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Prince Harry and Meghan have healthy baby boy

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Flurry of write-in votes expected in Luzerne County primary

<p>Luzerne County First Assistant District Attorney Arthur Silverblatt pursued the death penalty for Jake Whitt, a father of 15 children who stood accused in the fatal shooting of Edward Marshall Burwell on June 14, 1957.</p><p>Whitt, 41, who lived on Metcalf Street, Wilkes-Barre, and Burwell, 42, a boarder who stayed in a home on Hill Street, Wilkes-Barre, knew each other but were not on friendly terms.</p><p>Months earlier, Burwell was charged with aggravated assault after a fight with Whitt inside Adler&#8217;s Cafe on Hazle Avenue in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>&#8220;Whitt told police that he was afraid of Burwell and last March had the shooting victim arrested on a charge of aggravated assault and battery,&#8221; the Evening News reported June 15, 1957.</p><p>Whitt was hanging out with friends in front of a smoke shop at Hazle Avenue and Perry Lane when Burwell approached the group.</p><p>&#8220;It was reported that Whitt told Burwell to stay away from him but that Burwell kept walking towards Whitt. It was then that Whitt drew a revolver out of his pocket and shot Burwell in the forehead,&#8221; the Evening News reported.</p><p>Instead of running away, Whitt remained at the scene and was arrested by Wilkes-Barre police.</p><p>Whitt admitted to the fatal shooting when he was questioned by police detectives.</p><p>&#8220;At least five lawyers have petitioned the court to defend Whitt. Court-appointed counsel, customarily two attorneys in murder cases, could receive a maximum fee of $500 each under law,&#8221; the Times Leader reported Sept. 7, 1957.</p><p>Attorneys Stephen Teller and John Hibbard were selected to defend Whitt, whose trial began the night of Nov. 18, 1957, before Luzerne County President Judge W. Alfred Valentine.</p><p>Silverblatt, the first assistant district attorney, asked the jury of six men and six women to convict Whitt of first-degree murder and impose the death penalty.</p><p>&#8220;Burwell got up and proceeded to walk past Whitt and just as he passed, Whitt got up, whipped this pistol out of his pocket and fired at Burwell. After we show these facts, you will agree this was not a killing in self-defense,&#8221; Silverblatt told jurors as reported in the Times Leader Nov. 19, 1957.</p><p>Jurors including two alternates were sequestered at the Hotel Sterling during the trial.</p><p>Whitt&#8217;s defense lawyers told jurors the shooting was self-defense and Burwell was the aggressor who had a violent criminal past.</p><p>Several character witnesses testified on behalf of Whitt, describing him as a &#8220;peace-loving and law-abiding man&#8221; who supported his large family by working as a coal miner for Glen Alden Coal Co. until he was part of a massive layoff months before the fatal shooting.</p><p>Valentine refused to allow Whitt&#8217;s attorneys a delay in the trial to find six additional character witnesses, forcing the defense to end their case just before 10 p.m. on Nov. 20, 1957.</p><p>Closing arguments were made in the afternoon of Nov. 21, 1957, and after three hours of deliberations, the jury acquitted Whitt on all charges &#8212; murder and manslaughter.</p><p>&#8220;Escorted by John Sullivan and John Bednarz, deputy sheriffs, Whitt entered the courtroom of President Judge W. A. Valentine at 7:20 p.m. and five minutes later was told he could go home,&#8221; the Wilkes-Barre Record reported Nov. 22, 1957.</p><p>About 25 Whitt&#8217;s friends gathered outside Valentine&#8217;s chambers on the third floor of the courthouse to congratulate Whitt when he emerged.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going home and pray all night,&#8221; Whitt told a Record reporter. </p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Jake-Whitt-TL-11221957.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jake Whitt with his wife, Geraldine, and his defense lawyers, Stephen A. Teller, left, and John Hibbard. Photo published in the Times Leader Nov. 22, 1957. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Jake-Whitt-TL-11221957.jpg</photo0><caption0>Jake Whitt with his wife, Geraldine, and his defense lawyers, Stephen A. Teller, left, and John Hibbard. Photo published in the Times Leader Nov. 22, 1957. </caption0><photoCredit0>File photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Edward-Burwell-TL-06151957.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Burwell </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Edward-Burwell-TL-06151957.jpg</photo1><caption1>Burwell </caption1><photoCredit1>File photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Look Back: Jury deliberates three hours in 1957 fatal shooting