Jersey Journal/1927/Grimaldi Faces Murder Jury

Grimaldi Faces Murder Jury. Refusal of Felix Szczesny to buy a round of drinks in a Steuben Street speakeasy last October caused his death, Andrew Zuilkowski, 50, of 160 Steuben Street, testified this afternoon. Zulkowski is star state witness at the trial for murder of Ralph Grimaldi, of New York on a charge of fatally stabbing Szczesny and stabbing Zulkowski also. The State may complete its case late this afternoon, but the trial in Oyer and Terminer will continue tomorrow. Grimaldi, known as "Joe the Wop", was employed as a car repairman by the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad. Trial of the accused man for murder began today before Judge Robert V. Kinkead and a special panel of veniremen with Chief Assistant Prosecutor Aloysius McMahon and Assistant Prosecutor Lewis G. Hansen presenting the States case and former Congressman James A. Hamill conducting the defense. Early on the morning of the murder, the State claims, he went to the home of Scezesny and engaged with him and another man of Polish descent in a drinking bout. An argument arose over whose turn it was to purchase a drink and when the words became loud. Scezesny's wife forced the trio out of the house and the commotion began in the street. Once on the street the argument developed into blows and Grimaldi is alleged to have dashed a knife, mortally wounding Scezesny and stabbing the other man, Andrew Zulowski, of 10 Steuben Street, Grimaldi fled the scene of the crime and kept in hiding for more than a week, but was later captured by Lieutenant Charles Ballerine and Detective John O'Neill of the Jersey City Detective Bureau. They found him in a deserted section of upper New York State. He was taken into custody and extradited to New Jersey and has been in the County Jail awaiting trial.