Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-09
Murderer Of Father Leo Heinrichs
Manifests No interest in
Court Session.
MANY ALlENlsTS ATTEND.
Sheriff's Deputies Lined the Way
To Court House to Pre-
vent Disorder.
state Has Eight Brain Specialists in
attendance and Defense Has its
Corps in Attendance.

Denver, March 9.--Anticipating the
uoscpce of large crowd at the OPEN
ing OF the trial this morning of Giusep-
pc Ala, the Sicilian, who in cold blood
murdered Father Leo Heinrlchs of st.
Elizabeth's church while he was Civ
ing tho Sacramento on Sunday MORN
ing Feb. %, Sheriff Alexander Nisbet
had stationed deputies along the walks
ana in the entrance ways leading from
the jail to the courtroom and also in
line courtroom itself. This precaution
was taken to Illustrate any attempt
at mob violence, although the officers
of the city did not look for any out
break of this kind.
Alias case was first on the criminal
docket and Judge Greedy NJ Whitford,
who is taking his turn on the criminal
panel of 100 veniremen. 1t was ex-
pected that the defense of Atty. Robert
IA. Widdecompe, representing Ala by
appointment Of the court, would adj
vance the theory OF insanity in the
hore OF saving the life of his client,
and to be prepared for combating TINS
defense the prosecution had summoned
eignt of the most slkilltul brain special
lists in the city to be present for the
purpose of observing the defendant All
is in readiness to give expert opinion
as TO mis- sanity. Inc defense had ar
ragged also for three alientsts to serve
their side.
CATHOLIC ALLEGIANCE.
Atty. Widdecombe indicated early in
the examination of veniremen that ne
would make the question OF q pros
pectlve juryman's allegiance to the TO-
man Catholic faith the cause for chal-
longing him as to his qualifications 10
serve.
Nnen Ala was taken from the jail
To the courthouse he was under guard
OF sheriff Nisbit and four deputies.
each armed with a brace of revolvers.
Ills men had explicit Instructions To
Keep the Jail ground cleared and 10 ar
resi- anyone who showed any evidence
of Intention to attack the prisoner or
anyone that might be trying to stir up
the crowd to making a demonstration.
Spectators in the courtroom We're or
dered closely scrutinized and all sus-
plelous characters were excluded from
the building. The trial was called
pFompaly at 10 o'clock.
NO DEMONSTRATION.
There was no demonstration when
Ala was Brought into court guarded
by hve deputy sheriffs. He was placed
IN the prisoners box where no sal
thinking at the sunlight. He paid nc
attention to the hustle about him, bui
occasionally he would turn his eyes
m the direction of the audience. He
had been shaved and was dressed II
plain workingmen's clothes, Ills fac'
gives one the impression Of intelligence
hut OF great WEAKNESS. In his APP
pearance there Is nothing to indicate
insanity to the layman.
As soon as the case was announce'
Judge Whiteford ordered a call for th'
jury.
begun at once
understands practically no English sa
behind his attorney, looking az IN
floor end lifting his eyes and pihknl'
IN the direction OF the u men In III
jurors box. He seemed to take IL
Interest whatever In the proceedings