The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-02-28
A PRIEST
ATTACKED
Burglars Enter the Lithuanian Catholic
Church and Parsonage.
PREDICAMENT OF REV. ABROMAITIS
TWO Men Present Revolvers at His Breast
While He Lay in Bed-The Priest
Gives the Details Of the Rob
berry That Followed

st. Georges Lithuanian Roman Catholic
church, at the corner Of Jardiu and Cherry
streets, and the adjoining parsonage was
visited by burglars carly yesterday morning
and the pastor in charge, Rev. Peter Abro-
MATHS, had thrilling experience with them.
The church was first visited Very little of
value was taken, but ample evidence of des-
ecration was left behind
Rev. Abromaitis sleeps in the front room
on the second story of the parsonage. lie
says it was about three o'clock yesterday
morning when he was awakened by foot
steps in the hallway on the second floor and
next saw man peeping into the bedroom.
He was enabled to see this by the reflection
of candle. Rev. Abrumaitis thought it
was his curate, Rev Miukas, walking about
and cried out, what are you doing? Why
don't you 20 to bed?"
The priest had hardly asked the question
when two men rushed from the hallway to
the bedside and both presented revolvers at
his breast, one saying in a sharp whisper,
Keep quiet, or well fill you full Of
bullets :"
Rev. Abromaitis was almost pamlyzed by
the shock the surprise occasioned, but soon
became resigned to the situation and asked
with as much Calmness as he could command
What do you want9"
Where is your money! demanded one of
the men, both still holding the muzzles of
their revolyors at the breast of the priest
The reverend victim told the burglars that
they would find what they were looking for
in the pockets Of his pantaloons, which hung
on the door of a closet. One of the burglars
proceeded to make a search, while the other
kept guard on the priest with the revolver
presented.
Upon concluding the search the burglar
asked Where is your watch ?" and was di-
rected to the place where the cergyman's
timepiecc was secrcted The piece was
quickly confscated and this question piled
Have you money in the safeY'
The safe is in the office of the parsonage,
which is in the front room on the first floor.
Rev. Abromaitis said there was nothing in
it, but the inquiring burglar seemed to doubt
him and said, 1--WE can blow the safe open
We have more men down stairs"
Rev. Abromaitis replied, 1T is not ueces-
sary to do that. | can open the safe for that
matter, but there is no money in it, where
upon the burglar standing guard said to his
'n''s'2' ''' ''1LS nEest il ,-Hiiub Suv ii aJsr
l don't think there Is any money in the
safe" This seemed to satisfy the other who
then turned and said to Rev Abromaitis,
who was still lying upon his back in
| bed, You remain quiet for twenty minutes.
If you attempt to give an alarm we will come
back. We will be down stairs The two
burglars then left the bedroom and soon after
Rev. Abromaitis heard hasty retrcating
| footsteps. He then arose aud aroused the
| curate and housekeeper from their slumbers.
who had not been disturbed by the i'm
truders. From the sounds of footsteps he
heard below Rev. Abromaitis believes there
were more than two burglars in the house.
On their departure the visitors took with
them gold watch and Sl7 in cash belonging
to Rev. Abromaitis and an overcoat. Prince
Albert coat and a breyiary owned by the
curate, Rev. Milukas. The total value OF
the articles stolen was about $3.50 The gold
watch was an open-faced one with the
initials "P b." engraved on the back. The
robbers overlooked $50 in cash that was in
the vest Of Rev Abromaitis which hung on
the closet door.
The burglars got into the parsonage by
! forcing up one of the side windows and they
left the house by the same opening. The
candle they used to find their way through
the rooms was one taken from the church
| Drops Of wax ON the carpets showed where
the visitors had stopped to investigate and
consult. On the floor of the Office in the
parsonage was found a gold and silver
ciborium belonging to Rev Milukas. 1t had
been carried from the church. The cover
was missing. Entrance to the church wa,
gained by forcing entrance at the door on tn,
north side of the building. The tabernacle
was found forced open and other petty act
OF desecution were discovered, but asid,
from the ciborium found in the parsonage
and candle, nothing was missing
Rev. Abromaitis says that in the din
candle light he was able to identity but on
Of the men who stood at his bedside and HI
would know him should he meet him again
The clergyman described the party as bein,
a short man between 20 and % years of az,
and having black hair. The other man wa
tall, but that is the only description that caI
be given. Both men spoke in English 1t i
evident that the parties knew something o
the parsonage, as they knew where to fine
the priest asleep and did not disturb tn,
curate, or his room