1927 Capital Crimes

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 It is not to be published to any other web site, 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.

Samuel Son, charged with complicity in the double murder of Joseph Maraccini and Samuel Piattzo in Pittston in 
Sept.1926, was acquitted by Judge Fuller in a trail with out jury, in Jan.1927

Oreste Buttafoga of   Pittston  township, charged with killing Julian Marvina, Oct.8th 1926, was convicted of 
manslaughter.

In July,1927, Judge Fuller heard the evidence in the case of Anthony Exposito of Hazleton, who killed his wife 
Mar.19th 1926, and adjudged him guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Byron M. Walters of Wilkes-Barre, 32 years, died Jan.2nd   from injuries inflicted by a highwayman who shot 
him
.
Feb.25th John Cackawitz of Duryea, 30 years, was shot during a quarrel in a boarding house. Charles Huddleson 
of Duryea was acquitted by Judge Fuller in a trial without jury, on the ground of self defense.

Mar.15th Isadore Fernandez of Parsons,46 years, died of injuries inflicted during a family quarrel.

John Bundo of Ashley, 45 years, died Apr.19th of stab wounds inflicted in a fight.

Casper Switka of Inkerman, 32 years, said to have died from a fracture of the skull, sustained in an assault, 
Mar 18th .

Jun.2nd the bodies of Edith Fonzo and Jennie Monica, cousins, 19 years of age, were found along a lonely road 
in the Boston Settlement section of Jenkins township. The girls had been shot and stabbed and indications were 
that they had struggled fiercely to save themselves from criminal assault by male companions with whom they 
had gone for an automobile ride.

Jun.26th Joseph Beoso of Hazleton was shot, the result of a grudge against him by an acquaintance over refusal 
to refund a fine imposed upon the acquaintance who had been arrested at Beoso’s instance.

Sept.22nd Oiva Gronlund of Wilkes-Barre,34 years, killed his wife by cutting her throat and committed suicide 
in the same manner, motive unknown.

Stanley Griscavage of Ashley, 24 years, was shot evidently the result of a quarrel, in Dec.

William Fawsset of Swoyerville,50 years, was found in his home beaten to death,Dec.7th 

Typed by DebMarie Smith,  May 2004