The Washington herald., 1907-05-28
POLITICS IN MURDER
Father Caspar Believed to
Have Been Slain as Spy.
MEMBER OF AMERICAN JUNTA
Priest Said to Have Been Unpopular
with Certain Glass of COuntrymen
tionists-KnOwn in Chicago-Arrest
Made I'm West-Trunk Identified.

New York, May 27.-Diligeut effort on
the part Of "A corp Of detectives from
headquarters and the West Thirty
seventh street station, did not make much
hoadway to-day against the solution Of
the problem Of how the body Of the Greek
priest, Father Caspar Haran. or Var
tartan, came % be found doubled up I'm
a trunk in a vacant room. at S33 West
Thirty seventh street. Sunday. Three
men. and possibly four. whom the de-
tectiyes believe to be implicated in the
uurier Of the iJinerant priest from West
Hoboken, have not yet been found
To-days developments brought forth
two facts which may uncover the motive
Of the murder and clear away 70 some
extent the doubt concerning how. and
when, the priest met his death. Most
important Of these discoveries is the
fact that Father Caspar was a politician
as well as cleric, and that he had close
alliance with one of the Armenian secret
revolutionary societies in this city.
Il was learned to-day that very recently
there had been a split in the ranks of the
revolutionary workers Of the local Ar
menian colony. and that much bad blood
had been engendered between the two
factions.
Nahram Serpossian, an Armenian who
conducts a restaurant at 137 East Twenty
sixth street. and number Of Armenians
gathered there. explained 10 a reporter
to-day iUst what relations Of the Hencke-
kis or Henchagian. Society may be found
TO bear with the murder Of Father Cas-
par when the hidden facts in the case are
brought 20 light.
Serposslan IS thoroughly conversant
with Armenian affairs. ne also knew the
murdered priest we'll
Revolutionary societies.
Throughout all Europe and in America,
wherever there is a sufficiently large col
ony of loyal Armenians. branches of the
Honchekis have been established The
order is purely a revolutionary one, and
the avowed object is to free Armenia and
neghuOring Christian countries from the
rule of the Turks. The New York Branch
of the society had been established some
time ago. said the Armenian restaurant
keeper, and had worked for many years
i'm harmony until two months ago. when
there was a serious schfsm.
There have been spies in our own num-
ber,' said Serpossian to-day. THE accu-
sation Of spy has been made often against
men who have been members Of our
society.
II this Father CasDar was q spy. we
are glad that he was killed as he was"
said the restauranteur. and the others
shook their heads in approval.
The restaurant Keeper and his compan-
ions said that Father Caspar had been a
member Of the Honckekis and had a bad
reputation.
The editor of Slavic paper in this city
said that a week ago last Sunday the
new branch Of the Honckekis held a
meeting in Lyric Hall. which was ad-
dressed by a Gen. Spiridonowitz. Of the
Russian revolutionary party, in a fiery ap-
peal to instant revolution. Resolutions
were passed calling upon the head Paris
junta OF the society TO prepare an upris-
ing simultaneously in Macedonia, Ar
menia. Arabia, and Albania.
Editor Knew Priest.
Il knew of this Father Caspar." said
the editor, "and It Is my belief that he
very likely was killed because Of his con
nection with one of the cliques in this
patriotic society He was known TO be
great politician, as most Of the Armenian
priests are"
The second fact brought out in tO-days
investigation which forces the detectives
to reverse their theories Of the time and
place where Father Caspar was mur-
dered, is that ne was seen alive at u
o'clock noon on Wednesday, and in the
restaurant of the man Yaharam Serpos-
sian.
The police have learned more about Sar-
kis Ermajian, the third man believed to
Cnntinned On pape 2 CoIufnr, 4