Smyrna times., 1907-05-29
BODY OF MAN
FOUND IN TRUNK
Armenian Priest Strangely Murdered
in New York.
THREE GREEKS SUBJECTED

New York, May 27. Rev Eo+bou
haspar' Oh the Armenian Apostolic
church, of Hoboken, N. j., was mnr.
dered in this city some time last Wool,
The body was found in a trunk wbioh
mad Deen left as security for their
room rent my two Greeks. who three
weeks ago engaged a furnished room,
OF Mrs. Henry Sherer, who occnnioa
the third floor of a tenement at 900
West 37th street.
Removed to the morgue. the bodv
was identified as that of the priest Ho
had lived at COS Monastery street
West Hoboken, and frequently modo
trips to this city soliciting funds for
his church.
Father Kaspar, carrying a small
leather bag, in which his collections
were placed, came to be a familior
ngure IN Greek and Armenian circles
mere, and 1t is believed that he was
murdered for the money he carried
Inc body was in a kneeling posture
with the head bound against the lnees
with heavy strap passed over the
back OF the neck and was bnckIad
under the shins. The murdered man
must have been about 60 wears ola
He weighed probably 100 pounds and |
was about five feet four inches in |
height. A flowing beard u inches in |
length was streaked with grav bui
the long and bushy hair was black An
undershirt of balbriggan and a cuff on
the right wrist were all the BODY wore
Dut on top OF II had been thrown three
coats Of clerical cut. a white laundried
shirt two pairs of black lace shoes q
sort felt hat, two Roman collars and
a detached cuff.
Mrs. Sherer told the coroner that
when the two men engaged the room
IN her home they described themselves
as John and Paul Sarkis. each about
so years OF age. The men had been
visited. she said. by a man wearing a
clerical garb who looked not unlike
the murdered man. She thought that
this man called at 8 o'clock last Mon.
day morning. No one in the tenement
heard any unusual noises.
Late Wednesday afternoon an ex
press wagon brought to the house the
trunk which later was found to contain
the body. One of the dodgers. with the
aid OF young man who drove the ex.
press wagon, carried the trunk with
considerable difficulty to the room
That night Mrs. Sherer asked her
roomers for the rent due. They point
ed to the trunk and said it would be J
found to contain ample security fol |
what they owed. Later the men said
that the trunk delivered to them was
not theirs and that a mistake had been
made. Il remained in the house. how
ever, and was there when the roomers
left. On the next day unpleasant Il
odors were detected coming from tht q
room the strangers had occupied. and !
on Sunday Mrs. Sherer appealed tc
the police and the trunk was forced q
open. Il
The autopsy developed that the neck s.
had been broken. as had also one arm I
Coroner's Physician Lehane declared II
however. that death was due to suffo
cation. The internal organs were con.
gested and DR.. Lehane gave it as his
opinion that the man was thrust into +
the trunk while alive and the cover OF
the air-tight trunk held down until
death ensued. The condition of the +
organs were found to be similar tc il
hose in cases of asphyxiatiOn. +
The polio have ent out a general a
alarm for Sarki Ermajian. Sarki Bar il
norvion and Paul Sarisatan. \
Simon Pashakarian, of SOC 10th ave Il
lue, identified the trunk as belonging h
o Sarki Ermajian, an Armenian. who II
le said, roomed with him for fouI Il
months, and up to last Monday night "
when he quit the house. h
The police theory is that the priest -
vas murdered in the 10th avenue
louse. They believe that the priest was
ured to his room, there drugged
obbed and murdered and the trunk v
ater sent to the West 37th street I
ddress. According to one man who k
aw the body, Kaspar went to Hobo Il
zen from Providence, r. l. He had ?
'een in the habit of taking his meals "
i Greek restaurant in West 40th -
treet. The bag in which he carried his n
objections was found with his cloth fc
ng in the trunk. b