Connecticut western news., 1908-02-27
PRIEST SHOT ON ALTAR.
Anarchist Stays Clergyman Who
 Gave Him Holy Sacrament.
THEN TRIES TO KILL CAPTOR

~ aHAAS " NI1@ VHl Ob .Assassin Flees, but Is Caught on Step of Church In Denver and Rushed From the City In Auto to Prevent . Lynching.
 Denver, Feb. 26.-Father Leo Hein- richs was shot and killed here by Giu- scope Alio, an avowed anarchist and priest hater, while the priest was ad- m1nistering the sacrament at an early mass in St. Elizabeth's Roman Cath ollie cathedral, Eleventh and Curtis streets.
 Kneeling at the altar rail between two women Alio pressed the muzzle of a revolver against the body of the priest after receiving from him the consecrated. wafer and shot the priest through the heart. Exclaiming My God, my Godv' Father Leo fell prone in front of the altar and died.
 Tried to Shoot Policeman.
 With an inarticulate scream the as- sassin sprang into the aisle and, way ing the smoking pistol about his head, dashed to the church door: For mo- ment the hundred or more persons in the church were daZed. Then a wOm- an shrieked, and the congregation be- came panic stricken. Several women tainted, and many others became hys- terical. Several men, including Patrol man Daniel Cronin, started in pursuit of the murderer. Policeman Cronin overlook the fleeing Italian on the church steps. Alio attempted to shoot the policeman, but was foiled and over powered after a desperate struggle. in which several men assisted the officer. The murderer was hurriedly remov- ed to the city jail. AS threats of sum- mary vengeance were made by men who quickly gathered in front of the church, Chief of Police Michael De laney called out the reserve force of patrolmen, hustled the assassin into an automobile and hastily drove to Lit tleton, fourteen miles from Denver, where he was placed on a train for Colorado Springs. He will be kept there until the excitement abates.
 Shot Through Heart. Before the commotion caused by the tragedy subsided the Franciscan broth CTS connected with the church silently brought candles for the dead and placed them beside the body of their superior where he lay. By direction of Bishop Matz the church was closed for the day, and the following notice was posted: f-.-
 Owing to the frightful tragedy en- acted in this church by an unknown criminal, the wanton killing of our be loved pastor, superior and friend, Fla ther Leo, all services will be discon- tinued for the day. Kindly, reader, breathe a silent prayer for the repose of the soul Of our beloved friend.''
 Deputy Coroner Daniel Hayes took charge of Father Leo's body, which was removed to the city morgue. A single bullet hole in the white con- munion robes of the priest showed that the lead had gone straight to the heart. The bullets remaining in Giuseppe's s revolver had sharpened points.
 Alio was placed in solitary confine- ment. He admitted to policeman that the priest whom he had killed
 
 of his crime said:
 Why. He Slow Priest.
 'I just went over there because I have grudge against all priests in general. They are all against the workingman. I went to the com munion rail because could get bet ter shot. I did not give d-n whether he was a German priest or any other kind of a priest. They are all in the same class. t.,
 "I left Italy three months ago and went first to Central America and then came to Denver. I am an anarchist and am proud of it. shot him, and my only regret is that I couldn't shoot the whole bunch of priests in the church. am a shoemaker, but have not worked since coming to Denver"
 Father Leo was born in Koeln, Ger, many, Aug. 15, 1867. He entered the Franciscan order on Dec. 4, 1886 and was ordained on July 26, 1891. He came to Denver last September from Paterson, N. J. He was for three years in Oregon, N Y, where he dis tinguished himself for rebuilding 8 church, monastery and other build ings that were destroyed by fire in 1902. He had been planning to sai for Germany in June to visit relatives whom he had not seen for sixteen years. The body of the murdered priest will be shipped to Paterson fo1 burial.