Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-24
Father Leo Of Denver, Col,
Brutality Murdered
BY Giuseppe Guaranacco, Who
Hates All Priests.
Fires While kneeling at Altar Re.
ceiving the Sacrament.

Denver, Col, Feb. 23-Father Leo
Heinrichs was shot and killed today By
Guissepe Guaranacco, an avowed An
archist and priest hater, while the
priest was administering the Sacra-
ment at early mass in st. Elizabeth S
Roman Catholic church at 18th and
Curtis streets.
While on his knees at the altar rail-,
between two women, Guissepc Guaran-
acco held the muZzle of revolver
against the body of the priest, after
receiving from him the consecrated
wafer and shot him through the heart.
Enchanting My God, my God!' Fa-
Their Leo fell prone in front Of the altar
and died
With an inarticulate scream the as
sassin sprang into the aisle and wav-
ing tie smoking pistol about his head.
dashed to the church door. For a mo-
ment the hundred or more persons in
the church were daZed. Then a wo-
man shrieked and the congregation be-
came panic-stricken. Several women
tainted and many others became hy-
stericaL Several men, including Patrol
man Daniel Cronin, started in pursuit
of the murderer. Crorin overlook the
fleeing Italian On the church steps.
Giuseppe Guaranacco- attempted to
shoot the policeman but failed and
overpowered after n desperate stru2-
gle, in which several men assisted the
officer
The murderer was hurriedly removed
to the city Jail. Threats of summary
l,,r who
quickly gathered in front of the
church, SO Captain of Police Michael
Delaney called out the reserves of pa
trolmen who were kept on guard all
day and tonight.
Before the commotion caused by the
tragedy subsidized the FRANCISCAN
brothers connected with st. El!zabeth's
Roman Catholic church silently
brought candles for the dead and
placed them beside the corpse of their
superior where it lay. BY direction of
Bishop Matz, the church was closed
for the day and the following notice
was posted:
owing to the frightful tragedy en-
acted il this church by an unknown
criminal, the wanton killing of our be-
Their Leo, all services will be discon-
tinued fer the day. Kindly. reader,
breathe a silent prayer for the repose
Of the soul of our beloved friend.
(Signed) FATHER EUSEBIUS.'
Deputy Coroner Dant Hayes took
charge of Father Leo's body, which
was removed to the city morgue. a
single bullet hole in the white conf
nunion robes of the priest, showed
that the lead went straight to the
heart. The bullets remaining in the
revolver had Sharpened points.
Giuseppe Guaranacco was placed in
confinement. He admitted. to
policeman that the priest whom he
killed was a stranger to him, and in
explanation of his crime sad
Il just went over there because |
have grudge against all priests in
They are all against the work.
ing man. I went to the communion
rail because 1 could get a better shot.
did not give q damn whether he was
a German priest or any other kind of
a priest. They are all in the same class.
II left Italy three months ago and
we Mt first to Central America and then
came to Denver. l am an Anarchist
and am proud of it. I shot him. and
my only regret is that l couldn't shoot
the whole bunch of priests IN the
church. I am shoemaker but have
not worked since coming to Denver"
Father Leo was born in Koeln, Ger
many, Aug. Is. 1867. He entered the
franciscan order on Dec. 4, 1856 and
was ordained on july e. 1891 He
came to Denver last September from
Paterson, N. ]. He was for three
years in Croghan, n. Y, where ne
himself by rebuilding IL