Middletown transcript., 1903-10-17
OUTRAGED And
MURDERED
Mary Kosikoski, Aged Thir-
teen Years, Found Dead in
a Ditch in Wilmington
FRANK SMITH UNDER

having Deen assaulted and then tossed
into ditch to try to conceal evidences
OF the atrocious crime, the body of thir-
teen-year r-old Mary Kosikoski, an attrac-
tive little Polish girl of No. 1923 Bradford
street, South Wilmington, was discovered
Monday morning by Clarence Spencer, a
workman. In the afternoon Frank
Smith, Polander, who is blue jacket
on one of Uncle Sans cruisers, was ar
rested by Detective Ratledge on suspi-
cion OF committing the assault and then
hurting the girl into the water to give
the affair the appearance of accidental
drowning. Smith came to Wilmington
recently on leave of absence of a few
days, and the fact that on Sunday he
was but few yards from where the MUIR
dered girl lives, and his past unfavorable
record, caused the detectives to pounce
upon him as the alleged assailant.
Held Without Bail
On charge of felonious assault Smith
was taken in city court Monday night,
and was arraigned He pleaded not
guilty and his case was continued until
Monday evening next, without bail. No
evidence was taken in the case, the pro-
ceeding being merely commitment on
the one charge, which is the forerunner
ofanother of murder that may be entered
against him. He was taken back to
cell to await his further hearing.
There was christening in South Will
mlngton Sunday night, at the home of
Polish family three doors from the Kosi-
koski home, and while her parents were
at the festivities, where there was an
abundance of beer, little Mary played
around. At seven o'clock her father,
Frank Kosikoski, gave her a piece of cake
and she fastened further up the street to
prepare meal for sick neighbor. After
ten o'clock, when the christening cele-
bratlon was waning, the father missed
Mary, but thinking she was sleeping at
the home of one of the neighbors, he re-
tired with no fears of her safety.
Shortly after five o'clock Monday
morning he was aroused to be told that
the girls body had been found by Spen-
Ger as he was on his way to the Lobdell
Car Wheel works. The ditch into which
the body was thrown is at the foot of B
street, about 100 feet from the new NAL
leable iron plant and about two hundred
yards from the Kosikoski home. There
is an embankment skirting the ditch, and
on this the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
company has siding.
The girls body lay in three feet of
water, but she was in such position
that her head rested against the shore,
and just above the surface of the stream.
Her underclothing was gathered about
her feet, and part of this floating toward
the surface and the upturned face of the
drowned girl made the ghastly spectacle
that confronted Spencer as he was walk
ing leisurely to his work at the river
front.
Spencer sought the police and resi-
dence in the neighborhood were aroused.
They Immediately recognized the lifeless
form as that of Mary Kosikoski, general
favorite in the uncouth Polish commun-
ity. The body was removed to the girls
home not far away, where an expert ex-
animation was made by physicians later
in the day.
Parents Frustrated
When notified of the finding of the
body Mr.. and Mrs. Kosikoski, parents of
the ravished girl, were about prostrated
with grief, the mother especially, moan
ing like mad woman all day, and refus-
ing the comforting advances of neighbors.
Chief of Police Black, and Detectives
Francis and Ratledge, with many police-
men, Immediately began an Investigation
of the crime, and found but little evil
dence of struggle about the embank-
ment where the body was found. The
cinders showed no signs of scuffie. but
a side comb and safety pin that had
been worn by the girl were found short
distance away from the spot where she
was found.
The fact that there we're no marks of
violence on the girl led the police to be-
lieve that the assault was committed
near her home, and that her body was
carried to the ditch and there thrown
down the embankment. They believe
that the girl was unconscious after being
and was in that condition when
she was hurled into the water.
Smith at Christening
With the aid of Patrolman Jakubowski,
a Polish officer, the detectives learned of
the christening party, and getting list
of the guests they say they found that
Frank Smith, the blue jacket, was in the
party. Patrolman Jakubowski remem-
bered that Smith had a record, which he
impaired to the detectives, and they de-
termined to arrest the sailor on suspicion,
at any rate. Later in the day they
gathered few bits of information that
strengthened their suspicious toward
Smith.
In the afternoon at 230 O'Clock he was
'ound by Detective Ratledge, who was ac-
by Officer Jakubowski, in
pool room on Market street near Front.
He was attired in the regulation uniform
If blue jacket, and his cap bore the
inscription ''U. s. S. Nevada" Recently
smith says he has been on a torpedo boat.
he was accused by Chief of Police Black
md by Detective Ratledge of having as-
aulted the girl and then throwing her
nto the water to conceal the original
rhine, but he denied the accusations Wig
'rously. He was somewhat surly and
allied Chief of Police Black "liar' when
confronted with the charge. Smith was
,laoed in special cell on the second
loor, and no charge was entered against
Tim on the docket until late in the alters
loon.