Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-12

first received news that her
brother, the Rev. Walter Ciszek,
was returning to the United
States after being imprisoned
in the Soviet Union for more
than 20 years, she said she
got a little numb"
Our family has never been
the kind to get demonstrative,
Mrs. Gearhart. who works as
a registered nurse in the Dis
trict, said calmly last night.
But I'll get excited tomorrow"
she added.
Mrs. Gearhart, a divorce,
who has not seen her brother,
a Roman Catholic priest, in
more than 20 years, quickly
packed a small suitcase at her
modest apartment at 1920 @
street Sc. for a flight to New
York. Early today she met her
brother at Idlewild Airport.
Too Late for Wedding
Relatives of Father Ciszek
had hoped that he would be
able to get to Hartford, Conn.,,
In time to join Theresa Bal
czuk, 10, and James Mcnamara
in wedlock.
But as she left home for the
nuptial mass, the bride disap-
pointedly told the Associated
Press that she had just spoken
with her uncle by telephone
and he could not be present.
Father Ciszek last saw his
family in 1884 before he left
for Rome, where he furthered
his studies for the Jesuit priest
hood and was later ordained.
Father Ciszek then went to
Poland, from where his parents
had come to the United States
a generation before. But when
the war in Europe broke out
and many priests were being
returned to their homelands,
his family received word from
his Superior in Lithuania that
Father Ciszek was still in Po-
land.
Assumed He Was Dead
I'VE Just assumed he was
dead" after not hearing from
him for several years, Mrs:
Gearhart confided. There were
rumors, however; q nun from
Poland told them in 1945 that
she believed the priest was
alive, and imprisoned in Rus
STA.
In the late 1905 the family
received a postcard from him
in Moscow saying he was fine.
Since then they have received
correspondence more or less
regularly.
Late yesterday the State De-
partment announced that
Father Ciszek and another
American, Marvin William
Makinen, imprisoned In Russia
for two years, were being ex-
changed for two Soviet spies
arrested in New York in July.
Called at Office
A friend called Mrs. Gear
hart at the doctors office where
she works and told her the
news. Later she spoke to At
torney General Robert Ken
nedy, who confirmed the re-
port.
For eight years Mrs. Gear
hart and her brothers and
sisters have been going through
official channels trying to get
their brother released.
Letters from the State De-
partment and the White House
showed concern" and we're
assuring, but nothing was def
mite.
II also wrote to Mr.. Khru-
shchev nine times and never
had one acknowledgment" she
said matter of factly.
Brief Correspondence
Since the initial postcard the
family had been receiving sew
eral letters a year from Father
CiSzek which they circulated
among themselves. The CORE
Spondence was usually brief
about the weather, some spir-
itual comments, and a few re-
quests for pictures of the fam
lily, books and clothes. 81 think
he wanted the clothes for other
people being released" his sis
ter said. Sometimes the fam
lily would send a group letter.
HE seemed to have a good
outlook in his letters" Mrs.
Gearhart said.
In August plans were finally
arranged for Mrs. Gearhart
and one Of her sisters, a nun