taken to an undertaking establishment and viewed the body, he con-
fessed that he had raped and murdered the girl after he had sent his
keus wife from the house on an errand, He said that he had hidden her
body in his basement until the other members of the family had gone to
steep and had then placed it in a burlap bag and taken ih to the
hiding place in the attic where it was subsequently found, At his
trial, he repudiated his confession and claimed that it had been beat-
en from him by the State Police, but his statements were contradictory
and the State's case was strong, He was convicted by a jury that de-
liberated for only twenty minutes, After they had pronounced their
werdict without a recommendation to mercy, Starchok, who had KXHH
maintained a calm attitude throughout the trial, remarked sarcastically
Whank you," There was no appeal and on Nov, 30, 1931, still display-
ing calmness, he went to His death in Pennsylvania's electric chair,
repeating the words of a prayer after the prison chaplain,
JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE, Johnstown, Pas, May 11, 19313 May 12, 1931; May 13,
1931; Mary ll, 1931; Nov, 28, 1931, ;
STARTLING DETECTIVE, January, 1946, "Secret of the Hidden Room" by
H, L, Watkins, page 12, (Note this article erroneously gives Betty's
age as 17, the age of seven is definitely confirmed.)
taken to an undertaking establishment and viewed the body, he con-
fessed that he had raped and murdered the girl after he had sent his
hems wife from the house on an errand, He said that he had hidden her
body in his basement until the other members of the family had gone to
steep and had then placed it in a burlap bag and taken ib to the
hiding place in the attic where it was subsequently found. At his
trial, he repudiated his confession and claimed that it had been beat-
en from him by the State Police, but his statements were contradictory
and the State's case was strong, He was convicted by a jury that de-
liberated for only twenty minutes. After they had pronounced their
werdict without a recommendation to mercy, Starchok, who had MXKH
maintained a calm attitude throughout the trial, remarked sarcastically
ifhank you," There was no appeal and on Nov, 30, 1931, still display-
ing calmness, he went to His death in Pennsylvania's electric chair,
repeating the words of a prayer after the prison chaplain.
JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE, Johnstown, Pa., May 11, 1931; May 12, 1931; May 13,
1931; Mary 1h, 1931; Nov, 28, 1931, :
STARTLING DETECTIVE, January, 1946. "Secret of the Hidden Room" by
H, L. Watkins, page 12, (Note this article erroneously gives Betty's
Lie
age as 17, the age of seven is definitely confirmed.)
taken to an undertaking establishment and viewed the body, he con-
fessed that he had raped and murdered the girl after he had sent his
dumox wife from the house on an errand, He said that he had hidden her
ody in his basement unt4l the other members of the family had gone to
steep and had then placed it in a burlap bag and taken ih to the
hiding place in the attic where it was subsequently found, At his
trial, he repudiated his confession and claimed that it had been beat-
en from him by the State Police, tut his statements were contradictory
and the State's case was strong, He was convicted by a jury that de-
liberated for only twenty minutes. After they had pronounced their
Nerdict without a recommendation to mercy, Starchok, who had MINX
maintained a calm attitude throughout the trial, remarked sarcastically]
thank you," There was no appeal and on Nov, 30, 1931, still display-
ing calmness, he went to His death in Pennsylvania's electric chair,
repeating the words of a prayer after the prison chaplain,
JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE, Johnstown, aa May 11, 1931; May 12, 1931; May 13,
1931; Mary 1h, 19313; Nov, 28, Z
STARTLING DETECTIVE, January, le "Secret of the Hidden Room" by
HL, Watlcing, page 12. (Note this article erroneously gives Betty's
age as 17, the age of seven is definitely confirmed.)
ge Fay Par 1; Ay, Hs Ha 1
aan
ao Sah aatio came
STARCHOK, Harry
Starchok, a 28-year-old white laborer, lived on Greeve St., Conemaugh,
Paes He had quit school when he was 12-years-old and at the age of
1) was sent to a State Reformatory in Maryland, After his release
from there he was sent to another reformatory in Pennsylvania and
later served three lengthy terms in KAMMHXAXSAxXX the Cambria Co,, Pay,
jail for various crimes, Late on the afternoon of March 35 19 31,
accompanied by two friends, he went .to the home of a neighbor, John
Mowry, where he had a stove stored and picked it up. As he was lea-
ving, he asked Mowry's 77-year-old daughter, Betty, to come over to
his house and play with his h-year-old son, After his friends had
left and while Betty and his son were playing, he asked his wife to
go to his mother's house and obtain some tools that he would need
in installing the stove, When she returned, Betty was not there and
he told her that she had left with two other girls, The next morning,
the missing child's parents notified the police and they went to the
Starchik house where they questioned him and were told that she had
left wit irls. # r, his son stated that he had seen his
fee and Betty. on a Bees aa ceasenok was arrested on suspicions
i brut raped and bludgeoned to death with an axe was found
Agee we evs Ae: of Starchok's home on March 16, After he had been
STARCHOK, Harry
Starchok, a 28-year-old white laborer, lived on Greeve St., Conemaugh,
Pae He had quit school when he was 12-years-old and at the age of
1, was sent to a State Reformatory in Maryland. After his release
from there he was sent to another reformatory in Pennsylvania and
later served three lengthy terms in RANMNXHX@AXX the Cambria Co,, Pass
jail for various crimes, Late on the afternoon of March tse) ake shh
accompanied by two friends, he went.to the mome of a neighbor, John
Mowry, where he had a stove stored and picked it up. As he was lea-
ving, he asked Mowry's 7-year-old daughter, Betty, to come over to
his house and play with his h-year-old son, After his friends had
left and while Betty and his son were playing, he asked his wife to
go to his mother's house and obtain some tools that he would need
in installing the stove. When she returned, Betty was not there and
he told her that she had left with two other girls, The next morning,
the missing child's parents notified the police and they went to the
Starchak house where they questioned him and were told that she had
left wi irlisg Hi vr, his son stated that he had seen his
ra and, Betty on a Beaune atarenck was arrested on suspicion,
1 ¢ brut raped and bludgeoned to death with an axé was found
See the attic 6 Starchok's home on March 16, After he had been
STARCHOK. Harry
Starchok, 2 28-year-old white laborer, lived on Greeve St., Conemaugh,
Pa. He had quit school when he was 12-years-old and at the age of
ly was sent to a State Reformatory in Maryland, After his release
from there he was sent to another reformatory in Pennsylvan:
later served three lengthy terms in
jail for various crimes.
da and
XX the Cambria Co,, Pa.,
Late on the afternoon of March 13, 1931,
accompanied by two friends, he went.to the home of a neighbor, John
Mowry, where he had a stove stored and picked it up, As he was lea~
ving, he asked Mowry's 7-year-old daughter, Betty, to come over to
his house and play with his l-year-old son,
left and while Betty and his son were playing, he asked his wife to
go to his mother's house and obtain some tools
in installing the stove,
he told her that she had left with two other girls,
the missing child's
Sta
After his friends had
that he would need
When she returned, Betty was not there and
The next morning,
parents notified the police and they went to the
chk house where they cuestdoned him and were told that she had
left wit K his son stated thet he had seen his
cace canny fron ab fed, and’ Starch nok as arrested on Susp fie fa
er body, brutally r: eg veal Rasaeoene 0 death axé was:
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