They went upstairs and found the madam lying on the floor dead,
stabbed 25 times, and the bread knife by her side, At_2:05 AM, Kosh
went to the police station and surrendered himself, At his trial, he
maintained that he was innocent and tried to prove an alibi but was
unable to do SO. The ‘evidence against him was overwhelming and he was
convicted and sentenced to die, While his case was being unsuccess-
fully appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, he was an unruly
prisoner, constantly creating a disturbance and when his lawyers came
with thenews that his appeal had been rejected, he cursed them, accused
them of '!double-crossing'him, and said: "I'd like to have a few minute
alone with you and then I'd be willing to go to the electric chair,"
Four days later he attempted suicide by hanging, stabbing and cutting
himself but he was not seriously injured and after his recovery, he
continued to be unruly, destroying two cots in his cell and striking
some of the jailers when they would enter it, ‘“inally he calmed down
and the week before his execution he confessed the crime to a priest
and said that he would be glad to go as he had suffered from tubercu-
losis for #*KEX eleven years, On his ride to Rockview Prison where ‘
he was electrocuted on Feb.’ 1, 1932, he told the full story of the 3
slaying to theofficers accompanying him and alleged that it had A
occurred after an orgy of unnatural sexual activities, He entered they
death chamber with a mocking smile even though his bene he a5
md his jowls sagged as he gazed on the chair for the first ime,
tear, etd hc dee ive Ytalie? itd one fl forget RVELGE IL? "4 t
They went upstairs and found the madam lying on the floor dead,
stabbed 25 times, and the bread knife by her side. At_2:05 AM, Kosh
went to the police station and surrendered himself, At his trial, he
maintained that he was innocent and tried to prove an alibi but was
unable to do so. The‘evidence against him was overwhelming and he was
convicted and sentenced to die, While his case was being unsuccess-~
fully appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, he was an unruly
prisoner, constantly creating a disturbance and when his lawyers came
with thenews that his appeal had been rejected, he cursed them, accused
them of 'double-crossing'him, and said: "I'd like to have a few minute
alone with you and then I'd be willing to go to the ‘electric chair,"
Four days later he attempted suicide by hanging, stabbing and cutting
himself but he was not seriously injured and after his recovery, he
continued to be unruly, destroying two cots in his cell and striking
some of the jailers when they would enter it. “inally he calmed dow
and the week before his execution he confessed the crime to a priest
and said that he would be glad to go as he had suffered from cniberou§
losis for H¥K#H eleven years, On his ride to Rockview Prison where
he was electrocuted on Feb.’ 1, 1932, he told the full story of the 8
slaying to theofficers accompanying him and alleged that it had A
oceurred after an orgy of unnatural sexual activities. He entered th
death chamber with a mocking smile even though his OSE oe fear
and his jowls sagged as he gazed on the chair for the first time,
tid oh is of ioe ils: 30 ont fal forge! LVELGE ILS: Wy SS
They went upstairs and found the madam lying fhe floor dead,
stabbed 25 times, and the bread knife by her cae At 2:05 AM, Kosh
police station and surrendered himself. At his trial, he
ed that he was innocent and tried to prove an alibi but was
unable to do so, The ‘evidence against him was overwhelming and he was
convicted and seritenced to die, While his case was being unsuccess-
fully appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, he was an unrul;
prisoner, constantly creating a disturbance and when his lawyers came
ith thenews that his appeal had been rejected, he cursed then, accused
them of 'double-crossing'him, and said: "I'd like to have a few minut:
aoe with you and then I'd be willing to go to the ‘electric chair."
ur days later he attempted suicide by hanging, stabbing and cutting
hall but he was not seriously injured and after his recovery, he
continued to be unruly, destroying two cots in his cell and striking
some of the jailers when they would enter it, inally he calmed dove
and the week before his execution he confessed the crime to a priest
and aa that he would be glad to go as he had suffered from tubercu-
losis for #¥Ki& eleven years, On his ride to Rockview Prison where
he was Lelsevoneer ea aa Faby » 1932, he told the full story et the
ying him and alleged that 11
pace:
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raced bs hemes owt Seriously injred ent tar Bie ee
ost ey Sete ere
si fora
/KOSH, Joseph ("Bifft) February 1, 1932 ViGk Gf, Plante 17g
Kosh, a 26-year-old white native of Scranton, Pa,, lived with his pa-
rents in an apartment at the rear of 136 South Seventh Avenue, Scran-
ton, Buring the period dating from June 6, 191, when he was first
arrested as a youth of ten for the theft of a bicycle, he was arrested
in Scranton on nine separate occasions on charges ranging from procur-
ing to grand larceny and served time on SHE none of then, KAXXHNXHTX
XRAMRAKABKAXHX Early in 1926 his 19-year-old wife who was one ‘of the
women who police charged he used for prostitution, left him and went
to Syracuse, N, Ye, He followed her there and when she refused to
return to Scranton with him, he shot her and on Feb, 1, 1926, he was
convicted of assault with intent to kill there and set to Auburn
Prison for a term of 5-to-10 years, He had been released on parole
for only a short time when, on Thanksgiving eve,’ Nov, 27, 1930, he
had dinner with Gloria Smolinski, also known as Marie King, the keeper
of a brothel located at 22 Oakford Court. He had fallen in love with
Miss Smobinski who was living with another man and pleaded with her to
become her mistress which she refused to do, After leaving her house,
he went to a restaurant where he stole a 15 ‘inch bread knife from the
kitchen and returned to the Smolenski house around midnight, Thr ee of
the girls who were inmates heard Miss Smolenski scream "Do,'t Biff,
fesse Con taneous ener Ely, afterwards he walked down the stairs and
eugh the parlor in which they were sitting, exiting by a rear door
SOURCE) SCRANTON TIMES 282d Ap fFe (Phope, paged).
KOSH, Joseph ("Biff') February 1, 1932 /7 7 PMantee 77g
Kosh, a 26-year-old white native of Scranton, Pa., lived with his pa-
rents in an apartment at the rear of 136 South Seventh Avenue, Scran-
ton, Buring the period dating from June 6, 191), when he was first
arrested as a youth of ten for the theft of a bicycle, he was arrested
in Scranton on nine separate occasions on charges ranging from procur=
ing to grand larceny and served time on MXR none of then, REXXHMXHXE
XQUXRAKKMXAKHK Early in 1926 his 19-year-old wife who was one of the
women who police charged he used for prostitution, left him and went
to Syracuse, N, Ys, He followed her there and when she refused to
return to Scranton with him, he shot her and on Feb, 1, 1926, he was
convicted of assault with intent to kill there and sent to Auburn
Prison for a term of 5-to-10 years. He had been released on parole
for only a short time when, on Thanksgiving eve,‘ Nov, 27, 1930, he
had dinner with Gloria Smolinski, also known as Marie King, the keeper
of a brothel located at 122 Oakford Court. He had fallen in love with
Miss Smohinski who was living with another man and pleaded with her to
become her mistress which she refused to do, After leaving her house,
he went to a restaurant where he stole a 15 ‘inch bread knife from the
kitchen and returned to the Smolenski house around midnight, Three of
the girls who were inmates heard Miss Smolenski scream "Doy't Biff,
Sate don't,"and shortly afterwards he walked down the stairs and
hreugh the parlor in which they were sitting, exiting by a rear door
G0 UREE } Sc ha TOA TIMES Y20/s2. we DN (Fe (Ae 1 Z page 7) q
KOSH, Joseoh ("Biff") February 1, 1932 /7 7 Planted 17g
Kosh, a 26-year-old white native of Scranton, Pas, lived with his pa-'
rents in an apartment at the rear of 136 South Seventh Avenue, Scran-
ton, Buring the period dating from June 6, 191h, when he was first
sted as a youth of tien for the theft of a bicycle, he was arrested
o 4 from procur=
ing to grand larceny and served time on f ml, REXKHMXHTH
MUXWG Early in 1926 his 19-year-old wife who was one ‘of the
women who police charged he used for prostitution, left him and went
to Syracuse, N, Ys, He followed her there and when she refused to
return to Scranton with him, he shot her and on Feb. 1, 1926, he was
convicted of assault with intent to kill there and sent to Auburn
Prison for a term of 5=to-10 years, He had been released on parole
for only a short time when, on Thanksgiving eve, Nov, 27, a he
had dinner with Gloria Smolinski, also known as Marie King, the keeper
of a brothel located at 1,22 Oakford Court. He had fallen in love with
Miss Smobinski who was living with another man and pleaded with her to
becone her mistress which she refused to do, After leaving her house,
e went to a restaurant where he stole a 15 ‘inch bread knife fi
Kitchen and returned to the Snolensid. house around midnight,
Hiss Snolensid sorean "Don
ds bb walked down the stairs and’
sitting, exiting bys 529% doors
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