How Good Were the Good Old Days?

How Good Were the ‘Good Old Days?’

Probably not so good. Time passes and people forget. Secrets are swept under the carpet until a family historian or genealogist digs them up. Over the years, I found a few interesting facts concerning murder and homicide in Erie.

According to the Annual Reports of the Board of Health of the City of Erie, PA, four men died of homicide by firearmes in 1917, one man and one woman died by homicide by cutting or piercing instruments, and three men and one woman died by homicide by other means. These are the names I have found so far by researching in the local newspaper:

Bock, Charles ‘Charles Jones’ (shot) 10/29/1917

Konieczny, Joseph (shot) 8/27/1917

Randall, William (shot) 9/16/1917

According to the Annual Reports of the Board of Health of the City of Erie, PA, two people died of homicide by firearms in 1918, and five people died of homicide by other means.

Unknown (shot) Feb/1918

Unknown (shot) July/1918

Unknown (homicide by other means) Oct/1918

Zlinsky, John L. ‘Galinski’ (homicide by other means)  11/29/1918

Unknown (homicide by other means) Dec/1918

Unknown (homicide by other means) Dec/1918

Unknown (homicide by other means) Dec/1918

According to the Annual Reports of the Board of Health of the City of Erie, PA, three people died of homicide by firearms in 1920; one person died of homicide by cutting or piercing instruments; two people died of homicide by other means; and one person died of fractures (cause not specified).

Botta, James 8/13/1920

Sperandeo, Tony (shot 12 times) 9/13/1920

Gervasi, Tom (burned; body found on Zimmerman Rd.) 8/20/1920

According to the Annual Reports of the Board of Health of the City of Erie, PA, one person died of homicide by firearms in 1921; one person died of homicide by cutting or piercing instruments; three people died of homicide by other means; and one person died of fracture (cause not specified).

Moran, Fred (Alderman; shot) 1/20/1921

Martius, Herman (axe) 4/15/1922

Richardson, Mrs. Horace (shot) 6/23/1922

Williams, Charles (stabbed) 12/24/1922

Cappizzi, Frank (shot) 9/10/1922

Stough, Ralph (shot)  10/7/1922

Juniewicz, W., Mrs. (stabbed) 6/4/1922

Markoff, Fred (stabbed) 9/18/1922

Berry, Albert 9/1/1922

Sandusky, John (shot; died Oct. 18, 1922) 10/4/1922

North, Billy 1922

Eltean, George 1922

Szymanowski, Sophia (shot) 1/30/1923

Ormando, George 9/5/1923

Yacobozzi, Joseph (shot) 9/10/1923

Briglia, Dominick (shot) 11/26/1923

Bernetti, Guido (stabbed)  12/15/1923

Amadon, George (shot) 9/6/1923

Netzilholf, John (shot) 11/10/1923

Daniels, Ben F. (shot) 10/9/1924

Torret, Gaber (shot) 1/10/1924

McLean, Sam (razor) 6/28/1924

Ratajjczak, Peter (shot) 7/7/1924

Mezzacopa, Angelo (shot) 8/8/1924

Schebetta, Tony (shot) 1/30/1924

Levin, Rachel (strangled) 1/22/1925

Ellis, Jim (shot) 5/12/1925

DePaul, unknown (shot) 6/26/1925

Kalas, Christ, Mrs. (shot) 11/11/1925

Arcar, Frank (shot) 12/25/1925

Care to learn more?

Enjoy more facts and photos of Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com