Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-05
PERU MURDERERS IN
JAIL; ARE HELD FOR
KILLING A RUSSIAN


TO AWAIT ACTION OF GRAND
JURY AND FINDING or CIRCUIT
COURT.
Two men both Of indispensable
names, unspeakable because they are
unpronouncable. are in the county jail
awaiting trial on the charge of mnr-
dering kaitcn Walontykancc. a Peru
Russian, brief mention of which was
made yesterday in the Free Trader
Joumel. The prisoners were brought
TO Ottawa last night and are now
loieed behind bars III that institution,
Where they probably Will remain until
the Grand jury and Circuit Court has
gotten thru with their case
The La Sale Tribune, in It's ae-
count OF the murder says:
A mysterious affair in a Russian
boarding house on Pulaski street in
Peru. Sunday evening resulted in the
death of Katen Valentykanec. pro-
prietor of the place, and the failing
Of Nicholas Waytko and Martin Jerm-
aychuk on charges Of murder While
the police believe they have sufficient
evidence through confessions made
by Jermaychuk, there is a disposition
on the part of Waytko who admits
that he did the shooting, to disguise
il as an accident.
The boarding house, which was the
scene of riotous clash two months
ago when tables and chairs were
slung promiscuously during battle,
is the home of a number Of Russian
workers in Peru
Sunday evening, shortly after 730,
the Peru police were called to the
scene. When they arrived at the
house they found Valeutykanec
stretched on the floor of IA bedroom.
He was dead from a bullet wound in
the head evidence that shot had
been fired. yet, search as they might.
they could find no gun and the group
OF men in the house claimed they
had no knowledge Of what had be
come of the weapon Standing near
by at the time were the dead mans
wife and his five small children.
Waytko Admits Shooting.
Waytko admitted to the police that
he had fired the Shot which killed The
boarding house proprietor, but he in
sisted that he was 'fooling" with the
gun and that it was discharged acct
dentally.
The fact that none of the ganl
knew what became of the gun caused
the police to become suspicious, S,
they took the four men in the room
10 Jail There they gave their name
as Nicholas Waytko. Martin Jerma,
chuk Hahary Borowik and Mchae
Kukascik They quiz2ed them durinl
the night but they discovered that tn,
Halter two were not directly connect
led with the affair SO they were givel
their freedom yesterday morning
Waytko and Jermaychuk were KEEP
behind the bars, and, finally, after Z
long session of grilling, the police Sc
cured from the latter recital OF
facts that tended TO strengthen tho
case against the men The presenta
tiou o. this evidence before the Coro
ner's jury was made this morning
but it has been withheld However
it was of sufficient strength for the
coroner to hold the two suspects &c
the grand jury ON charges of murder
and to commit them to the county
jail without bail,
Three Guns Mentioned
Il develops that three guns were
mixed up in the proceedings at the
boarding house, and chat all three
weapons were owned by Jermaychuk
who made the confession. One story
has it that the first gun did not cx
plode and that Waytku then grabbed
another and fred
The trouble is said TO have been a
renewal of a fight which occurred tive
months ago AT that time some of the
boarders attacked Vaentykanec and
using tables and chairs, beat him
The police are seeking to associate
Waytko with this gang, although h,
came here from Chicago only recent
TX