£
‘dale dynamiting.
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MEYERSDALE, PA. HURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1929
NO. 24
ey
a of Cleveland, 0.
brains of Paul’ Jawa
Mob, ”’ ‘which committed “ Tumor of >
5 bold holdups in Western Rennsylvan-
da 0
: x
ho
Makes’ Confession -
ders « ls’ a murder in West-
land County during, a robbery at
* Bolivar Citizens’ National Bank.
i CH
ig of a City.
Following the capture of the two
bank bandits in Central City, bank of-
ficials from Bolivar called to see the
prisoners in an attempt to connect
them with the Bolivar robbery, but
they were unable to identify the pri-
soners.
Fertak will be kept under heavy
guard in the Somerset County jail
awaiting further developments in his
case.
Identification of Fertak as being
one of the Jawarski gang was made
from a photograph by Allegheny
County Detectives John Geisler, Mich-
ael Ford and Albert Shedlock, it is
claimed. They had positively identifi-
ed Fertak as the long-sought planner
of the $104,000 Coverdale payroll dy-
namiting March 11, 1927.
Jawarski Forfeits Life
Jawarski, the gunman leader of the
mob, forfeited his life to the State a
few months ago as the killer of one
of the two payroll guards, shot and
killed during the eoal company pay-
roll holdups at Beadling and Mollen-
auer in 1923 and 1925. The electric
chair ended a series of thrills that
Paul Jawarski had given local county
and jail officials from the time he was
caught within 24 hours of the Cover-
Jawarski Furnished Thrills
The thrills were led by Paul Jawar-
ski’s daring escape from the county
jail in August, 1927. [In this Paul
was aided by his brother, Sam Pallas,
which surname is the correct one of
the family. Sam smuggled five re-
volvers into the jail, handed a brace
of them to Paul, who gave one lo
John Vasbinder, a drug addiet and
convicted murdered, and then began
shooting.
‘ Paul later was captured in Cleve-
land after he had killed a policeman
there in a gun battle which followed
the arrival of police, who were sum-
moned by a boyhood chum of Jawar-
ski, who had recognized the bandit-
gunman in a Cleveland restaurant and
sought a $5,000 reward posted for his
capture.
Neighbors of Mrs. Joe Weckoski,
Washington County, at whose farm
was the bandits’ rendezvous, positive-
ly identified a police photograph of |
Fertak as the man who had made his
home with the Weckoski family. A
child of the Weckoski family also
identified the photograph.
Chief Murren conferred with Lieu-
,|lish John”
{farm during the four years
_| of the Jawarski-Flathead , 5
| called from the police allusion to sii}
: to*commit ‘a felony were :
Flamnt.
Front Row—Hazel Troxell,
Bertha Eckman, Anna Platt,
Members of the Class of 1929 or
PHOTO TAKEN AT MT. ‘VERNON, ON W.
a i Back Row, left to right—Donald Hillegass, Sampel Forber, Donald Fogle, Cha
Hl Ralph’ Smith, James Engle, Wayne Reiman, Ernest Dively, Mr. Grove, Lillian Dei
Mary Shaw, Harriet Ruth Hay,
Ruby Werner, Dorothy, Burkharts 1
ve Harrison, Evel
Kimmel, Pauline
Davis,
i Bell os, Ruth
ssner, Mary Lowry,
Harry Krouse, Glenn Hentz, Ben Donner,
Menges, Bernice Lane, Marie"
le, Marie Walker, Annette Shelbaer, Aldine Leong,
Verdine Wilson, Annie Gondek.
- - mm—
confronted and ‘told How he and “Po-
had lived.
ration
b, s
of Paul's nationality because of
k srown, of their. heads. oh
7 Looked up Lay of the Land °
Fortak and “Polish J ohn” rode i
mines and then wa
six to 12 times again,
there were a variation.
county against Foripk served
0 ; ;
the Beadling holdup and Isaiah Gump,
a guard was shot and killed in the
Mollenauer holdup.
Jawarski had implicated both Fex-
tak and “Polish John” in his different
confessions to Chief Murren, and had
given Fertak the additional alias of
Steven Stanko. Jawarski’s version of
his gang’s operations always attrib-
uted the planning and laying out of
the holdups to Fertak, although Jr-
warski would assign the” men he be-
lieved more capable to handling the
different phases of the holdup.
When Fertak had decided that the
plans he was formulating were fairly
certain of not being frustrated by 2a
change in method of carrying the
payroll, Jawarski and his gang of
gunmen were notified in Detroit or
Hamtramck and came to Pittsburg a
day or so before the scheduled rob-
bery, so they could have ample time
for final discussion of the holdup.
Trailed to Somerset County
Fertak was trailed to within a short
distance of Somerset County bound-
ary, lines soon after the capture of
Jawarski, but days of intensive search
throughout that county and Cambria
County failed to strengthen various
underworld tips that came to them
from stool pigeons or informers, and
rivals of the Flathead gang.
Fertak also was trailed by Chief
Murren and Detective Geisler to
Flint, Mich., and to Mt. Royal, Can-
ada, where a rendezvous was main-
tained for border gamblers. and boot-
leggers who sought refuge from A-
merican police departments. Definite
trace of Fertak was lost, however, at
Flint.
The identification of the Somerset
prisoner as Fertak leaves only one
member of the Jawarski gang, “Po-
lish John” to be accounted for. Stan-
ley Bodjikowski, captured in Canada|
upon his return from a trip to Poland
and other European countries, is serv-
ing 10 to 20 years in the Western
Penitentiary for his part in the Cov-
erdale robbery.
Joe . Weckoski, Washington County
farmer, who maintained a rendezvous
for the bandits, is serving five years
in the workhouse. He was believed te
have profited little in comparison to
the actual bandits and was believed to.
have feared Fertak and Jawarski. His
wife is seeking his parole.
About $40,000 of the $104,00 loot in
the Coverdale holdup was recovered
at the Weekoski farm, after Chief
Murren had obtained a confession
from Jawarski through a ruse, show-
tenant Martin a few minutes after the
detectives notified him of Fertak’s
identification. Fertak immediately
ing him a faked telegram that a mem-
ber of the gang had been captured in
at ‘Weekoski’s |
{ which the payroll ‘was reo to the |
ti
MISS DOROTHY Tothe
_ BRIDE OF REV. SIGLER
fo Dorothy L. Young, daughter of
and the Rev. Samuel. D. Sigler,
of the Salisbury Lutheran’ Chugen
The Commercial joins in wishing this
happy couple all the success and happi-
ness in the world.
Rev. T. R. Coffman Is
Conducting Services
At Summit Mills
The Rev. T. R. Coffman, pastor of the
local Church of the Brethren, is con-
ducting a series of evangelistic meetings
in the Church of the Brethren at Sum-
mit Mills, three miles west of Meyers-
dale. At the conclusion of these meet-
ings the Rev. Coffman will leave to at-
tend the annual conference of the church
to be held in Indiana the latter part of
this month.
The Rev. Coffman 'is an active and ef-
ficient worker in the church in Western
Pennsylvania, being a member in an of-
ficial capacity of the Home Mission
Board of Western Pennsylvania, besides
being elder in charge of the congrega-
tion at Cumberland, Md., Hyndman,
Connellsville and other points in the
brotherhood. He has been pastor of the
local church for nearly 15 years and has
met with great success in the ministry.
Detroit and had eonfessed.
The Westmoreland County, job to
which Kraus admitted occurred three
years ago, when the Citizens National
Bank at Bolivar was robbed. On this
job the bandits gained entrance to the
bank through a coal chute and lay in
wait for the arrival of F. R. Ham-
mond, the Cashier, and other bank
employees. In making their escape
the head as he stood outside the bank
and attempted to halt their flight.
The man, a veteran of the Civil War,
juries.
Sam Pallas, brother of Paul Jawar-
ski, is serving eight years in the pen-
jitentiary for his part in Paul’s escape
from the county jail, and although he
never has been definitely implicated
tectives believe that he was a member
of the gang in some capacity.
The detectives hunt for “Polish
John” never was intensive because of
the absence of any surname or alias
of the man, the absence of a police,
photograph of him, and the absence
of an authentic description. Fertak
confirmed Jawarski’s inclusion of
“Polish John’ as one of the gang, ad-,
mitting to State Police Sergeant Hud-
ock that “Polish John” always had,
acted as chauffeur for the Jawarski
gang and was chauffeur in the Central
City holdup.
SUBSCRIBE FOR COMMERCIAL
‘Jate Rev: Dr. Levi P. Young of Elk |*-
“| death Presid
. | Christian Tem, ance Union of this
, Pa., early last February.
the bandits beat John O. Johnson over
died later from the effect of his in-.
in any of the Jawarski holdups, de-;
PHILLIPS
D BY DEATH
Nevada C. ips, wife of Charles
P. Phillips of isbury street, Mey-
ersdale, Pa., ed to the great be-
yond on last §
o'clock. Mrs.
9 months and 2.
time of her deat
The deceased Was at the time of her
8 of the Woman's
days of age at the
place. Mrs. P
dent worker
Church, and
‘various ‘brane
ips was an ever ar:
e local ‘Methodist
part in all of its
work. ' She will
‘by her friends and
in contact with her.
very likeable per-
Bul
in Meyersdale. The floral tributes
were very numerous and beautiful
and spoke for themselves as to the
large circle of friends of Myrs. Phil-
lips. The floral tributes were carried
to the Union cemetery in three cars.
\ Funeral services were conducted
from the late home of the deceased at
2:30 P. M. on Monday afternoon with
Rev. C. C. Fisher, former pastor of
the local Methodist Church, having
charge of the services, assisted by the
Rev. W. C. Marquis, pastor.
| ‘Mrs. Phillips had beer very ill for
the past five months, and had been
taken to John Hopkins Hospital, Bal-
timore, and to a hospital in Pitts-
burgh, Pa., from wher: she was:
brought home.
The deceased is survived by her
husband and the following sons:
James, John, Bruce and William. The
pall bearers were: H. D. Martin, Wil-!
liam Gnagey Mr. Stanton of Grants-
ville, Md., Mr. Dailey of Uniontown,
Pa., John Lichliter of Salisbury, Pa.,|
J. H. Bowman and J. E. McCartney.
The following relatives and friends
were in attendance at the funeral:
| Mr. and Mrs. Walter Dickey, son and |
daughter of Cumberland, Md., Mr. and
Mrs. Wilber Hare, son and Ssagtier,
of Cumberland, Md., Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Powell and denghter of Cum-
berland, Md., Mr. Bruce Dicken, Mr.
‘and Mrs. B. A. Poland and son Wil-
liam, Mr. James Phillips, Mr. Milton
Phillips, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Phillips, Mrs. Olive Phillips, -
{ Fannie Thomas,
' Anna Williamson, Miss Sarah Tho-
mas, Mrs. Fannie Gordon and son
Harry, Mrs. Thomas Weller, Mr. and
Mrs. William Williamson and son and
daughter, Miss Gertrude Anderson,
Sallie Morgan and Dr. Twigg and
| Mrs. Dailey.
| William C. Price of Meyersdale had
charge of the funeral arrangements.
A Life Saved
A short time ago while Mrs. Wil-
liam Yutzy of Garrett was looking af-
ter a colony of young chicks she ac-
cidentally stepped on one ‘with suffi-
‘cient weight to rupture its abdomen
so that its entrails protruded. She
| picked up the chick, pushed back the
entrails and sewed up the wound.
The chick was cared for in the house
| for several days; and the wound heal-
ed without leaving any apparent evil
' effects. It is now with the rest of the
flock and as lively as ever. “Watch
your step” when among chicks, but if
you have a similar accident, call on
Mrs. Yutzy at once.
argest funerals dls hard
Miss |
Misses Edith and
Peter Landis, 78,
Claimed by Death
Peter Landis, aged 78 years, retir-
ed, died at 5:30 o’clock Thursday
5 {evening at the home of his son, Wil-
liam Landis, residing in YTrans-Mey-
ersdale. Death caused by infirmities
incident to old age.
The deceased is survived by six
children: Mrs. Minnie Fike, of North
Dakota; William, mentioned above;
Mrs. Nettie Schrock, of Meyersdale;
Mrs. Annie Flat, of Canton, Ohio;
Raymond Landis and Mrs. Grace Ma-
thias, both of Meyersdale. He also
leaves several brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held Sunday
afternoon at 2 o’ciock, conducted by
Rev. Willis Ronk, pastor of the Breth-
ren Church. Funeral arrangements
Firemen’s Sixth Annual
CONVENTION
Will Be Held At
CENTRAL CITY
The Central City firemen are mak-
ing lavish preparations for the sixth
annual Convention of the Somerset
vounty Firemen’s Association which
will be held at Central City during
the week of July 22nd to 27th, and
from all indications at this time the
Central City boys are going to prove
themselves a most capable band of
entertainers while they are serving
this year in the capacity of host to
the firemen of the county.
An elaborate program for the week
has been arranged, comprising all or
the usual events held at a convention
of this kind, with a number of extras
worked in in such a manner as will
provide plenty of amusement and en-
tertainment for all of the firemen and
their friends who attend the conven-
tion.
According to -information recently
given the News by the Convention
committee programs and entry blanks
will be mailed all of the fire compan-
ies in the county in the next few days.
Below we give a detailed idea of the
program as will be carried out each
day of the convention.
Wednesday, July 24th, will be the
opening day. Convention meeting
will be held at 7:30 P. M. in the Mun-
icipal Building.
Thursday, July 25th, will be Fire-
men’s Day. Parade will start at 1
P. M. instead of 10 A. M. as previous-
ly announced.
Friday, July 26th, will be
Scouts Day.
Saturday, July 27th, will be Mer-
chants, Farmers and Miners Day.
The list of contests, for which no
entry form will be required is as fol-
lows:
Boy
were in charge of Undertaker J. Ta
Tressler, of Meyersdale.
Two Fliers Are Kill Killed
In Airplane Crash
Scores of people visited the scene
of an airplane crash, which occurred
Sunday afternoon about four miles
west of Frostburg, many from this
section being attracted by the tragic
accident. The bedies of the two fly-
ers were found dead in the plane,
burned beyond recognition.
The pilot was caught in a fog and
is said to have become entangled with
the branches of a tree and the plane
ba
Largest and best dram corps in line
of parade.
Largest uniformed company in line
of parade.
Best appearing company in line of
parade, 24 or more men.
Largest Ladies Auxiliary in line of
parade.
Best appearing Ladies Auxiliary in
line of parade.
Tallest fireman in line of parade.
Shortest fireman in line of parade.
Heaviest fireman in line of parade.
Oldest fireman in line of parade (in
service).
found upon the person of one of the
[found on fire as it crashed. Letters
Best appearing motor driven pump-
(flyers was the means of identifying or.
him as Lieutenant Harry A. Saund-
ers, of Fairfield, Ohio. The second is
thought to be Sergeant E. S. Wood-
ward, of Waynesville, N. C., but his
identification was delayed by reason
oz the fact that he bore on his person
no means of identification.
It is thought that the plane was one
of the group that recently flew from
Langley Field, Va., to Dayton, Ohio,
and the two flyers wc:# returning to
| Langley Field, follow...z the recent
war maneuvers in which a Tuber of
army planes took part.
Joseph Thomas Completes
Course in Pharmacy
Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Thomas
were present at the graduation exer-
cises which took place at the Univer-
i sity of Pittsburgh on Thursday, June
| 6th, their youngest son, Joseph Na-
than Thomas, being one of the grad-
uating class. This is the second son
of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas to graduate
in Pharmacy from the University of
Pittsburgh, Frank Thomas, Jr., being
a graduate of the same place.
+ Following is the program that was
carried out at the graduation exer-
cises:
; Pritessionial-—University of Pitts-
burgh Band
The Star Spangled Banner
Invocation—Carl Wallace
D.D., L.1L.D.
Address—The Honorable Ray Liy-
man Wilbur, A.B.,, M.D., Se.D.—Sec-
retary of the Interior
Selections from “Robin Hood”—
University of Pittsburgh Band
Conferring of Degrees
Presentation of Commissions—Ma-
jor Walter H. Kelly, U. S. A.
Alma Mater—Band and Audience
Benediction—William J. Holland,
D.D,, LL.D.
Petty,
Subscribe for The Commercial
Best appearing motor driven ap-
'paratus, other than pumper.
The list of contests for which an
entry blank or form is required are:
Hose race, Ladder race, Hub and
Hub race, Pumping contest and Tug
of War. (Ten men).
An invitation is extended to every-
body to attend the convention and a
good time is assured for everybody.
| George Halle Killed
Near Brownsville, Pa.
Funeral services for George Halle,
Jr, aged 23 years, who was killed in an
automobile accident last Sunday evening
near Brownsville, Greene County, were
held Wednesday afternoon at the home
of his father, George Halle, Sr. resid-
ing at White Oak. The Rev. Mr.
Thomas had charge of the services. In-
terment was in the Dogwood Cemetery,
in charge of Undertaker J. L. Tressler.
The deceased was not married. He is
survived by his father, one sister and
11 brothers. His mother died five years
ago. Mr. Halle had been working in a
mine near Brownsville. 3
It Was Ground Hog
Day for Garrett Boys
" One day last week Sam Yutzy, of
other boys went hunting for ground
hogs. It seems Sam knew where to
find the ground hogs and how to get
them. The boys by following his in-
structions were able to bag one ani-
mal apiece, and all returned to town
carrying a ground hog except Sam. It
was not learned whether the boys had
a feast and called in their friends and
neighbors.
FOR SALE—Farm of 120 acres, 60
acres good farming land, balance pas-
ture ‘and timber, good sugar camp,
plenty of good spring water, good
barn, silo 10x26, crops out. C.
FLEEGLE, R. 3, Stoyestown, Pa., one
mile from Lambertsville, Pa.
Garrett, accompanied by a bunch of
FR Ceniral City Bank Is
ROBBED
and Two Robbers Are
CAPTURED
Gaining entrance into the Central
City National Bank during the night
and hiding in the cellar awaiting the
opening of the vault by bank employ-
ees, three masked bandits staged a
bold hold-up last Thursday morning,
making a getaway with between
$2,000 and $3,000 in cash. Two of
the robbers, shot by a posse, later
were captured.
While the bandits were looting the
bank shortly before the bank doors
were thrown open for business, Er-
nest L. Cook, assistant cashier, who
was in the vault when the robbers
came up through the cellar entrance,
heard the command given to the cash-
ier and another employee to lay flat
on the floor and he sounded the hur-
glar alarm from inside the vault.
Hundreds of citizens gathered in
front of the bank and, fearing cap-
ture, the bandits quickly gathered up
the money in sight and escaped
through the cellar way.
Securing a riot gun, which the ban-
dits had overlooked in ransacking the
bank during the night, James M. Mil-
ler, cashier, gave chase and a gun bat-
tle ensued. Fortunately Mr. Miller
escaped injufy, though bullets from
the bandits’ gun whizzed close by him.
Men of the town quickly secured
rifles, shotguns and revolvers and,
forming a posse, gave chase after the
bandits, who were forced to flee into
the woods when an accomplice wait-
ing outside in an automobile became
panic stricken and drove away, de-
serting his companions. The auto
driver, it is said, later abandoned the
machine and fled afoot, but no trace
of him has been found.
During a hot gun battle two of the
bandits were wounded, one seriously,
2nd hoth were Placed Ender arrest.
Pandit, who was in the bank, escaped
into the woods and it is believed that
he has most of the money stolen from
the bank.
State, county and local police arriv-
ed on the scene soon after an alarm
of the robbery had been sent out and
they joined the posse in the search for
the missing bandits. It is expected
that the third bandit who participated
in the robbery will be captured, as it
is believed he is in hiding in the
woods above Central City.
Before staging the robbery, the
bandits, it is said, had pulled the elec-
tric switch in the bank, believing that
this would knock out the burglar
alarm. system. They also unloaded
several revolvers kept in the banking
rooms for protection of employees,
but overlooked the riot gun. There
was also another revolver kept in the
vault.
When the two captured bandits
were searched $889 was recovered
from one of the bandits and $217 was
taken from the other. The money re-
covered was in currency and was
blood-covered. The third bandit’s
loot is said to have consisted of about
$4,500.
Formal charges of robbery, break-
ing and entering with intent to com-
mit a felony and assault with intent
to kill have been made against John
Wozniak and John Misicrek, alias
Krank Kraus, the two bandits wound-
ed and captured after staging a bold
holdup last Thursday morning at the
Central City National Bank. Infor-
mations against Wozniak and Misi-
cerk were made by County Detective
Bert F. Landis before Justice of the
Peace F. J. Mulcahy, of Central City.
The two bandits, who are now prison-
ers in the county jail at Somerset, re-
covering from buckshot wounds, waiv-
ed a preliminary hearing and were
held for court without bail.
So far the State Police have failed
to find any trace of the two accom-
plices of Wozniak and Misicerk, one
of whom participated in robbing the
bank and made a getaway with about
$4,500 in cash. The State Police have
combed the woods surrounding Cen-
tral City and also searched for the
missing bandits in nearby towns, but
no clues have been uncovered.
WANTED—Plastering, patch work.
First class work guaranteed. Inquire
JOHN W. DIVELEY, Keystone street,
Meyersdale, Pa.
FOR SALE—1 Chevrolet Sport
Roadster, in first class condition.
Cheap to quick buyer. Newly paint-
ires in good condition. Inquire
3) 509 Salisbury street, Meyersdale,
a.