The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-04-20

MADRID, April 16.-A most horrible
deed was committed yesterday in a
church in Anglesota,a village in the prov
ince of Leroida. The usual services of
Good Friday were being observed and the
church was flied to its utmost capacity
with devout worshipers. Everything
was calm as became the solemn cere-
monies and Father Francisco Marti, the
priest in charge of the parish, was kneel-
ing at the altar. Suddenly and without
word OF warning, a man with a revolt
yer and short sword sprang
out from behind the pulpit to
the left of the altar, where be
had been concealed, and rushed upon the
priest brandishing his sword. Father
| Marti, whose back was to the congrega-
ton, seemed to have instructive warning
that danger threatened him and he partly
turned his head in the direc ion of the
man. But he was too late to do more
than raise his hand to attempt to ward off
the sword blow be saw aimed at him.
The man stood over his kneeIing victim
and in an instant the priest lay dead in
front OF the altar where he had long
served The assassin's blow had struck
blade almost severed his head from
his body. The corpse fell forward
and q stream OF blood poured
down the altar steps Part OF the hand OF
the priest which he had raised in his vain
effort to ward off the blow was cut of and
| lay beside the bleeding body. BY this
| time the people realized the awfuness OF
the tragedy they had Just seen enacted.
| Women shrieked in terror and many OF
them tainted away. Some lev of the more
| cool headed men attending the services
made an attempt TO seize the murderer,
| but they were thwarted by the assassin,
who had undoubtedly armed himself with
revolver for just such a contingency.
Leveling this weapon, he fred right and
left and drove his would-be captors TO seek
safety in flight. One woman shrink
| ing and crouching close to the altar
rails was hit by bullet. She uttered a
most piercing shrek, threw up her hands
and fell dead to the floor. The worship
ers were panic stricken. A general rush
was made for the door and many of the
| people were thrown down and trampled
upon by the excited throng behind them.
Several of them were quite seriously in
! jured in this manner, among the
number being some children, who it is
| believed will die. The assassin, whose re-
volver was now emptied, sprang into the
| fleeing crowd, and welding his sword,
still dripping with the blood OF the Eaassa-
cred priest, he slasned right and left, cut
ting his way TO the street The crowd
| huddled closer together to avoid the
vicious blows aimed at them. making as
! far as possible a clear path for the muir
| derer. but quite number Of them were
hit by the sharp weapon and very danger
ously wounded. Once he reached the
street and started on run and vanished.
| The civil guard was alarmed by the fright
ened people and & pursuit was immediate.
| " organized. The village was thoroughly
searched and members of the civil guard
were sent 10 scour the surrounding coun-
try. Thus far every effort to capture the
murderer has been in vain, but the search
has not been abandoned. From descriptions
| given OF HIM, the murderer has been iden-
titled as q retired soldier. The tragedy has
caused widespread sorrow and indignation
| and the whole village OF ADCesota is in
mourning for Father Marti, who was uni
versaIly loved and respected by his par
ishioners. 1t is thought probable that
! the assassin has sought o'ue secluded
| spot and there killed himself No reason
| is known for the crime and it is believed
/ by almost every one that the man was
| insane. The assassin has been arrested.