PRIEST’S BODY IN A TRUNK

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8868, 19 July 1907, Page 1

PRIEST’S BODY IN A TRUNK

Tiie. body of Father Oaspan HarUau, a Greek priest, was found in a trunk in a cheap lodging house in New York on May 36th. It is believed that he was murdered by two Armenians for having betrayed the secrets of Servian revolutionaries.

Two months ago a Mew York newspaper published an article stating that the revolutionaries were trying to raise money in America, and Father Oaspan was laid under suspicion of being the authority for tin's article, ‘

Father Oaspan collected money wherever he hold services. He occasionally visited the two Armenians at their lodging-house, and he slept there on May 23rd, leaving early on May 24th. On May 34th a heavy trunk was brought to the room. The Armenians returned to the room in the evening, and left again within an hour. Tho trunk was opened on May 26th, and the priest’s body found doubled up inside.

Tho police believe that tho Armenians attacked the priest at some unknown place, and then procured the trunk and forced him inside while still alive. The doctors believe that he actually died after being placed in tho trunk. Lists of steamship departures found in the room occupied by the Armenians indicate that they have gone to Australia.