New Britain herald., 1915-10-06
ELEVEN TELL HOW.
 REWARD WASEARNED
Knotty Problem for Judge Futile
 to Untangle

JuuSG JOS6pII oIIiC cNJoNA iiSN>
 the hearing. of the claimants for the
 reward in the Zebris murder case
 until Friday morning at Il o'clock at
 the close of yesterdays hearing, hav-
 ing heard claims of eleven of the
 thirteen who seek the rewards. At
 the opening of the afternoon session
 at 2 o'clock, Chief of Police George
 Black of Wilmington police force took
 the stand. He told of the capture of
 Krakas and Montvid in Wilmington
 on Saturday, March 6, and how the
 police were warned of the presence
 of the men through Adolph Market,
 the loan office proprietor on Market
 street. His testimony went to show
 that Interpreter Malinowski's work
 in the case was largely supplementary
 and followed the arrests by the Will
 mington officers. Chief Black main-
 tained that John Pieruszka, the Polish
 court interpreter of the municipal
 court in Wilmington, gave him his
 first tip as to the real identity of the
 men, which caused him to send out
 circulars describing them and the
 goods found on them. He followed this action with the Monday morning telegram to the New Britain police.
 Chief Black also refused to give Mr.
 Ma1inowski credit for obtaining the
 confession from Montvid at New castle county workhouse. He said he received word from the workhouse that Mondvid was ready to talk and invited the New Britain party, which included MT. Malinowski and Captain Hurley of the state police, to accom- thorn tn hn bn MnIir- owski acted as interpreter on this oc- casion, but the chief claimed that the confession was made to no individual, all having hand in hearing it. He said he objected to Malinowski con- ducting the conversation in Lithunian as Montvid could talk English
 Through a pawn ticket which he obtained from one Of the men he got track of their steallngs in Philadel- phia, sending an officer to that city to redeem the watches. This infor- nation was given the New Britain authorities and one of the watches was brought to Hartford and used as evidence in the trial or Mondvid. Chief Black testified that he had aided at the trial in Hartford and had se- cured the presence of Wilmington wit nesses at the trial. He felt that his department was entitled to the re- wards and stated that it had lost heavily in capturing the men, one officer having lost his life and three others having been wounded. Two of the latter have since been unfit for service.
 Chief Black was questioned by At torney General Wolcott regarding the work of Market, the pawnbroker, in connection with the case. He said Market furnished the information leading to the arrest of the men and indentified Montvid as one of the men who attempted to pawn watches at his shop although Mont vid had denied any knowledge of Kra- kas.
 Judge Gaffney asked Chief Black when he first learned that Krakas and Montvid were connected with the crime in New Britain. He replied Monday when the Polish court inter- preter called his attention to his sus- picions. He admitted that no con- fessions were obtained until after the arrival of the New Britain contin- gent. Judge Gaffney brought out that Chief Black had been paid $232.42 for services in connection with the trial of Montvid, but the chief claimed that this sum covered expenses of witnesses. Questioned by Judge Klett as to whether Stan ley Yasik, the Polish undertaken, had not furnished him with a first clue leading to the identity of the men, Chief Black admitted that Yasik had given information, but would not ad- init that it was vital. He denied making a statement to a reporter of the Wilmington Journal that Yasik gave the first clue. Judge Klett has g. copy of the paper in which this statement appeared.
 Chief Black was asked by Judge Futile his opinion as to the value of some of the Wilmington claims men, tioning several. The officer thought Adolph Market, the pawnbroken, was entitled to some reward. He denied the claim of R. H. Washington, the former Wilmington police officer, he claimed this officer made conflicting statements and in response to Judge Klett's accusation that he held a grudge against Washington the chief denied this. He said Washington was dismissed from the force after the judge of the court had refused to take his testimony on the ground that he could not believe him. The reason he did not summon Washing ton on the request of Detective Bam- forth was because the former police man had left Wilmington and was a fugitive on a charge of non-support, being later arrested on that charge in Philadelphia.
 The chief admitted that Walter J. Weir of Wilmington has assisted in capturing Montvid, but denied the claim of Charley Gray. He admit ted that Malilowski's help had been of assistance, but in the case of Robert F. Manlnye said all ha Lnaur