The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-08
VIRELLI FREES MAN ON WAY
 TO GALLONS
Unjustly Accused Prisoner, Held For Superior, Conrt, Cleared of Stigma of Crime
Special to The Farner.)

Special to The Fsarmer) Southington, Nov. 8--A frightful mis- carriage of justice that might have cost a human life the gaHows has l been prevented through the resource fulness of State Policeman Frank Vire1Ii. 4 man held for trial in the Superior court on what may prove to be charge of murder has been clear l ed of the stigma of crime. and the l guilty man has confessed. The real 1 culprit, arrested in Cleveland, has | been held for trial and the release of
 the wrongfualy imprisoned man has 1 been ordered.
 The unjustIy accused man, against whom not only circunsta ntial evi- dence, but a positive Identification I had been secured. is today being lion- and he is threatening to bring a suit l for heavy damages for false arrest. while two alleged accompaices of the
 man now held for trial also are lodged The crime was the shooting of John Lenkeyvitch, swelI-to-do farmer of
 day, Oct. 1s Lenkeyvitch is still 1iv- ing. in St. RaDhaeIs New Haven hos pital. but his condition is such that the charge of murder is likely to stand days. until the State police were call ed into the investigation, it was be- a. case
 esta abIshed against John Kronislzi, a Polish farm hand Of Southington, who
 was charged with the shooting. But thanks to VirelIi Kroniskf has estab- lfshed his innocence to the complete satisfaction of the authorities, though he has been under arrest a-1 held without bail for nearly a month. Lenkeyvftch encountered Kronfski l on his farm on Sunday, Oct. 6. Kron- iski was harvesting chestnuts. Lem ] keyyitch ordered him off his land. and T. al< fn suited. and it was reported that Kron- iski. who was elected, threatened to have. revenge
 The following Sunday afternoon Isenkeyvitch set out. from his home to patrol his farm against the inva- sion of chestnut gatherers. He failed search was instituted. He was found in a semi-conscious state, bleeding from two bullet wounds in the chest. He was rushed to the New Haven hospital in a critical condition Kit took the a,1thoritiess but a short time .to fasten suspdcion upon Kron-
 made go cd his reported threat of res venge, and quickly placed him under arrest, ushered him into the presence of the wounded man. and asked him 'Is this the man?''
 Feebly Lenkeyvitch nodded his head The police were satisfied Kronfsh town court. Though he brought many witnesses to prove an alibf. others testified to the threat, and to the iden- tification Of the prisoner by the yic- tim, and the evidence was considered strong y6 enough to warrant holding him for the Superior court From day to day it had been expected that the charge of murder would be entered against KronfsEi for the victim was in such critical shape that his death was at times expected almost momen- tarily.
 Friends of Kroniski were not resting idly. They insisted that he was un- justly imprisoned. clanored for his re 1eas on bail, and failing in this, de- manded of the authorities more com plete investigation of the shooting.
 Eventually Chief Egan of the State Police assiened State Policemen HIr- ley and Vire1lf to the shooting. With. in few hours they unearthed import ant clues indicating that Kroniski was the innocent victim of circumstances. They got information that three ItaI- ian cutters of - Southington had strangely vanished from the town. the day of the shooting, and his broth CT, Crespino Casale, and a friend, Dominic Maccio. had left on the fol- were chestnutting on Lenkeyvitcl1's s farm the ofternoon of the shooting and at once concluded they had some share in it.
 virel1i's knowledge of the Italian tongue enabled him to ascertain ad- dresses of friends of the three who we, were z. f. fellow san townsmen in Italy. in tiga ton of the Jennie Cava1ieri white slave murder case in . Bridgeport,
 nanded a Chicago investigation and he resolved to clear up both cases at once.
 He investigated the Chicago ad- heard from the Southington trio, then went to Cleveland. Eniisting a Cleve- three living in the same boarding house, and at 2:30 in the morning, while. they were asleep, the two de- tectives entered their home and took them completely unawares
 Completely off their guard the men were unable to offer resistance, and they were soon in the Cleveland po- lice station, Virelli had talks with the men separately and without much de lay obtained written confessions
 Atti1fo Casale admits that his broth l CT, Maccio and himself were ordered off by Lenkeyvitch, and they. refused l to go. The farmer said he would 1 eject them forcibly, and when he was l about to carry out his threat. Atti1io pulled his pistol and fired thrice. Two l bullets took effect. both puncturing l the lungs. and the third went wild.
 Virelli wanted to get home in time | to vote and so informed his chief | when he reported by phone his cap ture.
 s'Come ahead if you think you can handle all three alone,'' said Chief Egan.
 Virelli nanacled all three securely alone. At Albany Deputy Sheriff Mo Cabe of Southington met him, and ae- companied the prisoners and Virelli to Southington.
 They were taken into the presence of the wounded man who pointed out 1 Attilio as his asSailant and waiVing examination in the Southington court, were held on the charge of assault | with intent to murder, for which the charge of murder will be substituted in event of the death of Lenkeyvitch.