Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-07
STARTLING Statement
CAUSES QUESTIONING
AT The GROSS TRIAL

NEW BRUNSWICK, Jan. The
trial Of the Rev. Francis Gross charg-
ed with having melted to riot, was
continued this morning in the county
court here before Judge Peter +.
Daily and the jury chosen yesterday,
with every prospect that 1t will con-
tinue today and last at least through
tomorrow. The state had not ex-
hausted It's list of witnesses up to a
late hour today and the liability of
an elaborate defense of the priest
gives promise of an extended session
before the case goes to the jury.
Yesterday afternoons testimony in
the case was colorful in the extreme
and particularly so when Joseph Ia
kacs, a parishioner In Father Gross
church. testified to the effect that the
priest had on November /, All Saints
Day, when he is alleged to have in
cited his congregation to riot against
Louis Csipo, made the statement that
II have already beaten up, bleeding
the Jew-it's up to you now"
The reference to the Jew" was pa
tently made with regard to Arthur
Reichmann, sworn enemy OF the
priest and editor OF the New Jersey
Hiraldo, the Hungarian weekly whose
appearance In Csipo's window led, to
the attack on his steamship agency
and banking house. The reference to
the beating UP might have been with
reference to the attack on Reichmann
which the priest has been indicted
for making two days prior to the day
Of the riot. when. It is alleged, he
entered Reichmann's office and struck
the editor over the head with an iron
bar. The trial on the Indictment
charging the priest with striking
Reichmann is slated to follow the
present arraignment.
Takacs had testified along similar
lines to other witnesses as to Father
Gross's address to the congregation,
but, ne said, the priest har included in
his address the implication that the
congregation should also go to Reich
mans place and dispose of copies of
the paper there.
On cross examination by Thomas
Brown, attorney for the priest, it was
brought out that the reference TO the
Jew" had been made after the read
ing of the article attacking the priest.
The defendants counsel attempted 10
bring out that the beating up story
had been read from the story and he
was partially successful in gaining
such an admission from the witness.
Tells of Rioting.
Miss Annie Fischer, another parish
ioner, who was the first witness called
told OF the walk with the mob from
the church to Csipo's place and OF the
rioting there. She said that she had
entered the bank and had taken up
her stand on the ledge of the state
street show window. where she had
had view of the proceedings. She
said that she had seen the paper in
the window and had seen a girl tear
1t out. She also testified to having
seen Csipo reach beneath the counter
of the store and take out a revolver
which he fired five times. in rapid sue
cession, she said. The people In the
place had all "ducked" for cover. she
claimed. at the sound of the first shot.
She testified that she heard requests
made of Csipo that he take the papepS
out of the windows. and that he ha8
refused to do so unless the people left
the place. She said that the name OF
the girl who tore the paper out of the
window was Lizzie Bellanyi.
Andrew Krafer and Joseph Mancz.
both members of Father Gross's
church. testified to their attendance at
the All Saints Day service and to the
use of substantially the same language
as had been testified TO by other wit
nesses.
Something Thrown at Banker.
Joseph Szoka OF South River, one
of Csipo's clients. said that he was at
the bankers place of business on Nov
ember /, between 10 and 1880 o'clock
and that he was there when the mob
entered the place. He also testified
that he had seen something thrown at
had seen a second object hurled at