The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-31
TO ANSWER FOR
NOVAK'S MURDER
Mike Kokut VIII Be Placed on Trial for
His Life Today.
BRIEF STORY OF THE KILLING
kokut, 1t Is Said, Was Injured In a
Free Fight and an Hour Later in
a Spirit of Revenge Assaulted
Novak with a Other
Cases That Are to Come Up During
the Present session--specIal Com-
mon Pleas Session.

Today Mike Kokut will be arraigned
in criminal court to answer for the
death of Andrew Novack, whose skull
was fractured in melee at Priceburg,
Aug. 81, 1897, and who died from the
injury in the Lackawanna hospital two
months later.
1t was pay night and a crowd of men
We're gathered al the house of one John
Kazmaritas, drinking and carousing.
A fight broke out and for a time there
was an uproarious scene in the back
yard, where the crowd had repaired to
fight it out. Kokut, the accused, was
pretty badly used up in the fight, one
of his hands being severely lacerated,
presumably from knife thrust.
An hour or so after the fight was
over, Novack was standing in front of
Kazmaritas' house, with his back
against the fence. Kokut came out of
the house, glared at Novack for a mo-
ment and then picking up a large stone,
rushed at him and battered him over
the head with it.
Nearly a month passed before the
case came to the notice of the author
tiles. Priceburg doctors attended him
for month and then, at their advice,
he was taken to the Lackawanna hos
pitaL 1t was given out at first that he
had received the injury from a fall of
coal in the mines. After being brought
to the hospital the true story developed
and County Detective Leyshon set to
work on the case.
NUMBTR OF ARRESTS.
Four or five of the men who were at
the house ON the night of the assault
We're arrested. They would not tell
which was the guilty man and it looked
for time as if there was going to be
great difficulty in getting at the bottom
of the case. A relative of one of the
prisoners, however, gave the whole
| story to the detective. and once in pos
| session of a witness to corroborate No
vack's own statement the rest was
| easy. Kokut was committed to Jail tc
| await trial and the others were held
| to bail as witnesses.
| What defense Kokut will offer has
not been made public. His attorney is
| William Vokolek.
A number of other important cases
are set down for trial during the present
two weeks session. The Fenton burglar.
| are down in the list for trial today
| Tax Collector Boland's cases, the cases
| dt7hillSL lllc DdllGll SlolSIS, "IO TODDtC
! clotheslines and committed other thefts
| on the hill" and the cases agains
Alderman J. j. Kelly are on tomorrow's
list; sixteen shoplfting cases are down
| for Wednesday, and on Thursday young
| Haendiges and Mclean are to answer
for six burglaries committed in cen
trail city stores. Next weeks list i!
| headed by the Olchefski arson case
! JUDGES WHO WILL PRESIDE.
During the first week Judge Gunster
| will preside in court room No. anC
Judge Edwards in No. 2. Next weel
Judge Archibald will be in No. anC
Judge Gunster in No. ..
Today will also commence the frs
of the special sessions arranged to try
Traction company cases. They will b,
| heard in the Superior court room be
| fore Judge Albright. of Lehigh county