Capital Crimes in 1944

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 It is not to be published to any other web site, 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

Capital crimes (murder) were few in Luzerne County in 1944. Police
authorities claim the war acted as a crime deterrent. Only two major
cases were on the records, one of those dating back to Christmas Day of
1943.

Arthur Wasiakowski, alias Washick, Nanticoke, was arrested for whipping
his litle son, Joseph, so severely on the night of Christmas that death
resulted several days later. Wasiakowski was brought to trial on
February 1, 1944, was convicted and sentenced to serve a minimum of six
years and a maximum of 12 years in Eastern Penitentiary.

Mrs. Julia Konrad, Nanticoke, was arrested for causing the death of her
daughter, Cecile, 16, in their home in Nanticoke by choking the girl on
April 13. A commision was appointed and the examiners found Mrs. Kondrak
unaccountable for her act. She was committed to Retreat.

Typed by Irene Transue,  May 1944