Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-08-06

RUSSIANS ACQUITTED.
Charged with Murder Of George esr-
dst. . Pole, In Bethel, June -.
In Windsor County Court on Monday
afternoon of last week the Bethel homi-
eide case was taken upstate vs.. Toney
Menck, Toney Bulky, Joe Bulky and
George Remaiko, charged with having,
on June IA last, killed one George Bar
dak. The special grand jury called last
month to investigate the matter found q
true bill against :he respondents, charg-
ing murder in the second degree, and the
case was assigned for trial.
In anticipation Of numerous disqualifi-
cations, sixteen additional jurors were in
attendance, but the einpanelling CT jury
was an easy matter and in less than an
hour q jury was secured, composed OF the
following gentlemen ALBERT NJ. Curtis,
Geo. J. Robinson, Woodstock; Henry p.
Shattuck, Weston; Eugene Heating, Lud-
low II. s. Britton, Hartland; DIR. ID. L.
Herrick, Chester; Orison J.. Taylor, Hor-
alto f. Luce, Bridgewater; VIM. c. Bliss,
Benz. p. Wood, Hartford; John C. Kim
ball, Sharon; Carlos w. johnson, Plym-
outh.
torney General Fits prosecuted; Wallace
n. BatcLeider and Charles Batchelder de-
Tended.
The following is synopsis OF the evi-
dence in the trial.
John Bardak--Lives in Bethel and
works at the tannery; brother of the
man who was killed; his name was
George Bardak, aged 20. On Sunday,
nv nh hol fue In he
afternoon, IL of US from the tannery and
four that worked on the quarry, all Pol
scks, went to the quarry district, about
four miles from the village; went to the
house Of Joe Bodksyitch. known as Joe
Birdcage; we had q fiddle and clarinet for
music, and keg of beer; we played the
music, and drank beer, and had a good
time. During the afternoon we saw at
Guys store, opposite Birdcage's, some
six or seven Russians, including the four
prisoners. Along in the afternoon. the
Polish fellows began to go home; by
eight o'clock, all had gone but myself
and my brother, Toney Kraftski and Joe
Lahjak, called ssBig joel" we four started
last along the track for home; we had
only gone . little way when we saw
someone following us; we stopped and
turned around, and my brother asked the
Russians what they followed rs for, but
they made no answer; it was about
O'Clock; we walked towards the Russians
to know what they followed Us for.
Then one OF the Russians says, "Come
and kill all the Polacks,' and ran at us
with sticks; we ran away and they chased
Us. Toney Kraftski was ahead and ran
first, then came and then big Joe and
then my brother. The Russians got my
hrcS tsop nd 4 hos fr,,.
know what Russian it was. threw q
stone then at the Russians, hitting my
brother; my brother ran on one side to
the woods, then some OF the Russians ran
at Big Joe and me; they hit me in the
back with q stick and ] kept running;
Big Joe Was back of me; 1 heard them
hitting him. Then l ran in the woods
and in the morning went home. Later
my brother was brought home badly
hurt; he was put TO bed and the doctor
called; my brother died the next Friday
morning.
John Lahjak-was with the party that
went to Birdcage's house. Che witness
then related in substance about what the
previous witness had stated as to occur
rences at Birdcage's). We started to go
home on the track, four OF US; some one
said, "The Russians follow u.s." George
Bardak asked them what they wanted;
they said nothing, but had sticks and
ran at us, so we turned to run away and
they after us; we ran together at first,
then each q separate way, the Russians fol-
lowing the last of us. / was hit on the
head by q stick by one of the Russians
(shows scar on his head). / saw some of
them hurting George Bardak, and he ran
into the woods; ran into the woods the
<<sk~ 81 I'D /. bod 81 Anr
thing to the Russians at all. l recog-
nized among the Russians who attacked
us, Toney Menck and the two BuIkys.
Joe and Toney. 1 got home the next
Toney Kraftski-One OF the four who
last left the Birdcage place, corro-
borated the story of the two preceding
witnesses; this witness did not see much
OF the fight or attack; witness Was ahead
of the four Polacks and when the Rus
SLAMS ran at the party, witness ran along
the track and did not see much OF what
occurred but heard the Russians hitting
someone behind the witness; saw three
behind him scatter and &C, different ways
towards the woods, pursued by the Rus
SLAMS armed with sticks; recognized the
two Bulkys and Toney Menck as in the
attacking party; went right home and
got home that night.
DIR. o. v. Greene-Told in surgical par
lance the nature ahd extent OF the In
juries OF the dead man, which, interpret
ed, meant that the man had . fracture OF
the skull above the left ear; the left arm
broken in two places, and evidence Of Q
severe blow on the back. Death was I'M
doubtedly caused by the injury to the
head, and the formation of blood clot
therefrom getting onto the brain.
Tophelia Bodkavitch-Known rs Mrs.
Birdcage; was at home Sunday, June
18th; about 20 Polacks came in the after
noon; had Q fiddle and clarinet; played
music and danced some; had key of
beer, and they drank 1t all up before
evening. About 8 o'clock the Poiacks
left the house in body; they returned
soon; saw them coming and asked what
they wanted; they said it wasn't my bust
ness, what they wanted they would
show then they threw stones ut the party
of Russians tLithuanians) in front OF
Guys store; there were six or seven Rus
SLAMS, including the four prisoners. One
OF them told the Polscks they better go