New Britain Herald Newspaper, February 11, 1915, Page 1

AR/ A \ A. PRICE THREE CENTS. NEW BRITAIN CONNECTICUT,THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1915 —_TWELVE PAGES. ARE POLICE PROGRESSING IN ZEBRIS MURDER INQUIRY .- 'Woman Was Beaten Two Weeks Ago---Stranger Who 2 #» Thomas Lacey, a - Had Gun May Know Something---Officials Either at Sea Or on Verge of An Arrest. Almost feverish activities on the part‘ of the state police and the local au- thorities, who are working together in an attempt to clear up the mystery surrounding the diabolical murder of Rev. Father Joseph Zebris and Miss Eva Gilmanaitis, his housekeeper, at| their Church street home on Monday | night, lends the impression late this afternoon that something more import- ant in solving the mystery than has before occurred is at hand. Sev. eral unusually important clues have | been discovered today, but whether or not an arrest is imminent is imp sible to state because the state police | are maintaining an almost Sphinx-like silence. The Herald learned late to-| day, through Alex Krystofik, a local Photographer, that about two weeks ago Miss Gilmanaitis® was severely beaten by unknown men. Last night, according to a verified reporf strange man entered Curtin’s saloon ; on Park street and exhibiting a heavy 32 caliber revolver, declared that he knew the five men who committed the murder and would get them and ob- t{ain the reward if the police failed in their attempt. All of these facts, | taken in connection with the fact that Chief Rawlings, Sergeant Bamforth and a detective left the city early this afternoon for an unknown destination and that a half hour or so later an- other detective and Officer “Ted” Ma- lone are supposed to have left the city in an automobile, lends credence to the supposition that the authorities may have at last struck a clue that will unravel the mystery. They may even at this time be pulling taut the strings which will bag the guilty parties. i'he Pbresence of State's Atiorney Hugh M. Alcorn and Superintendent Kgan of the state police, at tl.c scene of the | murder this morning :ives added im- | petus to the belief tha ere is “‘some- thing doing.” Another 1 that may help is that about one w. i ago Miss Gilmanaitis tried to borrow from storekeeper, for | . Father Zebris. He told her she could have tho money the next day, but the next day she said she didn’t need the money as the priest had.found that Hi§ gecolints were all right. Story of Organist. There is no doubt, judging from a gtory told the Herald by A. rstofik, the church organist, bhut the ‘housekeeper knew morve about (he | trouble that the priest was up acainst than any other person, and if anyv ano can be found to whom she confidc| her information they will undoubted- | ly learn something of importanco. §The fact that Father Zebris received threatening letters is already to the readers of the Herald, was learned today that six later a man small in si ing the Lithuanian, Polish and Italian languages called on the priest at tha 335 but it montnis rectory, told him he had killed a man | amount of and had receive a largc mmable to use money for it, but was He claimcd that he was desti- tute. Father Zebris replied that had only fifty cents in his possession and would gladly give that to any poor family. He was not inclined to give it to his visitor, because he did not think from h tement that he needed it. What asioned more surprise than the visit itself was the fact that the man, who did not give his name, spokec so many languages, passing from one to anotaer without any apparent reason. The visitor left with the evident intention of call- ing on Rev. Father Bojnowski. Fath- er Zebris nev saw him again. ' It has been learned from Krystofi story that some men who were cha acterized as “bums’” by Eva Gilman- mitis often called at the rectory seck- ing money and that on one occasion about two weeks ago she said they beat her. The details of this occur- rence has not been -xpiained, except that she made refercnce to it when discussing her affairs with a neigh- boring storekeeper, M Lace also related that about the she called Mr. Lacey and him for a loan of $35 for Zebris. Mr. Lacey replied did not have the money jus to call in the morning. at that time, saying that the had found upon examining his counts that he not short at all. Thisg information has heen given to the police and they have found that the dead clergyman's hank shows his accounts to have been as reported the morning after the loan was sought. This tends to throw a more interesting light on the case and any one can be confidence of the housekeeper , waluable information may be tained. While out walking several times with the organist of the church, Mr. K tofik, they encountered many strange men who spoke to Father Zebris as It they knew him. He simply bowed ‘on such occasions, but never failed to remark to his companion his sur- rise that strange men should speak o him so familiarly. *I don’t under- nd it,” he would say. “l don't he on Father that he pri ac was ob- | thirty-two calibre revolver and while | continued, i story. ! he I den known | | ze and speak- st then but | She returned | hool | found who had the some | why those I don’t know strange men what it understand speak {o me. all means.” Sa He Knows Murderers. From the statement made by spectator in Curtin’s saloon the tion of the mysterious stranger yes- terday was unexplainable. The state police have placed considerable cred- ence in the story and are said to be | working on it. The identity of the man is not known and the first at- tention that was paid to him was when he began to talk about the murder. He showed considerable in- terest in the crime and then began to talk about rewards, saying that who- ever won the $2,000 then offered would not have to work for a long time. Saying this he the ac- | pulled out a heavy involuntarily ducked, he saying: “I know who did | There were five men in it If the police don’t everybody that job. and 1 know them. get them I will.”” With this ultima- tum he tapped his gun significantly | and slid from the place. " | He is unknown to the bartender in | the resort and none of the patrons | knew him but the Herald’s informant ‘ stated that he could identify him | readily if he saw him again. | Police Start Off Hurriedly. f 0 o’clock this afternoon Chief | Detective Bamforth and a another detective hurried from the police station and boarded an out- | bound train. They are not expected | back until late today or maybe not | unti] night. A half hour or so after | their departure Officer Malone and a | second detective left the station. Socn after their departure an auto drove up to the door and after receiving some low-voiced instructions it whirled away, presumably to pick up Officer Malone and the sleuth. Their d nation is also unknown, Some significance is also attached to the guestioning of a, woman at po- lice headquarters this noofi. She ap- peared to be from out of town anad | the police listened attentively té her At Rawlings, | | 300 reward well known | This noon the lure of § proved too great for a Hartford detective to withstand and came to this city to enter the chase. His theory is that the woman killed and her Dbody secreted while the priest was out. Then, hid-~ in the house, the intruders sud- denly attacked Father Zebris as soon he had entered and removed his coat killed him. Lithuanian Editor Here. Father Milukas of “The Lithu- | anian " a denominational paper shed in Philadelphia, arrived in city today and began an investi- gation for the purpose of printing a complete and concise account of the | sensational case in ihs publication. | Already. he has unearthed numerous { valuable clues. Father Milukas. of the Lithuanian Transfiguration in New York city, stated that a local woman, whose name is withheld for obvious reasons, told him of the fact that two men called upon Father Zebris a short time ago and threatened him, stating that his days were numbered. Rather than notify the police, Father Zebris simply tried to dissuade the men and, in his endeavors to gain their good will, accompanied them back to the railroad station. Last Sunday, Father Milukas has I been informed FFather Zebris { preached very strong sermon against - anarchy and lawlessness. | He intimated then that he was b { hounded by lawbreaxers | defied anarchists from vising his followers to {ample for their | brethern. Father | the murdered prie | uted to his paper, | directed against socialism | chy. He signed the last | “Debesilas,” which means i the Mist, The New York priest told a iHerald that he last saw KFather Zebris just before Christmas and that, at that time, he advised him to arm | himself with a revolve Several of the dead clergymil's friends begged him to be more caveful, it i {at least, have a telephone that he could use it in | emergency. 1.500 at Mass Meeting. Attended by fully 1, of the par and who the Church of pastor the ng and openly the pulpit, ad- set a good ex- more unfortunate Milukas says that t often contrih- his articles being and anar- of these “out of i man said and installed a case of 00 people a big ioners of at 7 o'clock mass meeting | st. Andrews’ was held | last night. Suppressed excitement | was everywhere evident and the at- | mosphere of the building seemed elec- ! trified with feeling. The Rev. Father | Ambot, who was sent out here from { Hartford by Bishop Nilan, ascended | into the pulpit of the church and told, lin his own language. a graphic story | of the diabolical crime that had heen perpetrated. 'tu] language at his command he de- | S0 de- criminals who had the priest and nounced the foully ‘murdered fenseless woman. While the ford priest scored the murderers no uncertain terms he was careful to make no allegatians or insinuations and‘at no time during his address did he refer to any particular sect, class or organiz tified with the Streng Men Moved to Tears. The clergyman’s influence over the congregation was remarkable and as he tersely told them of the horrible crime, with which they were only too familiar, everyone present listened at tentively and the men strained eve muscle in an effort to keep themselves under control while their women looked furtively about, half expect- ing to see same hideous ogre creep- ing upon them. Even the little chi dren were affected and their fright- ened whimpers could be heard throughout the auditorium. Changing the text of his talk Father Ambot recalled to the congregation the lofty and noble, self sacrificing character of their murdered priest and as he dwelt upon him, eulogizing Father Zebris in the highest terms, the grief stricken parishioners could restrain themselves no longer and a long, deep sob of sorrow swept over the congregation like a big tidal wave. Women wept bitterly and even strong men broke down and cried like little children as the qualities of their dead priest were driven home to them and the awfulness of his fate forcibly im- pressed upon them. Court Interpreter crime. Matthew Mali- ! nowski, Officer “Ted” Malone and De- tective Sargeant Samuel Bamforth at- tended the ser and all were of the unanimous opinion that a heartrending sight. “The grief of the people was piti- ful,” says Sergeant Bamforth, “and their sobs could be heard throughout the church.” i Before concluding his Ambot urged the members of the church to subscribe to a fund to be offered as a reward for the appre- hension of the murderers and John Skritulsky arose and stated he would start off the list with $200. Ambeat told the people when funerals would be held and them to attend. He also urged the two John J. Gerdes arose and in words exorted his people to rally the support of I'ather Ambot. In response to a request Father Ambot as to whether any of his flock had seen him on the night of the murder a woman, whose name could not be ascertained, stood up and declared she had seen Father Zebris at the corner of Main and East Main streets at 8 o’clock on the night of the tragedy. Another person made the statement that a half hour later than this he had seen the priest at the streets, to from or not apparently on the way home him. Housekeeper’s Funeral This Morning. This morning at 10 o’clock funeral of Miss Eva E. Gilmanaitis, the murdered housekeeper, was held from St. Andrew’s church. While there was a crowd of almost 500 in attendance this was not moest people thought would be there. The main auditorium of the church was fairly well filled and there were a few people in the gallery. The deepest gloom permeated the church and the cold deathly phere of the place, there having been no heat turned into the building since the murder, tended to increase this feeling. So cold was the place in fact that the mourncrs were compelled to sit through the service with thelr winter coats on and ag Father Ambot, who conducted the mass, chanted his | prayver of requiem his breath would e of the interior of the church. 1oy in state in front of the altar. She was placed in an oaken casket and merous floral offerings were banked top and beside the casket The pall bearers were selected from mourners and interment was in new Catholic cemetery. Priest’s Body Lies in State. From o'clock body of the slain on the this afternoon clergyman lay his. The church will be open until 11 | o’clock tonight in order that all { members of the congregation may | avail themselves of this final te look upon their pastor. funeral will be held tomorrow ing at 10 o'clock and will the largest and mc ever taken place in New terment will be in the been The morn- be one 3ritain. new Catholie As Body is Moved. \s Rev. Father Zebr body weas As the clergyman continued in his address his voice arose to an impas- sioned shout and in the most force- - Curtin’s undertaking (Continued on Eleventh Page.) taken from I BREAD GOES UP; 1 One Cent Increase at | action Lig advance Hart- | in | ation as being paossibly iden- | | sale never before | in their lives had they witnessed such | | fined to one day but will talk Father | Father | urged | the | various societies to get together and | attend the services for the dead priest. | a few | corner of Church and Stanley | from where the first woman had seen“ the | as large as atmos- | | for separate trials. seen, showing the low temperature The body of the decad housekeeper | the | the | in | state in the church that had so lately | | uea at $3 | an chance | “6 CENTS A LOAF” the Hallinan Bakery—Rise in Cost of Flour the Cause. The price of bread in this city has sen the predicted raise. The J. M. Fallinan bakery has discontinued the of five-ccnt loaves of bread and eharges six cents per loaf. This taken on account of tha in the price of flour bakers have not. as yvet, gonc up on the price of bread, it is | thought that they too will be obliged to do so before long. i Bakers have long been considering the matter of discontinuing the manu- facture of the five-cent loaf and mak- ing only the ten-cent size, their con- tention being that there is but little profit in the former. Now that the | price of flour has taken so big an in- crease, the Hallinan company has fcund it necessary to quit selling the small loaf for five cents According to the books of the Pills bury Flour Mills company, the whole- price per barrel of flour has in- creased exactly $3.20 since the first of | last July. sale As While other GIVES $50 TO CHARITY, Treasurcr F. G. Vibberts of the New Britain Charity organization an- nounced this afternoon the receipt of a contribution of $50 from the United Electric Light and Water company. The money is to be spent on the or- ganization’s relief work. GENERALLY OBSERVED Only Part of Local Places of Business to Close Lin- coln’s Birthday. Lincoln's birthday has never been observed as a general holiday in New Britain and no effort has been made this year to have the stores of the city closed tomorrow. The banks will be closed but the post office will observe the usual hours and deliv- eries and the offices in the city hall will be open as usual. The observance of Lincoln’s birth- day in New Britain will not be con- | be spread over several. The Stanley Women's Relief Corps gave a special program of readings and recitations in honor of Tincoln's birthday yesterday af- ternoon. Arrangements were also made for a Lincoln supper Baturday evening in Judd’s hall. The first an- nual banquet of the Adkins Printing | Co. held last night was a Lincoln sup- per. Mrs. A. G. Smith, the patriotic in- structor of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Sons of Veterans, has received a letter from John B. Lewls, of Boston, president of the National Association of Patriotic Instruction. urging the observance of Lincoln’s birthday by the school children. The biggest Lincoln day feature will be the supper of the Third Ward Republican club in Bardeck’s hall at 8 o’clock tonight. About three hun- dred persons will be seated and some of the best speakers in the state will talk. PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO MURDER CHARGE 'wenty-Five Deputy Sheriffs in New Jersey Held for Shooting Strikers at Roosevelt. N. J., Feb, 11.— Pleas of not guilty were entered to- day by twenty-five of the twenty-six deputy sheriffs indicted for murder in connectian with the shooting of nine- teen strikers at the plant of the American Agricultural Chemical com- pany at Roosevelt, N. J., last month. The twenty-sixth man has not yet been apprehended. Each of the twenty-five men was required to plead to eighteen indict- ments, two of them being for mur- der and the remainder for assault. In all., pleas were filed to 450 indict- ments. Counsel New Brunswick, defendants asked This motion will for the be argued March 6. | INVENTORY OF ESTATF Emma F. Andrews’ —Jane S. Andrews’ Appraised at $630 8913, Loren D, Penfield, administrator of the estate of Emma K. Andrews, file an appraisal’ of the estate today in the court of probate. It consists of a mortgage note for $550, a deposit in the Savings Bank of New RBritain for $5.20, and household furniture crockery, tableware and jewelry v making the total $630.20. administrator of the . Andrews, today filed the estate, which he It consists of C. J. White, estate of Jane appraisal of values at $913 deposit in the Society of Savings Hartford, $58 deposit in the ings Bank of New Britain, $31 a mortgage note for $300. e e s WEATHER. Hartford, ¥Feb. 11.—Fair to- night., riday increasing cloudiness. Warmer. | State: | in | tral flags by | neutral ve | stated unequivocally, it that continuance of the practice would | lits aim UNITED STATES WARNS | | i GERMANY AND ENGLAND | | | | | Rgainst General Use of American Flag and Destruction of Vesses. SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS MAY ARISE Text of Notes Sent to Belligerents Ex- presses Emphatically Displeasure of Washington Government at Actions of European Countries. Washington, Feb. 11.—The United has warned, Great Britain Germany respectively, that general use | of the American flag by British ves- sels would viewed with grave con- cern here, and that the destruction by Germany of any American vessel the newly prescribed war zone would lead to serious complications, It became known today that the text ' of the two notes sent last night to! Great Britain and Germany expressed | much more emphatically than had been generally known the displeasure of the United States at the use of neu- British merchantmen and its solicitude over the implication thut sels were liable to destruc- tion by German submarines in the wa- ters around Great Britain and land. Friendly In the document which has been transmitted to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin for presentation to the German and Pointed Statement. | foreign office there is a friendly, but | pointed statement that American ves- sels should have free and unrestricted pa; ge through the high seas and un. blockaded waters, and that destruc- tion of an American vessel might lead to a change in the hitherto friendly relations which have existed between the United States and Germany. While in the note to Great Britain the representations made are not based on the Lusitania incident, but on the statement of the British foreign of- fice justifying the use of neutral flags by its vessels, the United States has is understood, be highly dangerous to neutral sels and would be viewed here with the deepest anxiety, ves- COreates Profound Imaression. The texts of the two documents are expected to be published by the state department tomorrow. Among dip- lomatists here the fact that the United States has taken a pronounced stand created a profound impression. No joint representations with the United States on the same subjects | have been made by any of the neu- trals, though the various foreign of- fices, though their ministers here have consulted the American government as to its attitude. Justified Under Circumstances, In official quarters it was declared unlikely that the use of tae Ameri- can flag by the Lausitania or the Orduna would be selected for subject of protest or diplomatic cor- respondence. The American govern- ment, however, in its note denies the right of a general use of the Ameri- can flag, leaving, it is said, the in- ference that the one or two incidents wiaich had occurred might have been justified under the circumstances, There is no question according to those who are familiar with the American government's position, that the issuance of any orders from tha British admiralty, as Germany al- leges, authorizing the use of the American flag would be disapproved. The British foreign office statement in that connection is taken by officials nere as tantamount to a suggestion to | British vessels that they could hoist a neutral flag. Tt is to such an of- ficial and general countenance to the practice that the United States takes exception, BRISTOL AT MONTEVIDEO, British Cruiser Spent Much of Recent Tinte in Atlantic. Montevideo, Feb. 11.—The British cruiser Bristol arrived here today. From reports received it would ap- pear that the Bristol has spent much | of her recent time in the Atlantic. She had an encounter with the Ger- man cruiser Karlsruhe in September: | took part in the naval battle off the | December and West Indies in Islands In in the Falkland was patrolling January. ICE. CREAM HERE, Walter P. Steele, for the New Britain Home and Building company, today sold land on Woodland street to the New Haven Dairy company, which manufactures ice cream on a large | scale. The dairy company intends to erect a building on the land in the spring. Last summer the company | sent its ice cream to this city by auto | truck but found that method incon- venient. TO MAKE ANTI-SIGN ORDINANCE. Councilman Frank L. Conlon of the sixth ward has drawn up an ordinance for presentation at the next meeting of the common counecil which has : the prohibition of voung men carrying advertising signs through the public streets, Council- man Conlon considers these signs a nuisance and 1in this view he has the support of a large number of people. boys | same | being held for | envelope, Ire- | the | | | | > | WANT BOXING LAW “l-‘,l’h'\l‘l‘ll).l | BORROWS BANKBOOK | THEN DRAWS OUT $25/ L00z 18 BY GERI THE cago of An fina Sez2 Charles Javoski of 79 Oronge Streed, | Arrested for Obtaining Moncy Under Fulse Protenses, Iiepresenting himse \colph Hodeski, of No. 79 Urange Charles Jarosk who live t the address v lie Britain seing the Savings hank » bank drew o through Teda Hodesk rating, u he 1 in the court on a charge of obtaining ruoney talse pretenses under Im.'ll Hodeski happened RUSSIAN OFf bank book this morning | l his financiul status was and discovered that it $26 short of British Forel his what to glance at to see to his alarm was what d yesterday coming of mate he started a littlc have been The with should was dated it val 1 be boarding work hi detective suspicious ' of his own Grey, Says Officer Charies Johnson searched Assisted the by in A Allies 1o € the the and tucked beneath ot Jaroski's bed, while with untroubled was $4.56 of Adolph’s pocket « found $7 the house ‘was away o Discuss mattress latter reposed science con- | N Uttera above, his rest Ruse Ags In wa - The not be located After “borrowing’ book yesterday Jaroski its owner's satchel, hoping suspicion in this manner ings more. could of money United concern| shipping. to The stand ican In its note it pointed of the Ameri | sels would by neutral vesse | by this gover Germany | the destructi might lea | hitherto friend |two countries, Great Brit paring to tal tmeasures to ¢ | trade In tH | Premier Asq the governme | stuffs and raw man industrie| | contraband government measures view of the the rules of Witheln The cargo d Wilhelmina wi be thrown inf The Britis] Edward Grey, useless for thy on which th on account of in Germany. Gern bank it to allay Hodeski's returned to SIKTEEN HOUR LAW ~ FALS OF PURPOSE | Technical Applications By | Railroad Officials, Says Stone. sel Chicago, Feb. 11.—That the federal sixteen hour law, limiting the length of railroad trainmen’s hours of work, | has partially failed of its purpose be- | cause of technical applications by railroad officials was the statement to- day of Warren S. Stone, conducting the case of the engincers who are pleading for increased wages before a board of arbitration in Chicago The statement was brought out when J. W. Higgins, general manager of the Missouri Pacific, who was undergoing cross-examination by the representatives of the men, turned in- terroggtor. He asked Mr. Stone if the latter didnM consider it fair for a rcad to usé an engine crew for two ‘hours after a fourteen hour run when otherwise a fregh crew would have to be called and paid for a full labor under the rules. “Absolutely no,” was the “You couldn’t woerk a mule that long without having the humane soclety after It was never the intent of the sixteen hour law, which 1 helped | to frame, that men should be worked | sixteen hours as a matter of habit by or convenience to the roads. To that extent the law has fafled of its pur- pose.” | Similar instances in which the men | and their employers accused each | other of taking advantage of techni- | calities were brought up. Mr. Stone | cited cases in which roads had re- | fused to pay to widows of engineers | killed in accidents the minimum wage | of the men for the day on which they | met death, the checks being for the exact mileage covered by the train. In one case the deduction was for | thirty miles which the interrupted run lacked of the 100 mile mintmum, Iin another the widow was given the pay for twenty miles. 1ga v The day's d no significan minor battles, as's 1 Argonne, wh a measure of| Vosges. The. { that the R | Poland was Germans ha Vistula. A | sources that had been evi was confir Today's mans are Kalisz, near t are resuming | fortifications. the Germans thelr drive a halted thirty Carpathing Reports of | Carpathéans it is agreed progress. P tories are no where it is German fol steadily. Berlin newsp spirit of the broken, that ¢l month and a on the defensi One of the reply rou LOCAL MEN ELEOTED, E. W. Pelton of Forest street, elected representative from the Connecticut Association of the Am- | herst College Alumni nrlzam::u!mn." | and ¥. R. Gilpatric, of Black Roclk | avenue, was elected secretary and | treasurer of the state organization at f French battl the annual banquet of the Connecti- | been won by t cut Alumni association at the Uni- | the hill of No versity club in Hartford last night. | northwestern An enthusiastic meeting was helq, | dispute. 1In | about sixty men attending the dinner. | this hill the President Alexander Miklejohn made | POTtant ad the principal address. dominates i Gen Paris, Feb. evacuation of has been ocon Petrograd de Agency, whic fices, commi being removed was a Albany, N. Y, Feb, il.—The re- peal of the Frawley boxing law and | the abolition of the state athletic com- mission created under it, is sought in a bill introduced in the assembly to- day, The bill, its sponsor said, was introduced at the request of the Civi A refugee Reform league, which hopes to abol- | stochowa, the ish boxing in the state, | the statement | resumed with struction of which was suf IPLY STARTED, London, Feb. 11, 6:30 p. m.—The final reply in the British government to the note of the United States bear- ing on the deiention by British au- thorities of American cargoes destined to neutrai European ports was today | started the British foreign office | on to Washington | FINAL R Lodz, the which capt December 6, w| Hindenburg b saw, seventy: cast The R of the city on sistance, aceol although Pe evacuated for Russians we have assun Warsaw fros back the G by its way GOVERNOR COMING HERE, Governor Marcus Holcomb accepted invitation today to attend the Ma- ball to be held in Hanna's ar. on the evening of April 9. Sen- ator orge W. Klett and Represen- tative K. W. Schultz waited on the governor this morning and he gladly accepted the invitation tendered him. an sonic mory Ge " (Continuy