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Three arrested on trafficking crack cocaine in Hanover Township

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Tragedy strikes Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita despite reform

<p>Political differences flared into gunplay in Hanover Township on May 17, 1932, when policeman John Steve shot Vincent Mateline and struck township tax collector Joseph Fela in the head with a leather stick. </p><p>The incident happened in front of the Askam M.E. Church on Middle Road near Dundee Road.</p><p>&#8220;Vincent Mateline, 31, of Cist Street, Hanover Township, driver of Fela&#8217;s machine, was shot twice in the leg. Eva Fela, 21, sister of the tax collector, was struck in the instep by a ricochet bullet, and Fela was severely cut over both eyes by blows from Steve&#8217;s blackjack,&#8221; the Evening News newspaper reported May 17, 1932.</p><p>Mateline, driving Fela&#8217;s Pierce-Arrow touring machine, was returning to Hanover Township after visiting friends in Wilkes-Barre. As he approached the church, he was ordered stopped by Steve.</p><p>Fela got out of his vehicle and confronted Steve, who struck him in the head with the leather stick. When Fela got knocked to the ground, Mateline said he got out of the driver&#8217;s seat and was shot twice.</p><p>A third gunshot ricochet off a large rock and struck Fela&#8217;s sister, Eva.</p><p>In the days that followed, the Evening News and the Wilkes-Barre Record published stories about a grudge Steve had with Fela.</p><p>Steve blamed Fela for losing his job as he was set to end being a policeman in Hanover Township later that month.</p><p>Mateline was taken to Nanticoke State Hospital and later transported to Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre. His leg acquired an infection and had to be amputated above the left knee on May 22, 1932.</p><p>Steve was charged with felonious wounding, pointing and discharging a revolver and causing threats toward Fela, Mateline and Eva Fela.</p><p>Despite being charged, Steve remained on the police force resuming his duties May 24, 1932.</p><p>A jury trial commenced Oct. 4, 1932, before Luzerne County Judge W. Alfred Valentine.</p><p>&#8220;The trial attracted unusual interest and since Monday Judge Valentine&#8217;s courtroom was crowded. It was bitterly contested and it was apparent that there were two township factions, one backing Fela and Mateline, and the other supporting Steve,&#8221; the Evening News reported Oct. 5, 1932.</p><p>The trial lasted two days before the jury reached a verdict after deliberating for two hours.</p><p>Valentine unsealed and read the verdict that acquitted Steve on all charges.</p><p>Steve&#8217;s attorney, William P. Burke, told jurors Fela and his friends spent the night drinking at different houses in Wilkes-Barre and Hanover Township calling them, &#8220;Fela&#8217;s party of joy riders,&#8221; the Evening News reported.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Headline in the Times Leader Evening News on May 17, 1932</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_headline.jpg</photo0><caption0>Headline in the Times Leader Evening News on May 17, 1932</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Look Back: Two struck by bullets as Hanover Twp. cop opens fire in 1932