The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-02-27
PRIEST SLAIN
At THE ALTAR
Brute Assassin Taking
Communion, Fires His
Pistol.

Denver, Colo, February %.
Bringing to a climax reign OF
blood and crime this month in
Denver and throughout the state,
Father Leo, pastor of st. Eliza.
beth 8 Catholic Church at Eleventh
and Curtis streets, was shot to
death at 6 o'clock this morning by
an assassin who gained access to
the priest on pretext of taking the
most solemn sacrament of the
church
with countenance expressing
the contrition of repentance and
the humility of humble son of
the Catholic Church, but with
murder in his heart, Alio Guessip.
pc, an Italian Anarchist, who
hated the priesthood, approached
the altar at early mass. A dozen
others knet at the rail beside him,
and, intent on the duties of his
sacred office, Father Leo saw in
the man only one of the penitents
to whom his heart has always gone
out in love. A woman's form was
bowed on each side of the murder.
er, and to one of these Father Leo
presented the consecrated wafer.
1t was the time chosen for the
deed of sacrllege.
Father Leo stood directly in
front of the man who sought his
life. The priest placed the sacra-
ment on the mans tongue and he
pretended to take it. Then witch
an expression of disgust the assas-
sin spat 1t out AS he did so he
quickly drew a revolver from his
hip pocket.
Before the priest could move,
the Italian placed the revolver
against the communion robes d-
rectly over the heart and pulled
the trigger. There was a muf1ied
report and Father Leo fell prone
in front Of the altar.
With an inarticulate scream of
triumph, the assassin sprang into
the aisle, and waving the smoking
gun above his head, made for the
door.
The hundred or more persons in
the church ga2ed with horror and
astonishment upon the scene.
Several men rushed to the aid
of the priest and others after the
assassin.
f. j. Quigly, conductor on the
d. R. G. Railway, occupied pew
at the very rear. He sprang out in
the aisle and despite the threaten
fng revovler sprang at the assas-
sin. In attempting to avoid Quig
ly the murderer slipped and fell,
stricking his face on the door step
and cutting cash in the upper
lip.
He was up again in moment.
Patrolman Daniel Coronin, who
was in the church at the time to
also partake of holy communion,
darted after the tleeting Italian.
The women, shrieking and faint
ing, impeded his way and he did
not reach the assassin until the
latter was on the front steps of
the church.
Cronln drew his revovler and
placed 1T close to the Italians
stomach and demanded his surren-
der, A terrific struggle ensued,
The still smoking revovler that
had brought death tn Father Leo
was in the assassin's hands and
he tried with all his might to
shoot the patrolman, Others
came to Cronin's aid and the mur-
derer was dubbed into submission.
On being taken to Jail the assas.
sin made the following statement.
al just went over there because
have n grudge against priests in
general. went TO the commun-
ion rail because | could get bet
ter shot, l didn't give d--n
whether he was German priest
or any other kind of priest.
They are all in the same class.
left Italy three months ago and
went first to Central America, and
then came to the States, to Den
yer. | am an Anarchist and / am
proud of it, | shot him and my
only regret is that / could'n have
shot the whole d--n bunch of
nriaSts m tho a npoh an, "a ahoa