The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-15

The twelve days difference in the
Gregorian and Julian calendars fig
ured prominently in the defense of an
important case in criminal court yes
terday.
Mike lIosh, a young Russian from
the province of Galicia, in what is
known as Red Russia, was on trial be-
fore Judge Kelly on the charge of
placing distractions on the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western tracks with
intent to wreck Il train.
The principal witness for the prosecu-
tion was Frank Jones, u switchman,
testified that on Wednesday, November
20, 1901 at midnight, he saw the de-
fendant place something on the track,
about $50 feet north of the West Lacka-
wanna avenue crossing. He hurried to
the spot and discovered several large
burrs or nuts on the rail. Kosh and
his companions had gone on their way,
but Jones succeeded in overtaking
them.
He caught Kosh by the arm with the
intention of arresting him, but kosh S
companions interefered and Jones let
him go, with the intention of having
him arrested later on Il warrant. Al
terwards Jones found more burrs and
a bolt on the track some distance far
ther UP. A passenger train passed by
five minutes later
The next day, Jones says, he saw
Kosh pass by again and following
him learned that he worked i'll the
Mt. Pleasant breaker The next day,
in company with an officer, Jones
watched for Kosh and when he came
along placed him under arrest.
ENTERED A DENIAL.
Kosh admitted he passed the point
in question on Monday at noon, but
he and the four men who were with
him denied that he placed anything
on the tracks. That he passed there
the next day was absolutely denied
by all five. The next day was st.
| NIichaels Day, they declared, and all
of them, being Greek Catholics, re-
Trained from working and attended
| church.
| If this was true, it would go a great
ways towards tliscrediting Jones iden-
ttication of Kosh. District Attorney
| Lewis recognized this fact and cast
| about for some way of contradicting 1t.
| \ Lithuanian prayer book, containing
| Il church calendar, was secured ana
| offered in evidence to show that 81.
| Michael's Day does not fall on NoNem-
| Der u. The attorney for the DEFENSE
! Joseph +. Gilroy, at this Juhcture
| called attention to the fact that the
| defendant and his companions are Gal
| icians, and members of the orthodox
Greek church which uses the Gregorian
| calendar, and as the prayer book Of
| fered in evidence conforned to the
| Julian calendar it was not evidence.
| The prosecution withdrew the offer
| Judge Kelly delivered a lengthy and
very carefully Worded charge to the
Jury because of the seriousness of the
| offense. The maximum penalty is Il
| fine of $4,000 and ten years imprison-
ment The jury was one of the four
| that We're out at adjournment time.
JENNINGS ON TRIAL.
| One of the street car strikers, James
Jennings, of the Seventh ward, was
committed before Judge Edwards of
| committing assault and battery on
| Harry Mclaughlin, of Dunmore, who
had the temerity to ride on a car to n
| ball in St. Johns hail. on Capouse ave-
nue., Christmas eve.
The prosecution presented the testi-
mony of Mclaughlin and the two la
| dies who accompanied him, Miss Logan
and Miss Toohll. They admitted they
had been guilty Of riding on the car,
! When they entered the dance hall, they
| noticed they We're being made the OBJ
| iects of some attention, and before
they had been there long, they We're
| hissed and greeted with opprobrious
names. While demands We're made in
loud tones they be put out.
| Mclaughlin and his ladies left the
| hall. As they were going out they