The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-08

Police We're. unable to determine
the reason for the crime, although the
woman, in a confession, charged the
priest with squandering the church's
money and leading the people from
the path of true religion. Officials are
trying to determine whether indict-
ment Of the woman's husband, also a
priest, in connection with the en-
bezzlement Of church funds, had any
thing to do with the affair.
Wife of Former Pastor
Mrs. Strutynsky is the wife of the
Rev. Nicholas Strutynsky, former
paster Of the church and now pastor
Of the church of st. John the Baptist,
in Ramey. Pa, suburb Of Harrisburg.
In her confession, the woman said the
revolver was given her by Father
Valentine Belogh, of Youngstown,
Ohio. for my own protection" Police
are checking up this. statement.
The principals in the tragedy are
Ukranians.
Five weeks ago the woman came
here with the sole idea of killing the
priest, she told police. For days she
Swallowed her victim, several times
on the verge of using her revolver,
but each time she withheld her fire
for fear Of possible failure, she said.
Knelt in Prayer
SO Saturday she decided on the
church as the theater Of action and
the Sabbath as the time. she said.
Men and women, sitting in quiet medt.
tation, or kneeling in prayer, paid no
attention to i tall, slender figure,
robed in black, as It moved down the
aisle. At the altar the figure knelt
in prayer William Gvozdjak, Sunday
school teacher. noted the woman was
a stranger. and asked II he could aid
her She responded with a request
to confess Gvozdjak led her to the
confessional, where the Rev Stetsuk
awaited her.
A moment later the crack Of re-
volver was heard. The Rev. Stetsuk
staggered from the confessional be-
hind the altar into full view. His
hand was clasped to his mouth and
thin stream of red trickled from be-
tween his fingers.
Bullet Pierces Back
Another shot rang out. and bullet
pierced the priests back He stag
wered. now calling out he had been
shot. The black robed woman ap-
Feared from the confessional, and
while she shouted "you cheat, you
oppressor." size fired three shots at
the back of +he lurching body One
bullet struck the priest in the hip and
the others pierced his robes.
Near the street door the priest col
lapsed-
The woman ran toward the door and
attempted.to hurdle the body Two
women seized her. Other members OF
the congregation gathered about the
slayer while cries OF XIII ner; she has
killed our priest" rang out.
Police Summoned
Some one called a policeman and
he summoned a squad from n nearby
station. They rescued the woman, as
frenZied men and women tore her
dress and jostUed her about.
In her confession the woman said
her husband had built up the church
and then was removed to make way
for the Rev. StetsUk.
MY husband gave his life to build
ing up the cnurcn ana then ne was
dismissed" she said. Father Stetsuk
cheated my people. He was a cheat
and hypocrite. I had TO kill him"
Police said the woman appeared to
be mentally unbalanced.
Officials later said her husband
had been indicted on a charge of en-
bezzling $4,000 Of, the money secured
for building the Chicago church.
One official said the Rev. Stetsuk
had threatened to push the prosecu-
ton against Rev. Strutnysky and this
may have been the motive IN the kill
ing.
The woman is a Ukrauian writer
and lecturer OF note. Her husband Is
said to be a member of the Ukranian
nobility.