New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-17
Git DOWN AT THE ALTAR.
A SPANISH PRIEST KILLED BY MADMAN
THE assassin FIRES AT HIS WoULD-BE CAPToRs,
SHOOTS A WOMAN DEAD, THEN CUTS Ills
WAY OUT or THE CHUROH-MANY
PERSONS INJURED IN THE
RTSH TO ESCAPE HIM

WAY OUT or THE CHUROH-MANY
PERSONS INJURED IN THE
RUSH TO ESCAPE HIM
Madrid, April 16.-A horrible deed was COM
mttcd yesterday in church at Anglesola, vii
lagc in the Province of Lerida. The usual services
Of Good Friday were being held the church was
filed with worshippers, and Father Francisco
Marti. the priest in charge of the parish
kneeng at the altar. Suddenly without word
of warning, a man armed with revolver and
q short sword sprang out from behind the pulpit
at the left of the altar, and rushed upon the
priest, brandishing his sword. The mans eyes
blazed, and his whole appearance indicated that
he was mad and bent murder.
Father Marti, whose back WAS to the congrega-
tion seemed to have instructive warning that
danger threatened him. and he partly turned his
head in the direction of the But he was
TOO late to do more than raise his hand to at
tempt 20 ward off the sword blow he aimed
at him. The mailman stood over his kneeling
victim, the steel flashed in circling blow, ana
in an instant the priest lay dead in front of the
altar his head almost severed from his body.
Part Of the hand the priest had raised IN MS
vain effort to ward OFF the blow was cut of, and
lay beside the bleeding body.
The deed was committed in far less time than
It takes to tell It, BY this time the people realized
the awfulne>s of the tragedy they had just seen
enacted Women shrieled in terror, and many
of them tainted away Some of the men attend
ing the services made an attempt TO seize the
murderer, who dwelling a revolver at them, hre'
right and let, and put them TO flight. one
woman, crOuching close 10 the altar rail, was hlt
by one Of the bullets. She uttered piercing
shrek. threw Up her hands. aud fell dead Ia
the floor. The wolshippers were panic-stIicken.
A general rush was made for the doors, and MAN.
of the people were thrown down anu trdnped upon
by the excited throngs behind them. Several OF
them were seriously injured in this manner. among
the number being some children. who 1t is be-
leved will die.
The assassin whose revolver was now emptied
sprang into the fleeing crowd; and welding his
sword, still dripping with the blood OF tie priest
lie sashed right and left, cutting his way 10 the
street Many persons were struck by the sharp
weapon and dangerously wounded On reaching
the street the assassin started on q run and soon
disappeared.
The Civil Guard was alarmed by the frightened
people, and pursuit Immediately organized.
The village was thoroughly searched. and mem
beers Of the Civil Guard were sent to scour the
surrounding country Thus far every effort 10
capture the murderer has been in vain but the
search has not been abandoned. From descrlp-
tons given of him. the murderer has been ldentl-
lied as retired soldier. IL Is Thought proDaNe
that he has sought some secluded place and there
killed himself No reason il known for the crime
and il is believed by almost every one that the
man was insane