New-York tribune., 1908-02-24
KILLED AT THE ALTAR.
SHOT BY IN ANARCHIST.
DeRUer Priest Slain While Adminis
tering the Sacrament.

Denver, Feb 23-The Rev. Father Leo Helm
richs shot and killed to-day by Giuseppe
GUarnacoto. an avowed anarchist and priest
hater. while the priest administering the
sacrament at early mass in ST Elizabeths Roman
Catholic Church, at 11th and Curtis streets:
kneeling at the altar rail between two women,
Guarnacoto 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 Cod
My Cod" Father Leo fell prone in front of the
altar and died
With an inarticulate scream, the assassin
sprang into the aisle, and waving the smoking
pistol about his head. dashed the church
door For moment the hundred or more per
sons in the church dazed. Then a woman
shrieked and the congregation became panic
stricken Several women tainted and many
others became hysterical. Several men, includ-
ing Patrolman Daniel Cronin. started in pursuit
of the murderer. Policeman Cronin overlook
the fleeing Italian on the church steps Guarna-
coto attempted to shoot the policeman. but was
overpowered after a desperate struggle, in which
several men assisted the officer
The murderer was hurredly removed to the
city jail. AS threats of summary vengeance
We're made by men who quickly gathered in
front of the church. Chief of Police Michael De-
laney called out the reserve force of patrolmen.
who were kept on guard all day and tonight.
Before the cOmmOtion caused by the tragedy
had subsided the Franciscan Brothers connected
with ST. Elizabe Church silently brought
candles for the dead and placed them beside the
body of their superior where he lay. By direc-
ton of Bishop Matz the church was closed for
the day and the following notice was posted:
Owing to the frightfu ragedy enacted in this
church by an unknown criminal. the wanton kill
ing of beloved pastor, superior and friend.
Father Leo, all services will be discontinued for
the day. Kindly. reader, breathe silent prayer
for the repose of the soul of our beloved friend.
FATHER EUSEBIUS.
Deputy Coroner Daniel Hayes took charge of
Father Leos body which was removed to the
city morgue A single bullet hole in the white
communion robes of the priest showed that the
lead had gone straight to the heart The bull
lets remaining in Giuseppe's revolver had sharp
ened points.
Guarnacoto was placed in solitary confinement.
He admitted to a policeman that the priest
whom he had killed stranger to him. and.
in explanation of his crime, said:
just went over there because l have a grudge
against all priests in general. They are all
against the working man. l went to the COM
munion rail because / could get better shot.
L did not give a damn whether he was Ger
priest any other kind of a priest. They
all in the class
| left Italy three months ago. and went to Cen
tral America and then came to Denver L am
an anarchist and / am proud of It. J shot him.
and my only regret is that l couldn't shoot the
whole bunch of priests in the church. l am a
shoemaker, but have not worked since coming
70 Denver.
Father Leo was born in K0ln Germany, on
August Is, 1867. He entered the franciscan Or
der on December 4, 1856, and ordained on
July 26, 1891. He came to Denver last Septem-
Der from Paterson. \. j.. where for three years
he was rector of ST. Bonaventures Church. He
-, " V nrha .
distinguished himself by rebuilding a church, a
monastery and other buildings that were de-
stroyed by fire in 1902. He had been planning to
sail for Germany in June to visit relatives whom
he had not seen for sixteen years.
Owing to the gathering of an immense mob
the city Jail tonight Guarnacoto, the assassin
was spirited away by officers and sent to Col
orado Springs for safe keeping
The Rev. Father EusebUs, senior assistant
pastor to Father Leo. tonight received a dis
patch from the father provincial at Paterson
n J.. requesting that the body of the murdered
priest be shipped there for burial This will be
done and in order that the body may arrive
there no later than next Sunday, funeral SER
vices will be held here on Wednesday evening
Though the custom of the Franciscan Order per-
rnits of no euogy of the dead at funeral services
of members this rule will not be followed in the
case OF the Rev. Father Leo. because Of the
tragic nature of his death. The Rev. Father
William ORyan, of St. Leo's Church, will de-
liver the funeral Grafton.