The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-11-25
- &%~HH~NAH@u@&3a9.a ,
Denver Office 4Intermountain and Col
orado Catholic-Charles Block, Cur
tbs and Fifteenth Streets.
Thief Enters st. Elizabeth's Church

Thief Enters st. Elizabeth's Church
Denver. Nov. 23-With his mind bent
upon sacrilege as well as theft, an un-
known man entered st. Elizabeth'S
Catholic Church at the corner OF EleV-
enth and Curtis streetSi Friday morning
about 3 O'Clock He made his escape
taking with him the ciborium from the
high altar ami the contents OF the poor
box. <-
Father Francis was aroused from his
slumbers by the rattle of the heavy slde
door uccasioHed by the thief leaving
the building.
He FASTENED, to the. sanctuary and was
shocked TO ind thekaltars in a state OF
great disorder. The chapel of st. An
thony. in the front portion of the edl-
flee. had also been visited by the i'm
pious intruder There upon the floor
Father Francis found the poor box. the
lid of which had been pried open, with
a ehisel From all appearances II WAS
evident that ST. Anthony's chapel was
the first place TO which the timer ue-
voted his attention. Finding that there
was very little money in the box, ne
decided to give vent to his Ill humor pg
. Gesecrating the affairs
Irpon St. Anthony's altar he StreWed
about a pound of Cheap candy, ana with
his chisel opened the tabernacle, buI
falling to- discover anything OF value
turned his attention to st Josephs al
tar at the right -0f the main sanctuary
From this altar he took "a candle
zzbich he cut in two. The short end
was used to furnish light by the AID OF
which the thief was enabled TO do fur
Their mischief.
ST Mary's altar was only slightly
damaged. The door of the tabernacle
was pried open, but the chalice was not
disturbed. 3
THE fellow spent some time at the
high altar and from the tabernacle
which he. broke open with no gentle
hand he took the ciboripm containing
fhe host of consecrated waters. Nearly
$50 of the waters were scattered.on the
altar. the remainder, about forty IN
number. he threw upon the platform at
his feet, and spat upon them. the altar
and platform were streaked with TO-
bacco juice.
The ciborium was the only article of
value taken away. 1t was worth about
$50 and the Fathers grieVe over IT'S
loss more on account of its having been
an old relic than because of its intrin-
sic value.
The thief made his way into the open
air through a side door at the rear Oh
the edifice leading to Curtis street. He
had gained entrance through window
at the side of this door.
Father Francis reported the matter
to the police about o'clock in the
morning and at $50 o'clock detective
was detailed by Chief Farley to look
into the burglary and get, if possible,
some clue to the identity OF the mis-
.creant.-- ra I
Later in the day Father Francis sentsl
word of the sacrilege to Bishop MatZ.
The bishop was greatly shocked to hear
GtTsIIprp6 Father
Francis TO hold in reparation the eX-
position of the Blessed Sacrament on
Sunday from I:30 a m. until l:3O p. M. |
The closing exercises were conducted by
rhe Bishop at 7:30 p. m. with a process
Sion, prayer and benedictfohE of the |
Blessed Sacrament
The only clue in the case is an old |
sack left by the thief in the sacristy. |
Chief Farley has little hope, however, Oh
capturing the guilty man.
Corporal Murphy's Hard Luck Story, |
Corporal Murphy, lately of the |
Fourth infantry, but now in civil life, I
and very glad of it. served year in |
gRrrison-in peace times, went to Cuba, |
helped storm FL Caney, returned to |
the United States, went then to the
and fought through num-
Der of skirmishes. and through it all |
never SOl d SCIdlCH anu " cio oAl 7lNiN
report eight days in three years.
Corporal Murphy stopped in Denver
between trains on his way back to
Indiana long enough to tell what he
thought was the worst hard luck story |
that had crossed his experience in his
career.
There was a sergeant in the Ninth
he said. who served his
three years and then re-enlisted in
Manila. He got his travel pay both
ways, which for a sergeant made $500
to $780, He served only a month or
two when he got sick and was dis
charged for disability. He got more +
travel pay then, and started for home
with not very much the matter with
him and nearly 5000 of Uncle Sans
money. Two days after he struck San
Francisco he took sick and died and
The money win go to cousin he never
saw IN his life.
"If that wasn't bad luck" said Cor
Doral Murphy, Il hope I'll never meet
any"