Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-05-29
Gross Takes Up Stand
In His Own Defense Today
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Gross containing a testimonial in IA
vor OF Csipo was introduced, it COM
ing out in the testimony that the ar
ticle had been written by Father Gross
seven years ago-at the time when he
and Csipo were friends Just before
the case was adjourned for the after
noon recess Father Gross told OF at
tending three funerals in Woodbridge
on October 80.
Rosie Ruskie's witness for the de-
Tense, said that she did not see any
thing thrown before the shots were
fired by Csipo. n that the windows
were not broken until after Csipo had
done the shooting and that she heard
no threats against Csipo. She said
that one OF h party named Kurutz,
told Csipo the best thing to do was to
remove the papers from the window.
She also stated hat Father Gross was
not angry when he talked to his con-
gregation concerning the papers, but
spoke nicely. The witness maintain
ed that Csipo was not bleeding while
she was in his place of business. She
said that the congregation would have
gone to Csipo's office and asked for
the removal of the papers whether
Father Gross had spoken or not.
Annie Fisher, Elizabeth Marsty and
Mrs. Papa also testified for the de-
fence.
Sister Marguerite, who is connected
with the parish, when placed on the
stand said that Father Gross had read
a paper telling where h Holy Fam
lily" had been attacked. He had gone
to Csipo and asked him to have the
copies of the papers in his window
removed. and Csipo had given his
word of honor that he would remove
the papers, but the next day a new
paper appeared in the window.
The sister said that Father Gross
asked the people having business with
Csipo to go down and talk to him. es-
pecially the women folks, and urge
him to take the paper out of the win
dow. She said that she had gone to
Csipo's with Father Gross, but de-
| MED that Father Gross called him a
rascal, she claimed that Father Gross
did say, you are a noble gentleman,
please do not disgrace you national
ity in this country. h said that
Father Gross did not pull an iron bar
from under his coat and break an
inkwell as stated. nor lid he place his
hand in his pocket to pull a revolver
as alleged.
ON cross examination she said hat
Father Gross had not said that he
would beat him. She maintained that
she had heard all that Father Gross
had said in church. The sister admit
ted that she had been in the prose-
cutor's office with Richard A. A. Pei
ter and stephen S. Somogyi the Of
fetal court Interpreter, but in answer
to a question from the prosecutor
said. she had not made statement that
Father Gross beat Reichman. the ed
itor of the New Jersey Hirado, over
the head.
Thomas Kurutz, the second wit
ness for the defense. was summoned
to both trials by the state but his
testimony was not taken at either
trial for the state.
Shortly after the alleged riot Ku-
ruiz signed a statement at the Perth
Amboy police station charging vari-
Gus statements to Father Gross. On
the witness stand yesterday he iden-
titled Chief of County Detectives Pei
tier as the one who had written the
statement Inc Arthur Reichman as
the man who had interpreted his ut
.terances. After being questioned by
the prosecutor, Kurutz denied having
made some of the allegations at the
also denied hat the questions and
answers had been real to him before
he was asked to sign.
The next witness vas also sum-
moned by the prosecution for both
sides. At the first trial his testimony
was given for the state, but at the
second he was not on the witness
stand until called by the defense. He
is a member of the defendants
church, having remained with the
Gross faction after the split up in the
congregation. No damage to Csipo
or his place of business was intended
by the congregation at the time they
left the church, according to the wit
ness.
Louis Kemeny. the jeweler who
Csipo testified as to using, told of
selling the bullets to the complaining
witness. Csipo at the time expressed
his fear of Father Gross, saying
Gross has hit Reichmann over the
head and I expect to be next" The
witness said Csipo had remarked at
the time that thu bullets were pur-
chased for self protection In case
Gross should attack him.
Another of the Pensioners, Annie
Baranke, of Perth Amboy, related
the incidents leading up to the fracas.
She was one of the unfortunates who
was reached by one of the bullets
fred from Csipo's revolver, having
been hit in the right ear while
'crouching down in front of the coun-
ter in Csipo's place of business
There was no intent to do DAM
age or cause any trouble at Csipo's
store, either by the priest or mem
bers OF the church, Father Gross
merely requesting his flock to use
sold the box of bullets, five of which
their influence with Csipo to have the