Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-19
SHOOTS AT PRIEST
Attempted Assassination of Father !.
K. Fielding in Church
vestibuIe.
A SENSATION IN CHICAGO
Athletic Rector Seizes Assailant as
Bullet Grazes His
Face.

Chicago. Oct 19.-An attempt TO as
sassinate the Rev. ]. K Fielding of
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic church,
one of the most widely known priests
in America, was made in the church
vestibule at 2 O'Clock yesterday after
noon by an unidentified man. The
stranger fired two shots at Father
Fielding after a struggle and then
made his escape through throngs of
terrified children, who were gathering
for Sunday school.
The preservation of Father Fielding
is attributed to his athletic prowess
and to his ready wit in feigning tc
have been struck by the first shot and
| falling PROSTATE on the vestibule floor.
AS his assailant fled Father Fielding
arose. ran upstairs to the rooms of
notify the police, and himself took up
the pursuit of the would-be murderer,
following him for several blocks.
Police Chase Assailant.
The neighborhood surrounding the
church location at Forty-ninth stree:
1
excitement as a report few about that
both shots, which were heard for
blocks, had taken effect and that the
priest was dead This rumor was
strengthened as the entire police re-
serves from the Fiftieth street and
| Hyde Park station poured into the
neighborhood, accompanied by dozens
of policemen who had been ordered
from their regular beats, and began {.
systematic search of streets, alleys
and buildings. after driving away the
crowd. Other details were sent
through the parks and every bit of
underground was beaten over. Dc
tectives Carey and Mcnamara. taking
lup the trail in Calumet avenue, near
Fifty-first street, where Father Field,
ling abandoned the chase, traced the
man to the south side elevated struc-
ture, where he ran south.
Inquiry at the various stations of
the line south of Fifty-first street
failed to reveal any trace of the man
and left the police working on the
two clews that he had gone to Sixty
third street and either taken a car
from there down town or caught a
freight train at the Englewood yards
and escaped from the city. From the
dizziness with which he eluded pursuit,
the police were led to believe that he
was an experienced criminal.
Recalls Denver Assnssination.
TIL fight in the church was found to
| Il III 81,
stances surrounding the murder of the
Rev. Leo Heinrichs of ST. Elizabeth s
Catholic church, in Denver. on Feb.
23, and confirms the prediction OF
Chancellor E. NJ. Dunno of the Chi
cago diocese, who said at the time
that attempts on the lives of Chicago
priests surely would follow.
Since the murder of Father Helm
rich every priest in Chicago has been
: under guard, whether he knew it OF
: not, at every mass under strict orders
from Chief Shippy. and it is believed
that only this fact, which evidently
: was known to the asSailant prevented
him from shooting down Father Field
, ing at the altar steps. Finding this
impossible of achievement the man
: who attended early mass. improved his
time by stealing purses and handbags
/ and stuffing his pockets with them.
After lingering about the church fol-
hours with the results of his morning:
work actually bullying from his peck
cts. he was encountered by Father
Fielding as the latter was leaving ths
church to go to a nearby convent fol
. the purpose of pronouncing benedic
ton.