WILKES-BARRE RECORD ALMANAC

CAPITAL CRIMES IN 1957

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 It is not to be published to any other web site, 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

Mrs. Rita Thomas Serhan, 65, was found bludgeoned to death the morning
of April 7 in a bedroom at the rear of her small grocery store, 262 Stanton
Street.  The crime was unsolved when the Almanac went to press.


Edward Marshall Burwell, 42, a boarder at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith,
William and Hill Streets, was shot and killed on the night of June 14 on the sidewalk
on Hazle Avenue and Perry Lane.  Jake Whitt, 40, 34 Metcalf Street, was arrested
and indicted for the shooting.  He was acquitted by a jury on November 21.


Andrew Podlinski, 29, of 188 Chamberlain Street, Plains, was indicted on charges 
of murder and morals offenses in connection with the death of his wife, Lillian.
She was found dead in bed August 28.  Podlinski's trial was continued to Criminal
Court Session opening February 3, 1958.

Typed by Janie Symons,  June 2004