Ex-Intern Arraigned In Priest Murder

A man recently ousted from his training to become a Franciscan brother
pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges that he fatally shot a Cleveland Roman Catholic priest and set fire to his church office.

Daniel Montgomery, 37, charged with aggravated murder and aggravated arson in the slaying of the Rev. William Gulas, 68, was ordered held without bond. He was due back in court Jan. 14.

Montgomery was silent during the five minute hearing in Cleveland Municipal Court. Defense attorney Henry Hilow said afterward that he had not yet discussed the case with his client. Authorities would not comment on a motive.

Montgomery, who lived at the rectory, had been fired by the Rev. William Gulas and other church leaders, reported The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Wednesday was to have been his last day at St. Stanislaus Church.

Gulas died in the rectory fire Saturday. He had been shot in the chest.

Some parishioners at the Roman Catholic church say they were always a little wary of the man now suspected in the fatal shooting of their priest.

"You'd try to talk to the guy and there just wasn't a lot of attention on his part," Richard J. Konisiewicz told The Plain Dealer. People would say, 'Wow, he's different.' There was just something about him."

Montgomery had consoled parishioners after Gulas' death and helped distribute communion at Mass on Sunday.

He was arrested Monday.

"The flames were that high, I could not do anything," Montgomery said after the fire. "I couldn't hear him, he was probably overcome by the flames by the time I got there."

Konisiewicz said Gulas confided in him at a party Friday, telling him Montgomery had disrupted the "chemistry" in the rectory and was supposed to move out Wednesday.

"Let's face it, some people have it. Father William knew what it takes...and it was pretty obvious he didn't have what it takes," Konisiewicz said.

Montgomery was in his seventh year training to become a Franciscan brother, according to the Rev. Thomas Luczak, provincial leader of the Franciscan order.

The director of training for the Franciscan order had traveled from Chicago before Thanksgiving to meet with Montgomery to discuss his performance and informed him about a week ago that his internship was finished, Luczak said.

Gulas reported on Montgomery's performance but did not make the decision to oust Montgomery, Luczak said.

Luczak would not specify why Montgomery was terminated, but said it was clear he was unsuited to be a Franciscan. As a brother, he might have taught or worked in church offices but would not have celebrated Mass or hear confessions.

Montgomery had been transferred from Chicago to St. Stanislaus in July to learn parish work.

Authorities would not comment on a motive, police spokeswoman Sgt. Jacqueline Lewis said Monday night.

Meanwhile, hundreds of parishioners gathered for a prayer vigil Monday night.

Don Kucia, 64, said he had seen Montgomery at Mass on Sunday and shared a handshake with him. Montgomery always sat in front of the pulpit to watch Gulas preach, Kucia said.

Kucia said parishioners first thought Gulas had been ill and accidentally set a fire that killed him. They later feared Gulas had been a robbery victim.

"To have robbery and murder and things unfold so rapidly — prayers will help," Kucia said.

"We continue to fully cooperate with authorities during the investigation and pray that God will give us the strength to endure these troubling events," Bishop Anthony M. Pilla said in a statement, calling the arrest of Montgomery "painful."

The church is on the National Register of Historic Places and was dedicated in 1891, according to the church's Web site. Lech Walesa, former president of Poland, spoke there in 1999.