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

The trial of two unusually important
cases. the Olchefsk explosion and the
Bugart burglary We're begun yester-
day in criminal court, the former be-
fore Judge Archibald in the main court
room ana the latter before Judge Gun
ster in court room No. 2. 1t is likely
that neither case will last less than
three days and the Olchefski case Will
possibly continue even longer.
District Attorney Jones called the
Olchefski ease first. An oyer aud ter
miner jury was insisted upon, and it
was not until nearly o'clock in the
afternoon that twelve acceptable men
We're found. They are:
Joshua Doran. farmer, Covingtou.
john l.. Swartz. livc"yman. Dalton.
Edward Shick, stonemason, South Abng-
ton.
John V. Francis, miner Taylor.
y. + Robinson. farmer, Scott.
james NJ. Williams clerk Scranton.
Frank a. Bone. upholsterer, Scranton.
Harry Caskcy, clerk, Scranton.
Thomas p. Martin clerk, Moscow.
Henry Grottan. fireman, Scranton.
John Z. Owens. miner. Taylor.
Andrew II. Allen civil engineer Dun
more.
OlChefski is charged is arson. On the
morning of June 20, 1897, at about 1910.
a terrific explosion startled the South
Side and in fact made itself felt over
the entire city. II occurred in a large
two-story frame building. situated at
the corner of Pittston avenue and Elm
street, and owned by Mrs. Leon Oh
chefski 1t was occupied on the ground
NArtf sol tNI
Michalowsk and a general store, of
which Olchefski was proprietor. and on
the upper floor was q large hall used
for dances and society meetings.
BUILDING DEMOLISHED.
The force of the explosion completely
demolished the building and did eX-
tenSiye damage to adjoining property
breaking windows a block away and
tossing people out of their beds in the
houses Immediately adjacent
The ruins took fire and the flames
spread south and east. totally destroy
ing the property of Michael O'Hara
which adjoined on Prospect avenue
and the OlChefski dwelling house, tC
The rear on Elm street, in which Oh
chefski. MichalOwski and Daniel Ian.
gOwski lived with their respective fam.
lilies.
After the first survey of the situation
there was no question in the minds OF
the authorities but that crime hat
been committed and before the end OF
the following day suspicion pointed Sc
strongly 10 Olchefski that he was ar,
rested.
He denied all knowledge of how the
thing occurred and could offer no eX
planation as TO what could have caused
it.
He stated 10 Chief Hickey. of the fir,
department. and Chief Of Police Rob
ling that he went to bed at o'clocl
and was awakened from his sleep by
the explosion. He pulled on his trous
ers and ran out of the house by tn,
rear door. As he came out into tn,
yard he was knocked down and pin
ioned by the falling walls. He wa
badly bruised and the flames scorcheC
his hair and face and he thought H.
would be burned to death with tn
debris, but by superhuman effort h,
succeeded in releasing himself and thel
went and rescued his family.
PLACED UNDER ARREST.
The fact that Olchefski was Il
-'AN stlbOil dt lu.ou, ltldI TN
furniture rescued from his burninj
dwelling was dripping with kerosene
that his stockings We're likewise sat
urated; that he had told several par
ties he kept dynamite in the store an
later denied having told this togethe
with various other minor suspicion
circumstances forced the conclusion
that he was guilty. AT 3 o'clock in tn
afternoon, when a Tribune reporte
discovered goods, such as perfumer
and fancy articles, concealed in Ol
chefski's barn, the, police forthwith
caused the SUSPECTS arrest.
He was given a hearing before Al
dernan Miliar and held to bail I
answer at court. The case has bee
down for trial at several sessions, bu
through various causes was continue
from time to time until yesterday, ,whe
the commonwealth had everythln
- ready and elected 20 proceed to trial.
District Attorney Jones is conduct
ing the prosecution unaided. Fire Chic
Hickey appears as prosecutor Olchef
ski Is represented by Attorneys C. +
Oliver, John F. Scragg and John /
Kelly.
At o'clock Mr.. Jones began hi