The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-16
For the Murder of Father
 Leo.
STORY OF THE AWFUL CRIME
Carried to Death Trap at S:3O
 O'clock P. M.
Before He Was Hung, He Called Down Maiedictions on Romas Catholic Church and Shouted 'Lons
 Hive the Protestants..

down maiedfctions on the Roman Cath ollie priesthood and shouting in Italian Long Live Italy-Long Live the Prot estants," Giuseppe Alia, who murdered Father Leo Heinrichs at the altar of St. Elizabeth's Church. Denver. was carried to the death trap and exactly at s:s0 o'clock, paid the extreme pen- atty of his crime by hanging.
 Perhaps more sensational and thrilling scene was never beheld by any of the sixteen persons present than the execution of this Italian murderer, whose cries and screams were only hushed by the automatic springing of the mechanism which forever silenced the tongue that cried for vengeance against those whom Alia had consid- cred the destroyers of his home and happiness. a At o'clock this afternoon Warden cleghon. of the State penitentiary, through his interpreter, Antonio Sasso, prison guard, read the death war; rant to Alia. Contrary to expectations the prisoner exhibited no emotion and when the reading was finished said:
 All right I am ready to die now :"
 At o'clock supper was served to the prisoner. Before eating he divid- ed it into five portions. saying that Npe was for his wife. one for hirnseIf Ad one for each of his three children. HANthen ate with apparent composure anaveiish.
 AAg o'clock Guard sasso came to him with Ashe information that within one hour he execution would take place. Alia 4 ain said he was ready at any time. Te further said he felt no sor- row whA teyer for having killed Father Leo. HA fas certain that Father Leo was thel han he had been searching for many kponths and claimed that he had recg. .Snized the priest by a scar on the si~ z of his face.
 Alia said he had worked for Father Leo in Portugal and said he was sure he had killed the right man. Alia said he did not believe there was q God. for If so he would not have been permitted to be in his present predIcas naent. He said he found no fault with the law. but that the priest did wrong in breaking up his family.
 Alia Became Frantic.
 At 8:30 o'clock everything being in readiness, the warden's assistants ap- proached Alias cell and led the con- demned man to the execution house, where the black cap and moose were adjusted by the deputy warden. Dur Ing this procedure Alia became frantic and shouted. Long live Italy; long live the protestants.'
 AIia was placed upon the trap. Chap lain Blake of the prison uttered & short prayer, the dripping water of the auto nlatic mechanism released the great
 
 was jerked into the air.
 Unfortunately Alias neck was not broken, owing to the slipping of the rope, and he died of strangulation. Af- ter nineteen minutes Alias body was cut down and he was pronounced dead.
 Giuseppe Alias crime, the murder of Father Leo Heinrichs. of the Order of Franciscan Monks. at the altar rail in St. EIizabeth's Church in Denver, while the priest was administering the sac- rament of the Bucharest. struck horror to the heart of every person in Denver and awakened anxiety throughout the Catholic world lest 1t should prove the beginning of a general plant of priest murder. Alia had been in Denver several weeks unemployed and apparently penniless. Early on the morning of Sunday. February 23. according to his ktory. he was aroused from sleep by the ringing of the chimes in St. Eliza ebth's Church He arose, dressed him. self and walked out to the church led by the musical tones pealing forth a call to worship. But he went not with the thought of thanksgiving in mind, for he declared. and many times re- peated after his arrest, that the chimes recalled alleged wrongs experienced in his native Italy, and attributed by him 60 the church.
 At Altar Rail.
 
 Entering the church. Alia went through the usual ceremony of bless ing himself with holy water. and then seated himself where his view of the altar would be unobstructed There he followed the ritual up to the point where communion is given to all who are prepared. Alia approached the ai- tar and kneeling. awaited the arrival of the priest oficiating at the Com munion. not knowing. Alia has said CT caring, who 1t should be.
 A number of other communicants had assumed the same posture. and po- sitions at the communion rail were practically all taken. When Father Leo beloved by all who knew him both in and outside the church-appeared with the consecrated wafers, all at the rail seemed impressed with the solemn ity and sacredness of the service and inspired with thoughts of God. AIia, however. according to his own state ment, could barely restrain a desire to spring at the throat of the priest, de- spite the place. the scene and the ps- culiarlY sacred character of the action in progress.
 Along the line passed the priest. placing upon the tongue of each suc- cessive communicant the consecrated wafer and repeating the lines of the Mass declaring the Eucharist thus ad- ministered is the Savior himself in per- son. Alia was now the next in line. Father Leo placing the wafer upon the tongue of the stranger, all unsuspect- ing Of the murderous design in Alias heart, began: Take, eat; this Is my body-"but stopped horror-stricken The subject of the prayer had spat the blessed morsel from his mouth.
 A Shot Rang Out.
 Almost simultaneously with this dissertation shot rang out and Fath- CT Leo sank to the floor mortally wounded. A bullet from a revolver fired by Alia had penetrated the priests body near the heart. Father wulstan Workman, hearing the shot. rushed from the adjoining sacristy iust in time to administer to Father Leo the last sacrament. Father Leo expiring a moment later in the arms of his brother priest. Immediately