Evening journal., 1915-03-15
KRAKUS, INDICTED FOR TIERNEY
MURDER, REFUSES TO ENTER PLEA;
COURT FIXES TRIAL FOR MONDAY
Crowd in Court Room Sees Sulking Prisoner Brought
Into Dock and Refuse TO Answer Serious Charge.
David J. Reinfardt is Assigned to Defend
Alleged Slayer---POIice Guard Entrances
to Building, But Order is Maintained
ASKS COURT, THROUGH INTERPRETER,
TO SEND FOR HIS SISTER"

II was 1907 o'clock this morning
when Chief Justice James Ponnewill,
Judge Henry c. Conrad and Judge
William c. Boyce entered the county
courtroom to open Oyer and Terml-
per Court in special session for the
trial of Peter Krakus. alias John Mel
ba charged with the murder Of
Francis Y. Tierney. police officer, at
Sixth and Market streets. on Saturday.
March 6. Police officers we're stationed
both outside and inside the building.
Early justice moved swiftly IN the
case. Within two hours after the al
legged murderer entered the building he
had been indicted ON a charge OF Staying
officer TierUcy, and his trial fixed for
next Monday. The accused refused 20
enter plea David 4. Reinhardt was
assigned by the court to defend the
prisoner.
Crowd Sees PrisnOer.
Kralsus was brought to the Court
House from the workhouso by Ser
geant Wardle. Warden Crawford and
Workhouse Guard Parkhill. AS the
automobile bearing the prisoner and
the officials drew up before the King
street entrance OF the building, the
crowds OF men and boys who had
stood for an hour before the building.
surged up 10 the machine. CHIEF
Black. who had arrived on the scene
/ carly. took charge. and with four
patrolmen on duty there. the crowd
was forced back
AS Krakus started TO walk to tho
steps leading TO the entrance. it was
seen that he limped slightly. The
mans hands were handcuffed in front
of him and he walked between War
den Crawford and Sergeant Wardie
AS he walked slowly toward the steps
and into the building. KralSus' eyes
kept rowing TO and fro as If he wal
expecting violence. The alleged mur
derer wore the overcoat and plusl
hat he wore Saturday week. when h
killed the officer and wounded OIL
GERS Sharpless. Mcdaniel and Scott.
Court lnstructs Jury.
After the judges took their seat o
o the bench the members of the gran
= jury filed into their seats About tina
time kralius was brought TO the oific
, Of Attorney General Josiah o. VOL
colt. on the second floor of the build
ing Then the rush for seats in th'
courtroom began. The audience hlle,
the 16S seats in few minutes and
row OF men, three deep. stood arounc
the room.
krakus Makes Statement.
On arriving at the Office Of Attor
4 ney General Wolcott Krakus was
placed in a chair between two officers
and when questioned he mumblet
| some unintelligible words. II was
finally decided TO secure an interpret
en- and Joseph r. Emory was called
! Mr. Emory tried to speak TO Kraku!
i'm the Polish tongue and then in IN,
Russian language. but his efforts wer,
Of no avail. II was finally decided tC
secure some one who could talk tho
Lithuanian tongue. Miss Waleryi
Putczkus. daughter of grocer a
Third and Lombard streets. was sen
for. When the young woman arrived
and tried TO talk to the prisoner h'
still refused TO speak. After severa
efforts he finally said:
"They got them and they could no
get out Of e." He spoke in The
Lithuanian tongue.
CHIEF of Police Black had detailed
officers n. w. Brown, Payne. Grusse
( meyer. Virden. Barr and Carey to tho
courthouse. Two men were detailed
to each door of the building, two OF