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It was 79 years ago on Good Friday, April 10, 1936, when a tragic series of events unfolded in the Wyoming Valley, which became known as the Good Friday Bombings.
Six packages containing cigar box bombs were mailed to Thomas Maloney of Georgetown, Michael Gallagher of Hanover Township, Harry Goulstone of Kingston, Judge Benjamin Jones of Wilkes-Barre, funeral director and Sheriff Luther Kniffen of Wilkes-Barre, and James Gorman of Hazleton. Sadly, on that Good Friday, Maloney opened the first package, wounding him, his son and daughter. He and his son died from their wounds. Later in the day, Gallagher opened a package that killed him instantly and wounded his son-in-law Clinton Lehman.
Ultimately, Michael Fugmann of Hanover Township was arrested, tried, convicted and put to death for the crime. In Fugmann’s defense, the names of Big Joe Danowski and Big Tony Denovige were also mentioned.
I am a member of local historical societies, including the Luzerne County Historical Society, and am interested in researching this event. If anyone has any information on the Good Friday Bombings, or any of the people involved, please contact me.
Mike Chmiola
Wilkes-Barre