The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-12
BEFORE JUDGE KELLY.

BEFORE JUDGE KELLY.
p j. Mesestt, sixteen-year-o
Bellevue boy was convicted of the
charge of disturbing public worship,
preferred by Rev. W. p. O'Donnell
pastor of Holy Cross church. The con-
gregation of this church has suffered
no end of annoyance from mischievous
boys, and finally. when one of their
pranks nearly caused "a panic, it was
determined to prosecute them
Young Messett and II companion.
named David Riggs. on the morning of
Sunday. January 90 1901. while Rev.
Father ODonnell was preaching,
opened the church door and one of
them, Messett. yelled "inurder!" at the
top of his voice. The congregation was
greatly startled. and it was only the
| reassuring words of Father ODonnell
that prevented Il panic.
Mesestt and Riggs We're discovered
to be the perpetrators of the deed, and
placed under arrest. Riggs professed a
sincere repentance and received appro-
pirate chastSement from his parents.
The prosecution against him was ac-
cordingly dropped. Young Messett
showed a disposition TO fight the thing
portunity
Three boys who were with MeSestt
and Riggs. William Herrity. Louis
Davern and Hubert Feeney, testified
that Riggs and Mesestt ascended the
steps of the church and one of them
shouted "murder!" after which they
| ran away. Feeney further testified that
he heard Riggs suggest it to Mesestt,
n nd NasSatt n f,it b..
gestion.
The defense admitted that the boys
| opened the church door--to see if
church was out-and that some one
| passing by yelled "murder.'
John T.. Regan and James May. two
prominent members of the congrega-
ton, testified that Father O'Donnelrs
voice is of such volume that it can be
| heard outside the church when he ls
preaching.
The jury recommended the young
culprit to extreme mercy. He will be
sentenced later. Attorney John +.
Murphy defended him.
Joseph Milcarish. "A county Jail pris-
oner. took French leave while work
ing in the rear of the county Jail April
), a few days before his twenty day
| term for drunkenness would expire.
| and was recaptured. II. +. Fcrbcr, the
guard from whom he escaped, appeared
| against him yesterday to press IL
charge of escaping from Jail. Milcarish
plead guilty, and was sentenced to four
| months Imprisonment.
The absence of an important witness
prevented the commonwealth from
making out the case it had prepared
| against Lucy Easily, charged by her
| mother with theving, and Il verdict of
not guilty resulted.
The girl worked for a neghbor, Mrs.
James Davis. of Jackson street. She
brought to her mother a pair of cuff
| buttons, which she alleged was given
her as Il present by Mrs. Davis sister.
The mother investigated. found that
the buttons belonged to her daughters
employer, and proceeded to have the
daughter arrested. with a view of send
ing her to a reformatory The girl yes
terday persisted in her story that her
employers sister gave her the buttons,
ana as the sister was too i'll to appear,
IL verdict of not guilty resulted.
BY direction of Judge Kelly, a Ver-
dict of not guilty was returned in the
receiving stolen goods case against
George Deter, Il West Side boy, who
attempted to dispose of Il watch pur-
chased from another boy, Arthur Hal
derman. who stole it from the home of
John H. Williams, of Ninth street,
where he was occasionally employed to
do chores. There was no evidence at
hand to show that Deter had knowl-
edge of the fact that the watch WAS
stolen, ahd District Attorney Lewis
consented to have IL verdict of not
guilty taken. Halderman was tried
later for the theft and returned not
guilty. on the ground of insanity. Hal
dernan's parents testified that their
boy sustained an injury to his head
when he was two years old and that he
has ever since been OF weak mind. He
viii likely be sent to some corrective
institution.
The ctse of Alice Wall, charged by
her mo,7ler-i Bridget Wall. with
assault and battery, was amicably set
tied The costs We're placed on the
county.
Kate WySCavitts, of Seventh street
aid not appear to prosecute the charge
OF assault and battery she preferred
against her husband, and IA verdict of
not guilty, county to pay the costs, was
directed to he entered.
Alex. Levan and Dominick ShOpeski,
charged with setting fire TO timber
lands owned by the Scranton Gas and
Water company. failed To respond when
called and suffered forfeiture of their
bail.
The case of Angelic Mecca. charged
by Antonio Carvello with selling liquor
without license, was continued until
Friday, because of the defendants
counsel, Charles T.. Daniels. being en-
gagged in the prosecution of the murder
trial.
Al adjomning time, Judge Kelly was
engaged in the trial of the case of
William Petrokus, who is charged With
having embezzled $73.0S while treas
urer of the st. Stanislaus Lithuanian
Beneficial society of Providence.
BEFORE JUDGE CARPENTER.
What the defense claims was an
idle remark, resulted in John Werner
OF Jessup, being arraisned yesterday
on charge of arson, preferred by
his former landlord, IL. b, Matthew
son.
April % last the landlord had his
tenant sold out for rent. Werner, ac-