The Stroller's weekly and Douglas Island news., 1922-02-25
LOVE TRAGEDY
 OF THE NORTH  Pardon of George Pestriakod by President Harding Recalls
 Murder of 1910


 Murder of 1910
 Tho following finale Of am mhal- lowed love affair of years ago ia elvon by Che Alaska Pathfinder.
 A ucws dispatch which recently went Che rounds of Alaska nowapa- pers stated Chat one George postri- akoG. an Alaska Native who had served a number of years in Che ied- oral pomtcuuary at McNcils island as a nfc-tcrmer has bccn pardoncd by President Harding
 Except to Che very few who wcro acquainted with Che facts of pciro- abous crime and punishment thia nows item carried mo hint that be- hind Che few lines stating that am unfortunate man. after nearly four teen years within tho walls Of a prison. was once more to experience Che joys Of freedom was Che story of a tragedy in which an Illicit love ai- fair was Che motive .and ike many a similar tragedy in every land, and among every race. led to dcath dis- aatcr and disgrace.
 It was Che story of m old man. a young and attractive wife and a young lover Peter Skcrvzo0 was @ resident of Ouzink.c. who once wed and borcaycd. sought Che hand of a maiden many years hIs junior and they were married For a time an went we'll Chen youth became wear- ted of an elderly spouse and sought comnanIonship in youth.
 And always there Is youth to ros- pond where love calls to meet every advance. and too often to make Che first advance. so in Che case of George petrako1 Soon hc became wholly infatuated with Che young wife Of his ucIghbor and she with him. These claudosiino love anoIu can ncycr be long concealed. and be- fore long Skcrzon became aware that au was not well In h.s family ara.u. and he upbraidcd hs wife for her udiscrctiou in being so frc- GuouUy in pcirIakonH company but without br.ngiuy any reiorma- Ion on Che part of his spouse. Qu1r- rcls between skcryzon and h's wife were frequent and bitter Ha ioi- lowed her whom she went out to see nat she did not meet her lover and thcn came Che thought to dispose of Lcr husband forever. They knew nothing of divorce courts. or II they did ravc but Uttlo heed to such a means of separation. Death wla @ sImnio and sure way Of getting rid of thc old man. and this means was adoptcd. No thought came to them ls they planned Che terrible deed Of Is consequences; nothing appealed ta them but Che thought that with Che old man out Of Ono way they might pursue their love affair undis- urtcd.
 Ono evening pcsr.ako0 called One husband from his home and iheF walked away throueh Che wood io- ward thc bay. Skcrvzo0 never came hack. Midway between Che house and Che bay where Che forest was thick and with mo one iu sight, Pc riator. securing am axe hc had se- .re.cI under a tree for Che purpose.
 ru.E tho old man on Che head. lellnr him to Che ground. where ho ruin sent Che heavy weapon down nnou tho head ol his dead or uncon- e.ous victim. and chen walked ouictly away That night Postri- aEoT secured Che body of his victim. Irarrcd it down Go Che beach. loaded It into dory and rowcd out into Che bav Here he weighted Che body vith heavy stones and threw it over board. destroying as hc thought every evidence of his crime.
 skoryzoG was missed thc next day and a search was made for him. I'm lbe woods a quantity of blood was -ound under tree. blood spots were traced from there to Che beach. and m a dory other blood stains were found. mute evidence of Che crime rbat had ben committed. Nor was tbis all for skcryzo0 had a young daurhtor by his Grst wife. She saw her father leave Che house with Pcs riakoN. saw Che fatal blows struck. and she told her story
 Tho murder occurred on Che loth day of August 1908. A few day. later pestriakod was arrested on a charge Of murder. and tho wife wa. also arrested as an accomplice. On November 9th. 1908. Postriakon wa. convicted iu thc District Court ai Valdez of murder In tho first degree md was sentenced to imprisonment for Hlo in Che federal ponitcnuary at NcNou island. Washington. His nammour was odjudged insane. and wss confined In ana asylum for a lime. but was Inter released. and re. turned to her old home at Aioenak
 For fourteen long years. the best voars Of his lifc. Postriakon was am Inmate Of Che prison. Ho was model prisoner. who won Che good win of everyone connected with Ono institution and many attempts were made to secure a pardon for him. and at last successfully but what a terrible price Go pay for am unhal- lowed love affair.