1927 WB Record Almanac, Capital Crimes in 1926 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 It is not to be published to any other web site, mailing list, group, etc.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. Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac Dec. 1, 1925 to Nov. 30, 1926 Capital Crime Capital crimes in Luzerne County in 1926, including two in December, 1925, not noted in last year's Almanac, took the lives of nineteen persons, as follows: December 13, 1925, John GORCHENSKY of Exeter, was shot by a former boarding boss, over a domestic affair. In December, charges made that Mrs. John GREEN of Briggsville, 85 years was burned to death after she had been robbed of money. January 2, John PARCHEUS of Hunlock Creek, 55 years of age, was killed and his body mutilated with an axe, cause unknown. Anthony POLONIS was arrested but the Grand Jury ignored the case. January 27, Mrs. Jacketh VANALIA of Freeland, 31 years, was stabbed to death. Her husband pleaded guilty and Judge Jones fixed the crime as murder in the first degree and sentenced hime to life imprisonment. Stanley LULEWICZ of Plymouth, who killed his mother with an axe in 1925, and who pleaded guilty, crime fixed by Judge Jones as murder in the second degree and the man sentenced to from ten to twenty years. Anna PARNELL of Wilkes-Barre, tried the second time for shooting Mrs. Annie ARRINGTON in 1925, was again convicted of murder in the second degree and was sentenced to from nine to eighteen years. Mrs. Joseph NEVIL of Harvey's Lake, charged with poisoning her husband in August, 1925, was tried for murder and was acquitted and she was committed to an asylum. March 23, Mrs. Anthony ESPOSITO of Hazleton, 48 years, died of bullet wounds inflicted during a quarrel. Her husband was convicted of murder in the first degree and the jury decided in favor of the death penalty but a new trial was granted in December. April 8, Rev. A. H. NIKOLIN of Wilkes-Barre, a Greek priest, 52 years, killed his wife and son and then himself. May 9, Ross ALBA of Pittston Township, 38 years, died of stab wounds inflicted during a quarrel. Three other men were stabbed and shot but none fatally. May 24, Stephen LEHICH of Pringle, died of bullet wounds sustained in a quarrel during a game of cards. Michael MOSER was adjudged guilty of murder in the second degree and was sentenced to serve from ten to twenty years. July 3, James INSALACCO of Pittston, 42 years, was fatally wounded while playing cards in a pool room. Joseph BISCOTTO acquitted on the ground of self defense. July 18, Carmel CONTRINO of Pittston, 31 years, was shot during a quarrel and Joseph MILAZZO of the same place, 45 years, died later of bullet wounds sustained in the same quarrel. August 1, Samuel LOQUASTO of Pittston, 42 years, was shot while on a street, cause unknown. August 11, George KERN of Plainsville, died of bullet wounds sustained June 26, while in an automobile with a woman with whom, it was charged, he had a disagreement. Mrs. May KEBORT of Port Blanchard, tried for the crime, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced from six to twelve years. October 8, Julio MARVINI of Pittston Township, 40 years, was shot while walking in a field; supposed that an employee who had been discharged committed the crime. Charles TRIPI of Pittston, 61 years, was shot October 20, by some one in hiding, motive supposed to be revenge. Joseph KOTCH of Plymouth, 19 years, died October 23, of injuries sustained in what was supposed to be a drunken fight. The body of Jennie VISATO of Old Forge, 19 years was found in a field at Pittston, November 21, with bullet wounds; cause of murder unknown. In November Frank BUSCIGLIS of Swoyerville, 34 years old, was stabbed to death, presumably as the result of a quarrel. Typed by Dawn Gabriel, March 2003