The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-08
April 20 Set For
 Execution--Ju Verdict Unanimous
BY ANNE ZEMAITIS

the sordid acts which left Mrs. Stephane Plungis' buIlet-ridden, naked, and feless body deserted bridle path in Middlebury Nov. 1.
 Death in the electric chair at Wethers6eld State Prison on April 20 for the former local supernumerary policeman pronounced in superior court at 12:45 today following nearly two and half hours of deb@ eration by the three judges, Frank F. McEvoy, John H. King, and Howard Alcorn.
 The decision was unanimous Judge McEvoy ans nounced.
 Neither sorrow nor fear registered on the face of Zukauskas he was led to the bench by Sheriff Chris Olsen when the decision was read He walked slowly and calmly and held his head high as the decision of death was pronounced.
 Only when the sheriffs began to lead him from the courtroom did he show any reluctance to going to his fate. He recoiIed as a sheriff grabbed his arms firmly pushed backwards, and had to be literally pulled to the doorway.
 Mrs. Edna ZuLauskas, wife of the accused, wept uncontroably and her sobs sounded above the voice of Judge McEvoy, who closed the proceedings.
 Only few minutes before zukauskas and his wifd were laughing joking they sat at the prisoners pen and awaited the decision. I
 When the judges out of the chambers and order was restored in the courtroom Judge McEvoy stated m the of the State of Connecticut versus Francis F. ZukauSkaS the court by unanimous decision finds the accused guilty of murder in the first degree as charged
 The jurist called upon the sheriff to make procaa nation of silence while the sentence of death pronounced against the prisoner at the bar"
 When the last word of the sheriff uttered zuaus. kas was led forward
 Judge McEvoy then stated "Te sentence of this court that you Francis F. Zukauskas hereby remanded to the custody the sheriff of this county to be conveyed by him proper authority within the next 20 days to the Connecticut State Prison at Wethersed where you shall thereafter be safely kept until the 20h day of Aps S45 when the punishment of death shall be inflicted upon you"
 Turning away from the bench, evidently dazed by the penalty Zukauskas started to look to the side of the court his wife sat and sobbed but sheriff suddenly jerked him away and began to lead him out.
 Spectators ordered to remain in their seats, and shers watched to that left the building while the prisoner still in the prisoners in the basement
 News Spreads Fast
 Crowds of persons gathered Kendrick avenue and eavenworth street word of the death penalty spreads and hundreds stood about to watch the accused leave fH the which drove up to take him back to New Haven county jail
 High Sheriff J. Edward slavn was on hand to instruct the deputy shers who covered the courthouse building
 Mrs. Mary Norgren, Waterbury policewoman, stayed with Zukauskas and tried to comfort her her husband taken from the courtroom Neither the mother of the accused his sisters present to hear the sentence
 spectator who heard Judge McEvoy impose the death sentence found his knees shaking he walked down the steps of the courthouse.
 "Its pretty tough thing to hear death sentence imposed of your fellow men," he sad straning at his tie
 Fitzgerald who prosecuted the charge with the aid ot Assistant States Attorney Walter w. Smyh told the court would waive his right to make the closing address when Defense Attorney Edward T. Carmody finished his argu- mentS at 1928 The court immediately ordered recess and the judges entered their private chambers
 At the conclusion of the sentencing Attorney Carmody consulted briefly with the accused in the cell downStars Attorney w. w. Gager the other defense attorney re" mained upstairs.
 Scores of uniformed policemen guarded the prisoner in the cel before he left for his last trip from Waterbury Zukauskas handcufed when he left the building. His wife, who stood stody beside him throughout the trial was not at his side He marched alone down the stairs to the
 decision expected momentarly steps to be taken by defense in appeal to the State Supreme COus of Errors in Hartford