The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-09
CITIZENSHIP FRAUD
CHARGED TO PASTOR
Hungarian Priest Accused of
Not Foregoing Allegiance,
Despite Oath.
SEDITIOUS TALK Barred
Praise for Germans and Insults
to American Arms
Alleged.

A petition asking for the cancellation
OF the citizenship papers Of the Rev
Francis Gross. pastor OF Hungarian
Catholic Church at Perth AmboN' on
the ground that they were obtained by
fraud. was filed yesterday in the United
States District Court in Newark by
Charles F. Lynch. United States District
Attorney The papers were issued March
II. 1910.
The fraud alleged is that at the time
OF the filing Of the application the priest
did not. as he then and there declared.
renounce allegiance to the Emperor OF
Austria Hungary. OF whom he had there
tofore been a subject. and did not intend
to. as he then and there declared. un-
der oath, he would do, support and de-
fend the Constitution and laws OF the
United States"
In telling members of his congrega-
tihn why he wouldn't buy Liberty bonds
Father Gross Is charged in tine petition
with saving:
Il have not bought Liberty bonds he
take charge of this parish and may at
any time after peace has been declared
be called back to Hungary. What could
! say when my people asked whether |
had contributed TO help America win
the war? My sister has son in the
Hungarian army. and suppose he was
killed. what could | say to her.
Insult to Allies.
On the Sunday following the Halifax
tarbor ship disaster Father Gross.
preaching from his pulpit. is alleged 10
have said
do you see. my dear flock. how big
the power of God ia. and with what an
awful catastrophe he punished famous
America and her proud allies? ! hope
I more accidents like that will happen. be-
cause in 1t see Gods hand clearly, ana
! hope God will help Germany and Hun
gary to win"
, In conversation with members OF his
! CONGREGATION he is accused OF having
made these remarks.
You see | am Hungarian and moth
! ing else. Neither Perth Amboy nor the
| United States Government nor the Nesu-
! vius volcano can turn me TO something
else want you all to be good Hun
garians like me. Why. the leaders Of
! the UnlteO states tONeTilIIent nave AL
, gone crazy They have lost their brains
! and their heads and are running the
/ country blindly 10 destruction They
! have even driven the Cardinal at Boston
crazy. for did ne not on Thanksgiving
! Day pray TO- victory for the American
! Army, Who ever heard Of bigger stupid
! ness. They are all crazy and distracted -
! Refused to- Pray for United states
The prizes. is also charged with having
made the following utterances
II received a letter from my Bishor
ordering me to pray for an American
! victory. but I will never pray for such d
( victory ] am willing 10 pray for vic
! tory for the German and Hungarian
armies"
Other remarks he is alleged 20 have
made follow:
/ The leaders of the United States Gov
eminent are a bunch OF fools when COM
! pared with the members Of the German
: Government. They went crazy whe,
they had the nerve TO declare wal
against Germany. An American army
, Of 6. 900 900 men cannot stand up against
100000 Germans | only wish the
: Germans win the war and that the
| Americans will have to pay a big in
demnity. Woodrow Wilson ought to bs
a teacher in a little country school in
stead OF President"
Judge Adrian Lyon OF the Court OF
Common Pleas OF M!ddiesex county mad,
! an affidavit TO the effect that Father
Gross tried to get admitted into th'
Catholic diocese OF Trenton and was re
jected