1926 WB Record Almanac, Capital Crimes in 1925

     A new law passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1925 permits juries in the cases of 
murder in the first degree to decide whether the penalty shall be death or life imprisonment.
     
During 1925 there were 18 murders in Luzerne County.  
The records for other years are as follows: 1
2 in 1924; 
10 in 1923; 
25 in 1922; 
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.
     
Other capital crimes in Luzerne County in 1925, including 2 in December of 1924, not noted 
in last year’s almanac, were as follows: 
    
 December 19, 1924, Mrs. Frank Progratz of Luzerne Borough, 50 yers, died from bullet 
wounds inflicted by her husband, who committed suicide: domestic trouble the cause.


December 25, 1924, John Diforte of Pittston, 48 years, was shot by his son-in-law during a 
qurrel.  The latter, Caemello Locascio, was acquitted on the grounds of self defense.

January 1, Pablo Forres of Plymouth, 28 years, was stabbed to death by fellow countryman, a Chilean.

January 19, Anthony Hukasheski of Warrior Run, 36, was fatally injured by an explosion of dynamite
 in a mine, supposed to have been placed by a fellow workman with malicious intent.
     
January 25, Sam Pachio of Pittston, 31 years, was shot to death, revenge the motive.
     
March 28, Tony Barcie of Yatesville, 34 years, was shot while standing on the proch of his 
home, motive unknown.
     
April 11, George Micholson, also known as George Miklons, of Edwardsville, 20 years, was 
shot during a quarrel. 
    
April 12, Cletus J. Miller of Hazleton, 19 years, was stabbed by young man as the result of an 
altercation.  Henry Drasher, jr., was convicted of voluntary manslaughter.
     
April 16, Michael Solasky of Pittston died of fracture of the skull, supposed to have been caused 
by a fall due to ejection from a saloon.
     
Junes 25, John Falcone of Pittston, 61 years, was shot during a quarrel.
     
July 3, Jacob Allessandro of Lattimer, 45 years, was shot to death in front of his home during a quarrel.  
S. Capriano adjudged guilty of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to jail for from one to two years.
     
July 16, Paul Richlemi of Pittston, 42 years, body was discovered with several bullet wounds, cause unknown.
     
August 13, Charles Spak of Midvale, 45 years, died of injuries supposed to have been inflicted by
 being struck with a clothes pole during a quarrel.

August 17, Michael Zientek of Hazleton committed to jail on the charge of shooting Stanley Garenza
 of Hazleton with a flobert rifle, verdict not guilty.
     
Joseph Nevil of Harveys Lake died August 29 as the result of poisoning.  His wife and Walter 
Vandermark, a boarder, arrested in connection with the case.
     
September 9, William Tucker of Wilkes-Barre, 45 years, died from a fracture of the skull 
sustained during a fight.
     
September 26, Mrs. Fannie Arrington (colored) of Wilkes-Barre, 27 years, was shot by another 
colored woman over a love affair.
     
Steven Ansalaco of Pittston, found guilty of manslaughter for killing Samuel Turko April 9, 1923, 
in a dispute over  line fence, was sentenced to from five to ten years.
    
In October Mrs. William Lulewicz of Plymouth, 60 years, was found ded from a fracture of the skull,
her son Stnley was charged with the crime.

Transcribed by Jim McFarland