New Britain herald., 1915-08-06
.MONTVID PROTESTS . INNOCENCE TO LAST
Not Guilty" Cries Murderer, as
 He Is Swung Into Eternity

FRED HAND SOCIETY" A MYTH Murdered of Father Zebris and Eva
 Gilmanaitis Admits to Priest the
 He Blamed Grimes.
 Bernard Montvid is dead. The ac- complice of Peter krakas who assist ed in the atrocious murder of Rev. Joseph Zebris and Eva Gilmanaitis on February expiated his crime at the end of the hangman's moose in the state prison at WethersfieId shortly after midnight this morning and the curtain was rung down on the stage of life for the young des- perado who has held the spotlight in the drama of crime. The condemned man went to his death in a cool man. ner, protesting his innocence to the end
 Led oy Rev. o. T. Magnell, the prison chaplain, Montvid entered the death chamber at 12.06:20 o'clock and the trap was sprung which sent him to meet his God and Creator at 12:O6:41. pr Fox, the prison physi- clan, officially pronounced him dead at 12:1s o'clocks, His F1ifeless form was lowered into a solemn black cof- fin and the remains were taken in charge by Smith & Son who will inter them today in Mt. St. Benedict's cemetery at the expense of an anony- nous friend.
 Protests Innocence
 The condemned man walked to the scaffold in brisk manner with his arms pionioned to his side. The fea- lures were of a ghastly pallor as he entered the chamber. He gazed quickly at the moose which dangled at the end of the rope which was to send him into eternity. The chaplain slowly offered prayer which those in attendance could hear Montvid slowly repeating as he entered the death house. As he neared the rope and as the straps were being adjusted about his knee and ankles, Montvid said in a manner which denoted that he was resigned to his fate, Good Bye Father" and followed this with Not Guilty,' in a tone that was even more distinct than his farewell to his spir- itual adviser. It was a second after that that the signal was given by Warden Garner and the body was shot into the air. As it came back twitching of the lower limbs. This lasted only for moment, however. After the prison physician had pro- nounced him dead the coffin which contained handsome silver plate on which was inscribed, Bernard Mont vid, Died August G." bore the re- mains away.
 His Last Day on Earth.
 Montvid arose shortly after 6:3O o'clock yesterday which was some what later than what he had been ac- customed to get up. He busied him self with his toilet until the arrival  with a relish. He sa, for several hours with his head in his hands as meditating on the terrible deed for which in brief few hours he was to forfeit, his life.
 He had been somewhat disconsolate on the nor arrival of any word from his brother, Anton, of Chicago, who had been his best friend since he be- came entangled in his plight, but shortly before II o'clock letter ar rived and when the guard handed it to the condemned man he hastily opened it and read it hungrily several times. When he had completed ab- sorbing the contents or the missive, tears came to his eyes. This was the first time that he had betrayed any emotion.
 At dinner he again ate heartily and when the guard informed him that he was soon to leave the prison ward for his trip to the death house the con- demned man did not betray any signs of concern
 Makes Startling Admission.
 In the arrival at death house he was assigned to cage No. 1 and the death watch was placed over him. Father Magnell arrived at the prison early in the afternoon and began final preparations for the end He talked earnestly with the prisoner in regard to the existence of the Red Hand so- ciety' which both Montvid and krakas had maintained throughout thrir trials was instrumental in plan ming the murder of the priest and his Father Magnet req soned with Montvid to tell the truth