Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1923-02-08
JOHN PARALA BELIEVED
TO HAVE been MURDERED

Last Sunday morning about 8
o'clock the dead body of John Pa
rala was found in the creek about
three-fourths of mile from San
toy. by Tom Mclaughlin an oil
pumper. 1t was found face down
in about three inches of water. in
what is called Comisky hollow.
Deputy Sheriff Nelson of Perry
county was sent for, and he finding
the body was in Union township,
this county, notified the officials
here. and Sunday evening Sheriff
Newton and Coroner H. w. Fiscus
went over. The body was taken to
the miners emergency hospital at
Santoy where post mortem was
held, which revealed that a bad
bruise was found over the right eye,
and the examination of the brain
disclosed that it was congested and
bloody. Examination of the lungs
showed that they were filled with
air. so 1t was apparent that he did
not meet death by drowning. He
had not been dead long when found,
since he had been accounted for up
until after eleven O'Clock the night
previous. He was at that time with
Eli Kangas. aged 20, who is here at
the sherih's residence, but not yun-
der arrest, being held as a witness.
Kangas has told the story the same,
a number of different times, and as
we get it, it is about as follows:
He and Parala were close friends,
and resided at Santoy. Saturday ev-
ening they started to the place call
ed Comisky hollow, which is three
fourths of a mile from Santoy. to
''get drink" AS they were near
ing the hollow, they saw smoke, and
parties-Maurice Weiner and w. j.
STILL and the product
from which was of very high
proof Kangas asked for some, but
was Informed that it was too hot
for him to drink, but after begging
he was given half pint which he
drank. It is stated that he did not
see Parala take a drink, and he also
states that there was no quarreling.
After Kangas took his drink, which
was at about IL o'clock, he fell
asleep and the last person he saw
was Parala with some wood for the
still. Kangas did not awake for
some time. When he did, the still,
mash, etc, were gone, and no one
was about. Starting to Santoy he
saw Parala's form in the water, face
down, and going to him found him
dead, which greatly frightened him.
He started to Santoy, and on the
way became exhausted and stopped
at Sunday Greek coal tipple to
warm, but said nothing about it,
stating that he was dazed at the
time, and the whole affair seemed
like a dream. And as before stated,
it was through Mclaughlin the oil
pumper that the alarm was given.
At the autopsy conducted by Cor
oner Fiscus and Sheriff Newton, the
did not smell of liquor,
and would seem to bear out Kangas'
story that Parala had not been
drinking. 1t is stated that Parala
had suffered more or less at times
with heart trouble.
The coronor's verdict on the
leath certificate reads as follows:
From a blow on head and no doubt
with murderous~inte
The body was buried Feb. 6, in
he Zion cemetery near Porterville.
Weiner and Masterson who it is
said were operating the still, were
arrested and brought here Mnoday
evening charged with manufactur-
ng intoxicating liquor. However
both claimed to have had no knowl-
edge of the death of Parala, and de-
,lared that they had never seen him
before his death
The man who met his death was
1 native of Finland, and came to
his country IL years ago, and four
u five months ago to Santoy where
le worked in the mines. He was
about 80 years of age, and was
soldier of the late war.
Weiner and Masterson when ar
aligned Wednesday p. M, pleaded
lot guilty to the charge of manu-
acturing liquor. Their fathers fur
lished the bond, $500 each, and the
late set for hearing is Feb. 16.