Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Lorain Daily News – March 15, 1911

Here’s another front page of the Lorain Daily News from March 1911. This one (from March 15th) contains all sorts of interesting tidbits – including the fate of Gasper Delczeg.

As you can see, despite his confession of shooting Peter Janosy/Jonosy/Johnosy, he was acquitted. As the article noted, “Gasper Delczeg until last night charged with second degree murder, is today a free man.

“Delczeg was acquitted by a jury at 11 o’clock last night after a four days’ trial during which the state endeavored to convict the boy of the murder of Peter Jonosy in S. Lorain on the night of Jan. 7. The jury returned its verdict after deliberating for six hours.

“The acquittal of Delczeg came as considerable a surprise to those who have been following the case. Members of the local police department while of the opinion that Delczeg would not be convicted on a more serious charge than that of manslaughter were certain that he would receive at least a short prison sentence.

“That Delczeg shot Jonosy there has never been any doubt. The motive of the shooting is still lacking. Pleading self-defense is what saved the youth.

“When arraigned before Mayor King, Delczeg pleaded guilty to a murder charge and it was this admission that makes the outcome of the trial seem the more strange. Witnesses to the shooting told the police at the time of the murder that there had been no trouble between Jonosy but at the trial in the common pleas court several testified that Delczeg was assaulted previous to the shooting and that he shot to save his life.

“Following the shooting Delczeg left Lorain and succeeded in eluding the police for several months. He was captured in Youngstown ten days ago.

“Charles Adams, Delczeg’s attorney, is the man responsible for securing an acquittal. Adams put up a stiff fight for the boy’s release and today smiles one big smile every time he thinks of the jury saying “not guilty” after his client had confessed.”

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Also on that same front page was the sad story of a man killed by a Lake Shore Electric car. The story notes, “The body of an unknown man about 40 years old, run down by a Lake Shore Electric east bound limited car at the Oak Point tressle last night and instantly killed lies in the Wickens’ company morgue. He was walking the track and evidently did not hear the car approaching.

“It is believed by local authorities that the man was an inmate of the soldiers’ home at Sandusky, and he was bound for the city when he was killed. There was nothing in the pockets to aid in identification. He wore a blue coat with United States buttons on it, and similar to ones worn by the inmates at the Sandusky institution.

"The body is badly cut and bruised. The left ear was cut nearly off, there is a 5-inch gash under the chin, the left arm is badly bruised and cut and the right arm completely severed at the shoulder. A bullet wound in this right [illegible] also confirms the belief that he was an old soldier.

"The car that hit the man arrived in Lorain at 6:50 p. m. and according to the story of the motorman he saw the man walking the track ahead and after blowing his whistle expected the fellow would step from the track in plenty of time. It is believed the man deaf and did not hear the car. The body was thrown over the trestle into the gulley 50 feet below. The Wickens company was called and brought the body to Lorain.

"The man was dressed in a blue coat, black pants, blue and white shirt, heavy shoes. His pockets were empty. He was about 40 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 185. He has a black mustache and long black hair."

Other stories include: The Black River lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 680 holding their annual banquet at their temple on Ninth Street; Easter Sunday coming later than usual; and an Elyria cobbler being the victim of "an old time swindling game” and losing his bank roll of $400.

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