The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-24
Women In Riot
 At Rectory of The
 Slovenian Church
CContinued from Page 11

lectors who had been active in secur- ing financial support to the church, are said to have been replaced by others who were notedly unresponsive In their gifts. This caused informal meetings of the men of the church who were urged by their wives to seek Father Panik's removal. AS a result petition was presented to the priest asking him to vacate the par tsh- He refused to do so.
 Persons consptcuius in the rioting today declared. after the arrests. that the trouble began to reach a crisis last Sunday when the priest spoke of the size of the collection. Last Wed nesday evening, they say, Father Pan 1k spoke from the altar about the con- duct of the parishioners, and declared that their conduct had become sacri- religious. They say that thereupon when the collection box was passed many of the parishfoners spat in it.
 While Fr. Jankola, during the lat ter years of his life had remained steadfastly in the parish house, the prisoners assert that Rev. Panik spent much of his time with younger mem bers of the congregation in automo- bile riding, which they regarded as not consistent with priestly dignity.
 A committee was appointed to visit Bishop John J. Milan in Hartford yes terday. The committee were under
  grocer of Church street. They were unable to see the Bishop, who is be- neved to have been absent from the city.
 Upon their return they reported to the women of the church that they had been unable to effect Q transfer of the priest. The women declared that if the men were unable to do anything they would.
 A plot to gather at Penn broke, Church streets and Cres- cent avenue at an early hour this morning was successful. About 40 led the procession to the parish house. At 8 30 their ranks had been swelled to nearly 300 and when the police ar rived 5 minutes later 1t is asserted a mob of 400 were present, without a single man appearing Many of the women carried babies.
 The ring leaders entered the church property through the gateway of high iron fence, between the church edifce and the parochial school, crowded the lawn of the parish house, then rang the door bell. Rev. Panik responded and ushered the leaders into the reception hall. There they found his coat and hat
 Here is your hat and coat, father - one of the women told him. We do not want you here, please depart now.''
 The priest, who said later that he was entertaining the remainder of wedding party that had attended the wedding of his brother in th1s c1ty yesterday, refused to depart.
 On the lower floor of the parish house which is a two story frame building, were F-r. Krasula, a Torr1ng- ion man and his sister, related to Rev Panik but whose names have been withheld and Miss Julia Ofstrof- sIxv of this city.
 Tearing violence to his person which was threatened by the angry women who had already broken panel or glass in the outer doorway as mark of their determination, F'r. Panik re- treated and managed to bolt heavy oak door between himself and the in vaders. Hastily gathering his house. hold as a bombardment of sticks ana heavy bricks and stones from the street broke down the heavy doorway, the party retreated to an upper room into which they locked themselves, barricading the door with furniture
 The mob broke windows and small pieces of furniture, following the bonn bardment of eggs which had been hurled into the house at the party from every available point, including the rear steps of the sacristy.
 Though no attempt was made to vi o1ate the sanctity of the church itself the doorways of which were draped in
  parochiaI school in which several sis ters were engaged in teaching the young, the close proximity to the scene of action caused the sisters to It was with difficulty that order was preserved and the children kept in their pIaces for jibes and shouting from the crowd filled the streets and could be heard for several blocks.
 It at this juncture that a, wo-
 
 would be injured rushed to the second precinct police station and reported to Lieutenant O'Leary that the priest had been choked to death. Policemen were rushed to the scene under com mand of Sergeant Wheeler. Reserves were ordered from police headquar- ters Within few minutes a dozen .or more officers were on the scene
 They found the house wrecked and the carpets stained with reeIxing eggs.
 Upon the approach of the police the women invaders retreated. Rev. Pan- ik and his party were released from the upper room. As demonstration against the new pastor continued it was thought best to convey him to the police automobile to the Second precinct station, both as a safeguard, and that he might identify his assail- ants. Thirteeen persons were picked from the drowd as ringleaders and readily submitted to arrest with their babies in arms, which the police as- sert is preparedness move often re- sorted to by the foreign people when creating a disturbance
 At the Second precinct station, where the offenders were booked, a mob of women congregated, still threatening the pastor. They were dispersed by the police only to come into the station individually and in groups and demand that they be ar- rested for participation in the riot. There being no evidence against them, arrests could not be made. The po- lice assert that such free admission of guilt and desire for arrest is most unusual.
 Later Father Panik was removed by