New Britain herald., 1915-07-17
SAYS MONTVID WAS '
 NOT TRIED FAIRLY
Murderer's Brother Asks Govern.
 or to Exercise Clemency.

Governor M. H. HolcoInb from Anton Montvid of Chicago yesterday the western brother of the condemned murderer of Rev. Joseph Zebris and Eva Gilmanaitis, Bernard Montvid, makes a plea that the sentence of death be commuted to life impris- onment. In his letter the brother uses strong terms ana calls Inter preter M. R. Malinowski anything but truth telling individual and also declares that his brother was not giv- en a fair trial by State Attorney Hugh M Alcorn. The letter is herewith printed in its entirety and in another column of this issue is a statement from Mir MalinowskI who knows more of the inside doing of this fam ious murder than any other man ex- cept Montvid, in reply to the wes erner's glaring statements:
 To His Ekcellency Governor of Con-
 necticut State.
 The life of Bernard Montvid is fully in the hands of Your Excellency Being innocent he will be executed on August 6, 1915, in states prison, Wethersfield, Conn, unless you pre- vent his execution. You have the power to change his death penalty. into life inprisonment. Even this punishment will be too severe for him but I don't dare to ask anything inn possible. Of course, if you will take in consideration that a priest has been murdered and for the sympathy to the clergy will agree to impose a death renalty, even on an innocent person, then no attention will be given to this ter-petition. The police officers jury and states attorney didn't look much for justice while trying Bernard Montvid because their attention was to serve clergy I was watching all procedure very closely since the arrest of Bernard and the following points will give you clearer view of the sub Ject.
 Condemned by the Press
 As soon as Bernard had been ar rested and nothing in reality was known about. his connection with Rev. Joseph Zebris's of New Britain mur- der. all Lithuanian newspapers pub- Iished by the prists nd their asso- ciates started to. pred1ct first degree murder for Bernard and gave various which were obtained from police departm rents. The copies l of my letters found with Bernard, l were mailed to our clerical papers and l published. Three persons of Lithuan- 1 an progressive press were involved in l Eernard's would be confession. If l ou only could read articles of our | ,lerical press you would positively be- ieve that police department, includ- l ng MT. Malinowski, made conspir- !! acy not only to take Bernard's life but | .c check progressive movement in | nationality Lithuanian clergy and certain officials of Connec- | .icut state prepared first degree for | long before his trial.
 BIames Montvid's Counsel
 Bernard ,Montvid didn-t have the ] means for obtaining a good counsel. l No selection has been offered and he 1 N as compelled to be satisfied with the counsel appointed. He did not waste ,r arguments. He was positive that he jury will believe Bernard's story and therefore everything was done 10 tbreyiate the trial States attorney VT Alcorn was given all opportunity to agitate the jury Being an aple speaker and using the terms which in f.uence jury composed of oldash, very religious. full of various prejudices men, he succeeded. Being public speaker for years know that common people, especially farmers (of which the jury was composed) can be led to the greatest mistake by a good speak CT. There was very little said 1n Bernard's behalf by his counsel that's why he was convicted.
 The jurors were farmers with a lit tl- exception and aged persons. The ss sate's attorney accepted only those whom he thought being very much in favor of capital punishment. I watched all procedure and was not satisfied.
 State drew more than 50 witnesses against Bernard and most of them testified in Bernard's behalf, only the police officers, detectives and other states forces testified against him. That's their business Because as far as know about detectives-they manufacture the facts and even the crimes when there is none in reality. MT. and Mrs. vinkaitis of New Brit ain and two or three other witnesses who testified against Bernard were di- reetly interested in reward offered by the state and Lithuanian parish of New Britain MT. and Mrs. Breither told me personally that they added few things because they were afraid to get into trouble and police may think that he lBreither) was acting together
 Calls Malinowski Liar.
 MT. Malinowski states investigator o,. detective, who was chief witness, rroved that he prefers the lie instead of truth Bernard testified that Mali nowski was Heinz to him every time lie came to obtain Bernard's confes- sion He lied to states attorney that there's a Red Hand society of Anerci- ca between Lithuanians; he lies when selling intoxicating drinks in his drug