San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-03
Vicar General Of Roman
Catholic Church in Rus
STA Executed.
KILLED in SECRECY
MOI Even Threat Of War
Could Have Stopped 1t,
Is Belief.

Moscow. April 3.-Monsignor Con-
stantine Bhtchkavitch, vicar general
of the Roman Catholic church in Rus
sia, condemned to death for wilfully
opposing the soviet government, has
been executed by a firing squad.
The fate of the prelate, in doubt
since. last Thursday, when his ap-
peal for clemency was denied, became
known today, when it was announced
that the death sentence had been car
ried out last Saturday.
The secrecy that surrounds s/.1et
executions makes uncertain the cir
cumstances under which the sentence
was carried out, but 1t seems prob
able that Monsignor Butchkavitch
was put to death in the Moscow pris-
on for the condemned. to which he
Ncd been removed after reprievc
refused.
,e appeals from the outside world
! III had poured in upon the SOVIET
authorities Ind no effect IN sfaS3 p.z
the hand of the executioners.
Nothing Could Have stopped It.
Competent opinion is that even the
breaking Of diplomatic relations by
outside governments or threat of
war would not have moved the Mos
COW officials from their course. Their
last word in the case had been spoken,
it appears, when they committed TO
ten years imprisonment the death
sentence upon Archbishop Zepliak,
convicted at the same time as Vicar
General Butchkavitch.
Protests from all parts OF the
world were made against the execu-
ton of the death sentence, the Amer
lean government joining in the APP
peals for clemency.
The protest of the American state
department was based on humanitar-
ian grounds and set forth 1.-THE earn
est hope" that. the life of the vicar
general might be spared.
Given Title BY Pope.
Monsignor Butchkavitch was father
superior of the church of st. Catherine
in Petrograd. He held the title of
prelate to his holiness, granted by
the Pope for special services. He
was % years old. He came from an
old and wealthy family of Polish
origin. although he himself was a
Russian citizen.
Monsignor Butchkavitch was n con-
spicuous figure in the trial of the
Catholic prelates and priests at which
he appeared bald-headed. rosy-faced
and bespectacled. He bore himself
with marked serenity throughout that
ordeal which resulted in death sent
ences for himself and Archbishop
Zepliak and prison terms for their
fifteen fellow prisoners.
Foreign Minister Tchitcherin in
formed Poland yesterday that Pre-
mier Sikorski's recent pronouncement
in regard TO the sentences imposed,
on Archbishop Zepliak and Vicar
General Butchkavitch lis undoubted-
ly an unfriendly act and manifests
an aggressive policy towards Rus
sia."
The Russian note said: ,.
Text Of Russian Note.
"In view of the fact that every
state has the undennble right to
punish criminals ace 'rding to the
laws of its own territory, the at
tempt to intervene in this right and
prevent the execution of legal
sentence passed upon a Russian citi-
zen proved guilty of crime against
the people and the state-an attempt
accompanied by threats and unheard
OF insults directed against the Rus
sian. government-is undoubtedly an
unfriendly act and manifests an az
sressive policy towards Russia,