Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-10
A Double Murder
 at New Britain
4 LITHUANIAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
 AND HIS HoUsEkEEPER.
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
Crime Discovered When Parlshioners Investigated Cause of Priests Failure to Attend Mass-5ursIars' Tools Found in the House.

New Britain, Conn, Feb 9.-A double murder, the circumstances of which are yelled in mystery. was dis covered in the rectory of St. Andrews Lithuanian Catholic church here to- day. the victims being Rev. Joseph Zebris and his housekeeper. Miss Iva E. Gilman. Bullet wounds were found in both bodies and ropes had been tied tightly around each Of their necks.
 Burglars Tools Found in House.
 Miss Gilman's body was found in room in the attic, the door of which was locked and the key broken in the lock. The priests body was on the floor of the study on the first floor. The rectory had been ransacked. pa- pers and letters being scattered about. monkey wrench. a jimmy and other tools used by burglars were found. but four empty cartridge shells were located.
 Police Are Baffied.
 After an investigation lasting all day, local and state police admitted to- night they were baf1ed and thaE they had not unearthed any tangible clue. All the letters and papers found are being searched carefully, especially those written in a foreign language From the fact that the priest had re- ceived threatening letters demanding money, and in view of the ransacking of desk drawers and cabinets contain ing private papers, the police lean to been revenge or robbery.
 Priest Killed First
 The circumstances indicate. the po- lice say, that the priest was killed first and nat Miss Gilman, hearing the scuffie, and coming to his rescue, was chased upstairs and shot and Gtrangled. A bullet wound was found in her arm. \ cloth aCIiYn +iad Sfn around her neck that strang1lation probably was the immediate cause of death. One of two bullets in the priests body had pierced the heart. A but, in the opinion of the police, the bullet wounds caused death.
 Small Boy Made Discovery.
 The doors and windows of the rec tory were securely fastened. When the priest failed to attend mass, the parishiOneTs investigated. A small boy crawled through the cellar window of
 Members of the congregation have taken preliminary steps toward offer ing a reward for the apprehension of the murderer or murdererS.
 Four Bullets in Priests Body.
 A partial autopsy performed on the body of Rev. Father Zebris late to- night disclosed that four bullets had
 
 would have resulted in death. One bullet entered the abdomen and frac- tured a rib; another grazed the heart and lodged in the back; third took a downward course, puncturing the liver, while a fourth entered near the breast. None of the bullets has been located. The investigation was in charge of DT. Philip Bunce of Hartford. Ice Pick Used on Housekeeper. I preliminary examination of the wounds on Miss Gilman's body showed that the wound supposed at first to ably made by a large ice pick, which was found near the body. Chief of Police Rawlings returned to the city late tonight from visi' out of town, but other than admitting that he had been running down what appeared to be Q clue, he declined to talk.
 Priest Feared Attack on His Life. It became known to the police thai 1 the priest had recently expressed fears upon his life and that on one occasion upon returning from a late sick call l he had insisted on a parishioner re- 1 turning to the rectory with him. This man was John Kanapa, who was ques- toned Sy the police tonight. Talk of Two Strange Men. l It is understood that he told the police that on his way back to the 1 rectory with the priest they saw two ] strange men. It is said that on th' l same night two strangers had called upon Rev. Father Zebris and asked l him to perform a marriage ceremony i He sent them away. telling them tC ] bring the woman with them. 1 Had Incurred Enmity of Socialists. { The priest had incurred bitter en. i mity, the police say, because of hi! public utterauCes against certain SO i cialist societies. It is recalled here ! that while he was pastor of a Hart l ford chuI ch, about three years ago l there was a small riot because of hi: 1 sermon against socialism and a police ] squad was necessary to preserve or 1 der.
 1 IL was also learned tonight tha many women parishiOners had giveI i sums of money to Miss Gilman to keeI for them. W hat has become of th' money could not be ascertained to- | night.