1906 WB Record Almanac, Capital Crimes in 1905 Murders in Luzerne County for the Year, Together with Some Notes Concerning the Crimes Dec 27, 1904 to Dec 17, 1905 The following information is posted for the sole purpose of family research within the Yahoo Group, The Court House Gang. It is not to be published to any other web site, mailing list, group, etc. without prior written permission and guidelines from the group owner, to ensure that proper credit is given to the group and all of our volunteers that helped with this project. During 12 months there were 14 murders in Luzerne County, together with 3 suspicious deaths, as against 8 murders in 1904. In 1903 there were 10, not including ?? doubtful cases. Dec 27, 1904. Thomas CLARK was stabbed in the neck and killed in his home in Plains Twp. It is stated that there was trouble of a domestic nature and that Clark was abusing the children when a friend of the family heard the racket and tackled Clark. The stabbing, it was claimed, was in self-defense. The person referred to was arrested but he was allowed to go free without trial. Dec 28,1904. John BARNOSKY was stabbed in the abdomen during a quarrel in a Plymouth saloon and died a few minutes later. Teofil DOM??OWSKY was arrested ,pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 6 years in the penitentiary. June 6, 1905. The body of Frank ????lore was found on a culm bank in Pittston. The head was missing. A few days later it was found at the bottom of a shaft nearby. Cullalo?? ,a former Pittston merchant ,came back to that town for a visit. It was suspected that he was enticed to place mentioned, murdered and ???. He was known to have a considerable sum of money. Up to the ?? the year no arrests have been made. (Putting Cullalo and lore together, name could be CULLALORE.) June 7. The body of an unknown ?? Was found in the woods near P??? and a coroner’s jury found to the effect that the deceased came to his death through foul play. June 28. Andrew ZUBLEKIE died of fracture of skull, inflicted by robbers, who entered his home and attacked him while he was in bed. The robbers getting away with several hundred dollars. A boarder in the same room was seriously injured. No permanent arrests were made. July 7. Mrs. Joseph BIANCO of Pittston was shot to death by her husband. The two had frequently quarreled. He pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree and was sentenced to 18 years in the penitentiary. July 8. James FARRELL of Plymouth was clubbed and stabbed to death by his cousin, John LEE, in Jackson Twp where Farrell went with his children to pick berries. He was walking along the road looking for the children when Lee came up to him and attacked him. Lee had just been released from an insane asylum. After committing the murder he suicided by cutting his throat. The children found the body of their father. July 15. Vincent VILLABEL of Hazleton was shot and killed by Vito ZITO during a quarrel over the loaning of $10. The murderer escaped. Aug 6. Vincenzo CONTI was shot dead near Yatesville. It was brought out that he and his brother and some other men were going home from a celebration when a fight started. A man named ADERVILOLA was arrested but was acquitted in court. Aug 19. The body of John POTTER, foreman for Col. R.B.RICKETTS at Mud Pond in the North Mountain region, was found at the bottom of the pond. He had rowed two young men of Wilkes Barre, who went to that place to fish, across the pond. After the detectives investigated, the men suspected were, in Oct, arrested on the charge of murder and were sent to jail without bail. Their case, however, was ignored by the grand jury and they were released. Sept 14. Cyrus F. HENWOOD of Parsons was found near that place with a bullet in his head and a hole, made by a bullet , through his hat. The holes were in such a position that the theory of suicide was not given much credence. The coroner’s jury found that he was murdered by some party or parties unknown to the jury. In September Andrew PRIEZSTAK of Avoca was found dead beneath his bedroom window with his neck broken. It was at first thought to be an accident, but the coroner’s jury found that he had been murdered and robbed. Oct 21. Lucianio PERINO an Italian businessman of Pittston, was mysteriously murdered at his home at Browntown near Pittston, and his assassins escaped without being identified. It is supposed to be the work of the Black Hand faction, which was incensed against the dead man. The man had recently moved to that section. It is said that he had been threatened with death. Oct 18. In trying to prevent his friend from being stabbed Frederick DOETCH of White Haven, was fatally stabbed. Doetch with a railroad man named McCLOSKEY , and several others were standing at the Lehigh Valley crossing at White Haven when an unknown Italian rushed up and attempted to stab McCloskey. Doetch grappled with the Italian and the two fell to the ground, when the Italian plunged the knife into Doetch’s breast. He died Oct 23. He was 21 years old. In December, 1905 Frank VOLOSE of Dupont died of bullet wounds inflicted as a result of a grudge. A fellow countryman was arrested. Dec 17,1905. Martin ALAKA, a Lithuanian, was shot and instantly killed on South Main St, Pittston. Several men were walking along, talking loudly, when one of them pulled a revolver and fired. One arrest was made. Dec 17, 1905. The body of John SCHOLIEKUS, a Lithuanian, was found at No. 6 washery, near Pittston. He was a resident of Inkerman. His head was smashed and there was evidence of a scuffle. About $30. ,which he had when he left home, was missing. Typed by Edna Schlauch, November, 2003.