14across - highly infectious, as of diseases 8letters *I*U*E*H 19across - a pedle-coupler in an organ 7letters **S*S*E 23down - absolutist rule 7letters **I*I*M
Thanks Daphne, bimbo and emeritus (yes my H was wrong I had 15 down as Hospitaller for commander of soldiers for the knights of st john of Jerusalem - Now its T*R*****I*R more confusion?