
| dressed.
Mrs. Veronica Mitch, sister of Mrs.
| Michalowski, who was also one of the
| first on the scene, said she found Oh
| chefski with his white shirt on, be-
| sides trousers, stockings and vest. At
| this juncture court adjourned for the
| day.
THE BOGART BURGLARS.
An oyer and terminer jury was also
! chosen in the burglary case. 1t was
| called as soon as the Olchefski twelve
had been picked from the panel After
| an hours examination the following
were agreed upon:
| John McIIaIe, policeman, Carbonate.
| T. L. Bidwcll mOuldcr. Scranton.
| John Eaton. council, Carbondale.
| Richard Flynn, agent, Scranton.
! George Monnnger, moulder, Dunmore.
| Andrew Smullen, miner, Carbondale.
| Michael Sammon, conductor, Scranton.
! Michael Langdn, millhand, Scranton.
| David Clark millhand Scranton.
| Edward Osenbaugh, motorman, Scranton
Thomas ]. Breen. laborer, Scranton.
| Charles NJ. De Long, commercial trav-
| eler, Scranton.
In this case Frank Bixler. Michael
O'Neil and Harry Johnson, alias j. f.
Reilly, three supposed professional
crooks, are accused Of the burglary of
| the residence Of Garrett Bogart, SUPER
intendent of the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad COM
| pany, in the early part of the evening
of Sept. 30, 1897. They We're captured
in Chicago three weeks later. while
seeking to secure from an express Office
| a box containing the booty, which it is
said they shipped there TO their own
address, so as to avoid the danger OF
carrying it about their persons over
so long journey. How they came to
be discovered is one of the most re-
markable occurrences known in crimi-
nal records and reads more like a dime
novel detective story than recital OF
actual facts.
On the day of the burglary Mr. Bo-
gart left his home, corner Of Adams
avenue and Spruce street, at O'Clock
in the morning for his office in the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western sta
tion. His wife locked up the house al
o'clock and left to spend the day ir
Binghamton with her daughter, Mrs
George Fowler. Mr.. Bogart saw hel
off on the train and was given the key
of the house by his wife. He did no
go home for dinner or supper and wait
ed at the station until o'clock, thai
he might accompany Mrs. BOgar
home.
VALUABLES GONE.
When they reached their residence
about $50 o'clock, they discovered thai
! il had been broken into and abou