The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-09-20
SAM MCGOWAN IS
SOME LAWYER

Defense OF Foreigner Accused OF
Murder at Philadelphia Navy Yord.
The following taken from the Phil
adelphia Inquirer of Sept. IA will be
Of interest to the many friends of
Pay Inspector Sam McGowan:
In concluding session of court
martial, which for the past eight days
has been trying Private John j.
Walcyzkowski for the death on July
20, at League Island, of Private AL
bert Smith, both of the United States
Marine Corps, it was revealed yester-
day that friends Of the dead man at
tempted to lynch the accused mur-
derer.
After Smith, declared to have been
the aggressor in a fight, had fallen to
the ground at the navy yard, with a
fractured skull and had died before he
could be treated by surgeons, friends
Of the marine according to the testi-
mony, hurried the Pole toward build
ing, shouting that they intended to
run moose around his neck and throw
him from window.
officers hearing the commotion rails
ed by the men, rushed to them and
quickly took into custody the marine,
while the guard at the Broad street
gate turned out in double quick or
der and dispelled the agitated soldiers.
Sentiment Ran High.
Since the death of Smith sentiment
among the men had been running
high against the defendant. However,
in presenting the case to the Board
of Court Martial, Pay Director Sam
uel MCGOWAN, of the local naval pay
office, brought out expert testimony
that Smith had an abnormally form
ed skull. 1t was only sixteenth of
an inch thick. Witnesses declared that
WalcyZkowski, who was defending
himself from the aggressive tactics of
Smith, had given the latter a slight
push. Smith lost his balance and fell
to the ground, the fall splitting the
liih DOlc vi lllc Dhull.
The court martial, asserted at the
navy yard to have been one of the
most hotly contested in the country
for years, aroused widespread inter
est. Prominent Poles throughout the
country, learning of the plight of
Walcyzkowski through visit the lat
ter's father had paid to the yard,
made earnest efforts to have him
freed Of the charges.
The defendants father, an invalid,
unable to work, had come to this city
to ask his son to leave the Marine
Corps and return to Chicago, where
he could provide and care for his par
ents and several sisters and brothers.
Arriving at the yard, the elder Wal
cyzkowski learned his son was under
an indictment for murder
Pay Director MCGOWAN, declared
one Of the best-informed authorities
upon military law in any branch of
the government service, volunteered
to defend the Pole. Officers Of both
the navy and army were anxious for
him to give his services, for it has
been realized that many Poles have
been enlisting recently in both branch
es and were proving to be efficient
sailors and soldiers.
Paper Wad DETECTED.
So able was the defense OF Director
MCGOWAN that the sentiment against
Walcyzkowski was shifted when it
was testified that the Pole had thrown
paper wad at another marine, but
that 1T had deviated from it's source
and landed lightly upon Smiths face.
The latter, angered, shouted that he
would permit no foreigner to strike
him. He rushed at the Pole and the
alter gave him a shove, causing the
antagonistic marine to fall.
"Walcyzkowski," said Director Nc
Gowan, following the characteristics
OF his race Is Of q quiet disposition
He meant no harm The men were
seated about the lawn after evening
mess, Joking and talking. The missile
was thrown only in joke and Smith
man with an abnormal skull, lost
his temper and fractured his skull
when the defendant legally resisted an
attack upon his person."
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