The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-11-02
WAYNE COUNTY
COMMON PLEAS


COMES TO AN END SATURDAY
MORNING - TWELVE CASES
DISPOSED OF-DISTRICT AT
TORNEY CONGRATULATED ON
GOOD WORK.
Friday Morning.
The first item of business at the
opening of the Friday morning ses-
sion of court was the charge to the
jury in the Lake Lodore case. Judge
Searle thought that all foreigners
coming to this country should be
made to realize that this is land
of liberty but not of lawlessness and
license" The charge to the jury was
interrupted for a few minutes so that
two of the defendants could be
brought over from Jail.
The case of the Commonwealth VS.
Joe Kowasch charged with attempt
at rape, and with assault and battery
was the first one called, District At
torney NJ. e. Simons appearing for
the prosecution and Chester A. Gar
ratt, Esq, appearing for the defend
ant.
The following jurors were selected
to try the case: Aaron Goble, Pau
pack; Charles Cramer, Paupack; JEFF
Hoover, Lake; George Schweisinger,
Texas; Fred Rowe, Palmyra; George
Bryant, South Canaan; Alva A.
Seely, Dyberry; Daniel Acker, Da-
mascus; j. Owen Oliver, Berlin; o..
E. Burrus, Salem; Charles Edwards,
Dreher; NJ. W. Fitzpatrick, Mount
Pleasant
Constable Fred W. Short, the pros
ecutor, was the first witness called
for the prosecution, and testified to
the events connected with the alleged
case. He told of the alleged offense
which occurred during the absence
of himself and wife from home.
Emma Gibson, of Farview, a bright
little thirteen-year-old girl whose
dresses only reached to her knees,
was called to the witness stand and
described the alleged assault. She
testified to living at the home of
Constable Short, and to being en-
gagged in washing dishes alone in the
kitchen, when Kowasch came to the
house. She was unable to answer
the question, as to what state she
lived in.
Mrs. Fred Short was another wit
ness who told of the absence of her
self and husband from home on the
day of the offense, gathering chest
nuts, and of how the little girl came
running, frightened, to tell her all
about it.
John Myers, another witness, also
testified. His English was rather
broken, and while he said he was in
the parlor adjoining the kitchen at
the time Kowasch was there, he
seemed to be more concerned with
L.. ;rr rlo
than to paying any attention to what
was going on in the next room at
the time.
positively identified Joe Kowasch as
her assailant.
Joe Kowasch was called as the first
witness for the defense. The ser
vices of Paul Olszefski as interpreter
were requisitioned.
The jurors in the case of theLake
Lodore riot case filed into the court
room at this time. Their verdict, at
the suggestion of Judge Searle, was
divided into two parts. 1t was to
the effect that 1--WE find Paul Shudis
and Samuel Powell guilty of larceny
attic not guilty" Also I'VE find all
Adamaitie) guilty of riot, assault and
battery"
Kowasch testified to having a wife
in the old country, and to being in
America about four years. He stated
that he couldn't say word in Eng
lish. His account OF the affair was
to the effect that he merely gave the
child five cents at Myers suggestion,
and patted her on the shoulder.
An interesting feature of the cross
examination Of the district attorney
was the revelation by the prisoner
of how he had obtained whiskey at
a hotel in Waymart on Sunday morn
ing at o'clock Several questions
failed to bring out just where the
-'firewater" was purchased.
Constable Fred Short was recalled.
He told of the trouble he and anoth-
er man had in bringing Kowash to
Honesdale. II seemed Kowash could
speak English then for he told them
"Mebbe | go Honesdale get hung"
John jenkins, who worked at Far
view on the same job with Kowash
testified to the effect that the de-
fendant could speak English Jen-
kins helped Short bring him to jail
He stopped us and wanted to get out.
'Ho, Mr.. you get rope, hang me to
tree" he said. Jenkins and Short
told him well take you down to
Honesdale to get hung" He under
stood English well enough to threat
en- Jenkins "Me ketch you to Scran-
ton some day" s.-- q
John Myers being recalled denied
telling Kowsch to give little Emma
Gibson any money
In addressing the Jury both at
torneys pointed out that 1t was an
unfortunate case. The Judge charg-
ed the jury.
Prisoners Sentenced.
The prisoners were brought into
court Saturday morning by Sheriff
nj. Lee Braman. The first one called
up for sentence was Joe Kowasch.
Judge Searle reminded the prisoner
of his delinquencies in the past, tell
ing him how he had five times tried
TO commit rape near Forest City
You are a bad man." said the
Judge, "a very bad man. You know
that?" (Kowasch at his trial swore