1923 WB Record Almanac, Capital Crimes in 1922

Typed by Irene Transue

During 1922 there twenty-five cases of capital crime in Luzerne County.
The record for other years is: 
15 in 1921;
12 in 1920; 
10 in 1919; 
13 in 1918; 
12 in 1917; 
22 in 1916; 
14 in 1915; 
14 in 1914; 
22 in 1913; 
22 in 1912; 
14 in 1911; 
14 in 1910; 
15 in 1909; 
15 in 1908; 
14 in 1907; 
13 in 1906; 
12 in 1905;
  8 in 1904.

The record for 1922 (including a few cases in 1921 that were not noted
in the last Almanac) is as follows;

Alderman P. F. Fallon of Hazleton, 69 years of age, was found dead in
the yard of his home with skull crushed and stab wounds, on December 20,
1921; motive and assailants unknown.

Henry Minitz of Dupont, 36 years, died on December 24, 1921, of bullet
wounds inflicted during a quarrel.

The battered body of Soo H. Jung was found in his laundry in
Wilkes-Barre on December 24, 1921; robbery supposed to have been the
motive for the crime.

The body of Arcaszele Azierno of Yatesville, 46 years, was found in a
clump of bushes near his home with a bullet wound over the heart, on
December 25, 1921; robbery suspected.

George John, a Syrian, proprietor of a Liberty Market Stand, was found
dead on the East End boulevard, January 6, 1922.
He was 35 years of age. He had driven to the place in an automobile with
a girl. Sophie Kellyon of Plymouth was convicted of manslaughter and was
sentenced to a maximum of 10 years and a minimum of 6 years in the
penitentiary. She denied having been responsible for the man's death but
the jury believed that she was a party to the crime.

On January 10 Martha Lesczynski of Plains, 17 years, was shot to death
by a boarder in her home. The latter committed suicide. The man was
supposed to have been angered by the girl's reproof of him because of
bad habits.

Mrs. Frances Rosenko of Wilkes-Barre, 30 years, died on February 9 of
bullet wounds inflicted by a man supposed to have been animated by
jealousy because of the attentions of other men.

Mrs. Irene White (colored) of Wilkes-Barre 31 years, died February 10 of
bullet wounds inflicted on the street by her husband; domestic trouble
the cause. The husband was convicted of second degree murder and was
sentenced to twenty years.

On February 18 Joseph Manganaro of Pittston was stabbed to death while
on his way to work. A stiletto was found in the body through the heart.
Peter Babchalk of Larksville was shot by the proprietor of a saloon on
February 26. Michael Zabowskie was freed of the charge of manslaughter,
the court being convinced that he thought that burglars were attempting
to break into his place.

Tony Coradi of Miners Mills, 33 years, was shot as the result of a
quarrel with a fellow Italian on March 25. Charles Finn was sentenced to
a maximum of 16 years and a minimum of 12.

On April 29 a coroner's jury found that Mary Papez of Edwardsville, 4
years, whose body was found alongside a creek, had been strangled to
death. The police were unable to gather sufficient evidence for arrests.

Dominic Lobardo of Wilkes-Barre, 32 years, was shot to death on a lonely
road near the Keystone Settlement on May 14. Robbery supposed to have
been the motive for the crime.

On May 25 Anthony Genetti of Hazleton, 35 years, died of stab wounds
inflicted during a quarrel. Nichol Dodo of Hazleton, was convicted of
manslaughter for this crime, wounds inflicted during a quarrel.

Mrs. Charles Halliday of Ashley, 40 years, was shot through the heart in
Suburban Park while with a male companion. Crime supposed to have
resulted from a quarrel because the woman would not go with a group of
men who happened upon the scene. Frank Bednarski of Plains pleaded
guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to a maximum of 20
years and a minimum of 19 years.

During the year Frank Valarosa, convicted of murder in the first degree
on the charge of having been responsible for the death of Rev. Felix
Novak of Pond Hill, who with his wife and three children were burned to
death in their home, was acquitted on a second trial.

On June 7 Mrs. Frank Zabrowski of Avoca, 54 years, was shot to death
during a domestic quarrel in her home.
Albert Welke of Hanover Township on June 9 was shot and killed by his
stepson in their home after Welke had attacked his wife, according to
the boy's story.

July 14 the body of Ernesto Pascoloni of Pittston, 35 years, was found
in a field with a bullet in the heart; motive unknown.

Mrs. Stanley Collack of Port Griffith, 45 years, was slashed and
disemboweled, supposedly by her husband while the latter was under the
influence of liquor.

John Malonis of Luzerne Borough, 45 years, died on September 27 of a
beating sustained by a crowd of intoxicated ruffians, it was alleged.
Anthony Bush acquitted of the charge.

Andrew Bruno of Pittston, 28 years, was shot and killed October 8 after
a quarrel following wine making.

John J. Campbell of Ashley, 24 years, was shot to death by a person who
happened in at a birthday party. The crime occurred in October.

Andrew Belko of Larksville,  58 years, died October 29 of wounds
supposed to have been inflicted in a highway holdup or fight.

John Fritz of Wilkes-Barre, 24 years, died from a blow sustained in a
Halloe'en fight on the streets of Wilkes-Barre.

Ross Diara of Pittston, 38 years, was shot while on his way home, due to
a quarrel.