MURDER IN CHURCH

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1933, Page 5

MURDER IN CHURCH

ARMENIAN ARCHBISHOP'S END

COMMUNICANT’S SAVAGE ACT

(United Press Association—By Elecbri* Te legrap h—Copyright.)

NEW YORK, December 34

One of the most shocking murders of recent years occurred here to-day ias the -result -of schism in - the focal -Greek Catholic Church, which ha-s been smouldering fo r many months, and broke into open violence. Archbishop Touraine, who said he was Priptate . -of . the Armenian Church -o-i 'America, was slaughtered by a 'communicant with a butcher’s knife while the Prelate was walking in solemn procession in front of the art-ar at the •Holy Cross Church here. The cleric’s bodyguard who was in the rear oi the church, sprang forward wi/h a revolver, but did‘.not fire. - .<}/ A policeman who w,as standing outside the church was called and he arrested the slayer and his .alleged accomplice who are both grocers, and then summoned the police,-,reserves, who arrived amidst ,a scene _ of crying, Hysterical women, and ' fexcited * mer/. The ambulance surgeon, arriving simultaneously,. pronounced th e cleric dead. Touraine, who had been a Bishop in Smyrna and said to have headed the Armenian Church in England, was opposed Iby the conservative faction of the church, who objected to his economic radicalism. The church was crowded to-day as he had promised to make an explanation.