By Paul Singer
The Associated Press

CLEVELAND - A man training as a Franciscan brother admitted he killed a Roman Catholic parish priest who supervised his work and then set a fire to the rectory to conceal the crime, police said.

Montgomery

Daniel Montgomery shot the Rev. William Gulas in the chest while Father Gulas was sitting at his desk Saturday, Detective James Metzler said in a report filed Monday with Cleveland Municipal Court.

Mr. Montgomery then set fire to Father Gulas' office in the rectory to cover up the shooting and called the fire department, the report said. Detective Metzler said Mr. Montgomery, 37, also provided a written statement admitting to the crime.

Defense attorney Henry Hilow did not return a call Wednesday seeking comment on Mr. Montgomery's admission.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor William Mason said Wednesday that a 911 call Mr. Montgomery made to report the fire was "a red flag" to investigators.

In a tape of the call provided by police, the caller says calmly, "Yes, I'd like to report a fire at St. Stanislaus rectory located at 3-6-4-9 East 65th St., corner of East 65th and Forman."

The dispatcher replies, "Right, got it up here."

The caller says, "Thank you very much," and hangs up.

"You don't expect somebody, another member of the parish clergy, to be calling in a calm and easy-going voice to say, `There's a fire. And say, could you send a firetruck?'" Mr. Mason said. "That doesn't happen. You expect to hear some panic in their voice, or some concern."

Mr. Montgomery pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson and was ordered held without bond.

Father Gulas, 68, who had been at St. Stanislaus for nine years, was burned beyond recognition. The coroner said he had been shot in the chest and hit in the head.

Mr. Montgomery was in his seventh year of training and was told Nov. 28 that he would be dismissed Wednesday from his internship. A key reason was his use of foul language at the church's elementary school, The Plain Dealer reported.