Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-17
KILLED At THE ALTAR
The Terrible Deed Committed in a
Spanish Church.
A PRIEST KNEELING IN CEREMONY
Has His Head Cut Almost From His Body BY
Sword in the Hands Of Man Who Had Sc
crsted Himself Behind the Altar-A
Woman in the Church Killed.

MADRID, April ia most terrible deed
was committed yesterday in a church at
Anglesea, a village in the province of
Loyda. The usual services Of Good Fri
day were being observed, and the church
was filed TO its utmost capacity with de-
vout worshIpers. Everything was calm
as became the solemn ceremonies, and
Father Francisco Marti, the priest in
charge OF the parish, was kneeling at the
altar
Suddenly and without a word Of warn
ing a man armed with revolver and a
short sword sprang out from behind the
pulpit to the left of the altar, where he
had been concealed and rushed upon the
priest brandishing his sword. Father
MarLi, whose back was to the congrega-
tiOu, seemed to have instructive warning
that danger threatened him, and he partly
turned his head in the direction Of the man.
But he was too late TO do more than
raise his hand to attempt TO ward of the
sword blow he saw aimed at him. The
man stood over his kneeling victim, and in
an instant the priestslay dead in front Of
the altar where he had long served. The
asSassin's blow had struck the back Of his
neck, and the keen blade almost severed
his head from the body. The corpse fell
forward, and a stream Of blood poured
down the altar steps. Part OF the hand
the priest had raised in his vain effort TO
ward off the blow was cut off, and lay be-
side the bloody body.
OBy this time the people realized the aw-
fulneSs Of the tragedy that had Just been
enacted. Women shrieked in terror and
many Of them tainted away. Some Of the
more cool headed men attending the SER
vices made an attempt TO seize the muir
derer but they were thwarted by the as
sassin who had undoubtedly armed him
self with a revolver for such contingen-
cy.
Levelling this weapon he fired right and
left and drove his would-be captors to
seek safety in flight One woman, Shrek
ing and crouching close to the altar rail,
was hit by one Of the bullets. She uttered
a most piercing shrek, threw up her
hands and fell dead to the floor. The wor
shippers were panic-stricken. A general
rush was made for the doors and many Of
the people were thrown down aHd trampled
upon by the excited throngs behind them.
Several of them were quite seriously in
iured in this manner, among the number
being some children, who, 1t is believed,
will die
The assassin, whose revolver was now
empted, sprang into the fleeing crowd and
welding his sword, still dripping with the
righ and left, cutting his way to the street
The crowd had huddled closer together 10
avoid the vicious blows aimed at them,
making as far as possible a clear path for
the murderer, but quite number Of them
were hit by the sharp weapon and very
dangerously wounded. Once he reached
the street the assassin started on a run and
soon vanished.
The civil Governor was alarmed by the
frightened people and a pursuit was i'm
mediately organized. The village was
thoroughly searched and members Of the
civil guard were sent TO scour the surround
ing country. Thus far every effort TO cap
ture the murderer has been vain, but the
search has not been abandoned. From de-
scriptions given of him, the murderer has
been identified as a retired soldier. No
reason is known for the crime and it is be-
lieved by almost every one that the man
was insane.
LATER-A man named Alsina, who is
identified as the assassin who took Father
Marti's life, has been arrested.