Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1914-11-25
FORMER PRIEST
HERE IS SHOT BY
HIS OWN PEOPLE
Father Csopey,\ Former Priest
at Greek Catholic Church
Here, Tried as a Traitor and
Shot by Hungarians.

Rev. Gabriel Csopey, up until two
years ago rector of the Greek Catho-
lie church of st. John, at Division
and Broad streets, this city, was
shot by his own people on the east
ern border OF Hungary, about the
middle Of September, according to a
letter Just received in Woodbridge
from q former resident of Perth Am
boy, who is now In Budapest.
According to the information OBJ
tanned, the priest was stationed at
parish in Marmaros-Sziget, on the
eastern frontier of Hungary. Rus
sian Cossacks drove the Austrian
Hungarian army from the place, and
held it for several days. Father
Csopey, 1t is said, would not fee his
post. and was captured by the forces
of the Gear. 1t is believed that Rev.
Mr.. Csopey was forced to swear alle-
glance to the Car and the orthodox
Greek Catholic church, as when the
city was recaptured by the Austro-
Hungarian arms, he was court mar
tailed twice, found guilty of being
an apostate, and shot His father
in-law, eighty-two years old. who
was also a priest in the city, was
found guilty, but because of his age
and mental weakness was pardoned
from the sentence of death.
The letter was sent by woman
living In Budapest, Hungary, who in
September interviewed a number OF
the fleeing refugees from the eastern
frontier OF Hungary, when the Rus
slams were making their victorious
onslaught on the army of Austro-
Hungary.
The refugees declared that every
man, woman and child who could
flee had left Marmaros-Sziget, most
of them coming to Budapest. Some
were unable to leave until the place
had been recaptured from the Rus
slams. These told the story of the
former Perth Amboy priest being
court martialed twice, being con-
demned to death and being shot at IA
military execution, such as usually
rendered a traitor or spy.
They stated that the priest could
not escape when the Russians took
possession of the city, or that he
purposely thought it was his duty to
remain at his post and was captured
by the Cars soldiers. They told
how the priest had been made to
swear allegiance to the Gar as head
of the orthodox Greek Catholic
church, which was vastly different
from the religion of the Greek Cath
olics of Hungary. The priest. It was
said, was threatened with death lest
he take the required oaths, and he
n lon de- aS hn
Russians. When the Austro-Hunga-
rian army received reinforcements
they rushed the city and recaptured
It, Father Csopey was seized, ac-
cused of swearing allegiance to the
Gear as head of the orthodox Greek
Catholic church, court martialed with
his aged father-in-law and both were
acquitted because of lack of evil
dence. A few days after the priests
had been released a new witness was
found who had remained in the city
after 1t had been captured by the
Russians. He swore that the two
priests had forsaken the vows OF
their original church on compulsion
of the Russians. Father Csopey was
rearrested and so was his father-in-
law. They were again court mar
tailed and this time condemned to
die. Father Csopey was blindfolded
and placed in front of firing squad
and shot to death. His aged father
n-law was released.
Father Ccopey has a son in the
Hungarian army, and left here two
years ago to return to his native land
to look after the interests of his son.
The priest visited brother In
WIkesBarre, Pa, for several
months and returned to Hungary a
year ago last June. He was rector
OF the Greek Catholic church of st.
John, at Division and Broad streets,