Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Tense on the centre aisle of Manhattan's small Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church last Christmas Eve sat a little band of men who were not there to worship God and His Son to be born on the morrow. Brilliant in churchly regalia, a solemn procession moved up the aisle toward the candle-decked altar. When Archbishop Leon Tourian, tall, grey-bearded primate of his Church in America, drew abreast of them, the men did what they had come for. A double-edged butcher knife flashed once, vanished in the Archbishop's abdomen. (TIME, Jan. 1).

In Manhattan last month began the trial of nine Armenians charged with the Archbishop's murder. All of the defendants admitted that they were members of Tashnag, ultra-nationalist Armenian society which wants to throw off Soviet rule, re-establish the independent Armenian Republic which existed for four months in 1920 after the treaty of Sevres had freed the land from Turkish tyranny. Witnesses testified that the pro-Soviet Archbishop was as good as dead when, on Armenian Day at Chicago's Century of Progress last summer, he refused to speak until an Armenian Republic flag had been removed from the stand. Forty-two witnesses testified for the State, 33 for the defense. Scenes of the murder were re-enacted. A burly assistant district attorney marched in front of the jury box, waving a pencil as if it were a crucifix. One by one three flashing-eyed Armenian women attempted to tackle him in football style. Because the jury could not remember the defendants' names (Leylegian, Sarkisian, Yarganian, Mozian, Tchalitkian, Sarafian, Mirijanian, Zodigian, Andreassian) a cardboard sign behind them listed each by number.

As the jury finished its deliberations one day last week a special guard of detectives and policemen lined the courthouse corridors, expecting trouble between Tashnag and anti-Tashnag spectators. There was none. Found guilty of first-degree manslaughter were Defendants Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. They faced prison sentences up to 20 years. Found guilty of first-degree murder with Death as the penalty were Defendant No. 1 who held the butcher knife, Defendant No. 2 who held the Archbishop.

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