Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac: Capital Crimes for 1929 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 It is not to be published to any other web site, mailing list, group, etc.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 the year 1929 fifteen murders were committed in Luzerne County, a low record compared with the average in previous years. January 4, Charles Marielli of West Wyoming, 30 years, was shot through the heart at the home of Salvatore Manta, supposed to have been due to a domestic affair. Manta was convicted of manslaughter and his wife was acquitted. January 13, Stanley Kromek of Edwardsville, 37 years, was beaten to death under unknown circumstances. January 13, Nicholas Scozzie of Plainsville, 33 years, was shot to death in a boarding house during a quarrel. January 24, Mrs. Anna Dempsey of Wilkes-Barre, 35 years, died of gunshot wounds inflicted December 26, 1928. Her father, John Ritzel, of Foster Township, 83 years, was accused of having shot her in mistake for her husband but was acquitted. February 16, Mrs. Catherine Bidron, 40 years, and her son, John Bidron, 22 years, shot in Bear Creek Township by Theodore Fedevich of Pittsburgh, due, it was said, to interference by the relatives with a demand that his wife accompany him back to Pittsburgh. Fedevich was convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life imprisonment. March 4, Frank Jekitis, who lived in a shack on the river dump in Wilkes-Barre, was killed in a free-for-all fight among frequenters of the dump. Andrew Vitrick was found guilty of manslaughter and Victor Lemith plead guilty to a general charge of murder. April 14, Edward Watts of Wilkes-Barre, 28 years, was shot during a card game. April 21, Joseph Monslave of Hanover township, 24 years, was shot during a quarrel in a lodging house. Manuel Moreno was acquitted on the ground of self defense. June 1, Frank Gatrone of West Pittston died of stab wounds inflicted during a fight on May 5. July 9, Angelo Francis of Pittston township died of gun shot wounds fired from a window under suspicious circumstances. Eugene McCracken of Dupont found guilty of manslaughter and recommended to the mercy of the court. July 28, Paul Battaglio of Pittston township, 42 years, was shot during a quarrel. August 23, George Eichter of Hazelton, 19 years, was shot in a dance hall at that place. Joseph Gayecky found not guilty. September 23, Thomas Kroboski, policeman of Luzerne Borough, 35 years, died of bullet wounds inflicted while attempting to arrest a burglar. Frank Tawza found guilty of murder in the first degree with death as the penalty. November 30, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Truran of Kingston were found dead in their home, evidently the woman killed and the man a suicide. During the year 1929, Jacob Loyack of Port Griffith was acquitted of the killing of his cousin November 14, 1928. Mrs. Gertrude Gallatti of Courtdale was found guilty of killing William Jones of Edwardsville in October 1928, murder in the second degree, and sentenced to from ten to twenty years. Russell Picknell of Wilkes-Barre, 23 years, charged with killing Charles Engler, a watchman in Nanticoke, September 6, 1928, sentenced by Judge Jones to life imprisonment. Henry Roazzi of Hazelton, charged with killing his father in November, 1928, found guilty of murder in the second degree. Warren Kistler of Allentown, 23 years, charged with having been one of a party that killed William Robutski, caretaker of a road house in Foster township, March 1928 found guilty of murder in the first degree by Judge Fine and sentenced to life imprisonment; Daniel Sweeney of Hazelton, another of the party, previously convicted of second degree murder, sentenced to from ten to twenty years; Louis Enke and Joseph Scavona also found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Typed by Angel Tigue, May 2004