A wave of vandalism in the Jewish section of a local cemetery where more than 130 gravestones were overturned amid a litter of empty liquor bottles and beer cans drew expressions of shock and disgust from Hartford’s Chief of Police and from the head of the Jewish Federation’s community relations committee.
The desecrations occurred at the Zion Hill Cemetery while the caretaker was on vacation and were confined to the Jewish section. Damage was estimated in excess of $2,000. Police Chief John Kerrigan said “these dastardly acts committed by unknown bigots who defiled and toppled gravestones of Jewish deceased are appalling and, I feel certain, shock the consciences of all men of good will everywhere.” Jerry Wagner, chairman of the Federation’s CRC, said “we want to express our shock that such an incident could happen in Hartford. We are satisfied that the police department is doing everything to apprehend those guilty and assured that this will not happen again.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
