Capital Crimes in 1948

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 It is not to be published to any other web site, 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

   Luzerne County continued to be remarkably free of capital crimes (murder) during 1948.  Only two major 
crimes are on record.  One was committed by a former Navy man who was adjudged insane.  The other was the 
death of a Plymouth woman after a blow.  This case is scheduled to go before the January grand jury.

   Mrs. Iva Davis, 208 Pierce Street, Kingston, was slain by her son, William McGary Davis, on March 9, 1948.  
She was struck from behind with a hatchet.  Two blows caused death.  Scene was the Davis home.  Davis, who 
had been treated for shock at a naval hospital, fled to his pastor to tell of the crime.  Davis said his 
mother was "too good to live."  A commission adjudged Davis insane and the court committed him to Farview 
State Hospital.

   Thomas Prochaska, 29, rear of 69 Cherry Street, Plymouth, was arrested for the death of his wife, Iona, 28.  
An autopsy showed she received a black eye and contusions of the head.  Prochaska admitted that he and his 
wife had quarreled on the night of November 14, 1948, and that he slapped her.  Prochaska said he saw his 
wife fall from a chair.  A formal murder charge was lodged against the man and the January grand jury will 
determine what is to be done.

Typed by Dawn Gabriel,  May 2004