Evening journal., 1916-07-22
Jealous Man Stays Woman
and Burns Park Properly

Nicholas. Gangus had been attentive
TO the girl, too, and it is thought he
was jealous OF her because OF the di-
vided attentions.
Many at the Park.
James Henry. manager Of the park.
and William A. Heindle, superintend-
ent OF the Wilmington and Philadel-
phia Traction Company. owners OF the
park, hurried TO the scene. as did
Harry II. Geiger, another official. They
arrived while the flames were being
fought by the firemen and assisted in
this work. The glare OF flames was
responsible for general alarm being
given throughout the rural county,
and not long after the affair persons
on horseback, in automobiles and car
riages were hurrying to the. resort.
II was the fifth serious fire which
has visited Brandywine Springs Park
within eleven years, its fire record
being as follows; August II. 1905:
June 4. 1907: July "a, 1911, skating
rink; September I3. 1914.
Sergeant Of Detectives Green and
Detectives Mahoney and King went
TO the home OF stephen Sepernas.
of No. 1911 Lancaster avenue,
brother-in-law of Gangus this morn
ing where they found an automatic
revolver on dresser, which Seper-
mas said was his. This weapon was
empty. From the house the three Off
cials went TO Brandywine Springs
Park where with employees Of the
park a thorough search Of the woods
Is being made for the knife and re-
volver alleged to have been used by
Gangus
James h. Henry, manager OF the
park, who arrested Gangus last year
on the charge OF threatening to harm
the dead girl, looked at Gangus at
the police station this morning. Ac-
cording TO Mr.. Henry, the prisoner
when arrested last year threatened
the girl. Nicholas and him, while 60
ing TO the office OF Magistrate Lewis
where he was tried on the charge
preferred by the girl.
DenieS the Murder.
Gangus today. while lying on a cot
in his cell, said that he did not kill
the girl but thai he loved her. when
asked where he spent tho night he
said he spent the early part OF the
evening in a motion picture theatre
here and that he went home between
s and 9 O'Clock. He denied having
killed the woman. saying that he
loved her and had he sense enough
to kin her he would have never re-
turned to his home Gangus also said
that no man could cover the dis
tance between the Springs and his
L.. 81
When asked why Miss Bodiaska
had him arrested last year. Gangus
said: "That was a put up job by the
man she worked for. We had met in
Philadelphia two years ago where
she worked in a restaurant. where
was working as waiter. We prom
/ ised to marry and after she wen' to
work at the Springs we had fight
/ Deputy Coroner Nichols today said
that the post-mortem examination
made by the coroner's physicians
showed that one bullet OF a 32-calibrC
revolver had entered the wonan's
heart. causing instant death. The
body was horribly slashed the lef
shoulder being cut to the bone, tho
right side OF the neck had been laic
, open and the right arm almoft sew
cred.
Following court today Gangus was
taken to the Delaware Hospital by
Detectives Green, Mahoney and King
who expected TO have the injured
woman there identify Gangus as their
assallant. owing to the woman being
unable TO speak English. however. she
was not confronted by the prisoner,
who was returned to the police sta
tion.
Manager Henry. of the park. placed
the fire loss at the park will reach 49,.
900. The restaurant will he rebuilt.
AT noon the police received word
that the woman az the hospital was
not Mrs Nicholas. but the mother OF
waiter employed at the restaurant.
Efforts to obtain the name OF the
woman were unavailing. however.
/ Says Man Admitted Shooting.
Bernard ] McVey. private detec-
1 tive in the dupont building and for
merry a detective at Brandywine
Springs Park. said today he had ar
I rested Gangus twice at the Springs.
The FIRST time Gangus was arrested
he had a knife and made threats
! against tne houlaSka girl He was
fined $40 and costs by Magistrate
Buckley. and was warned to keep
away from the park. He served two
weeks in the workhouse and then
paid his fine. Shortly after his re-
lease he went out TO the park and
was arrested by McVey for trying
10 enter the place after being warned
away. and was fined
Detective McVey went to the police
station this morning and chatted
with GangUs McVey says the man
admitted TO him that he shot the
Boniaska girl. and said "he didn'i
care what was done 70 him"
A woman's stocking was found this
morning az the blood-stained spot
where the Bodiaska girl was slain.