The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-24
Italian Shoots Victim Through the Heart While KnseIing
 fl the Altar Rail
CAPTURED BY POLICE AFTER HARD FIGHT
Murderer Makes Statement That He Had Grudge Against All Priests and Was Sorry He Could
 Not Kill More of Them.

Denver, February 23.-Father Leo Hein- flchs was shot and killed when address, Ing the sacrament at early mass in St Ellzabeth's Catholic church Eleventh and Curtis streets. this city, at o'clock this morning Kneeling at the altar rail be- tween two women. Giuseppe Guarnaccto pressed the muzzle of a revolver against the body of the priest, after receiving the eohsecrated wafer. and shot him through the heart. Exclaiming: My God My God!' Father Leo fell prone in front of the altar and died without uttering an- other word
 With an inartculate scream the assassin sprang into the aisle and dashed to the door For a moment the hundred or more people in the church were dazed. then became panic-stlicken Women tainted and many became hysterical Several men rushed to the aid of the priest and others started in pursuit of the murderer. Among the latter was Patrolman Daniel Cronin, who overlook the fleeing Italian on the streets. Guar naeeto attempted to shoot the policeman. but was toiled and overpowered only after a desperate fight, in which several men came to the assistance of the officer The murderer Was hurriedly removed to the city jail and as threats of summary jus tice were made by men in the crowd who quickly gathered in front of the church, Chief of Police Delany called out the reserve force for the patrolman Coroner Hayes took charge of the priests body, which was removed to the city morgue-
 single hole in the white communion robes of the priest showed that the bull let had gone straight to the heart. The bullets remaining in the revolver had sharpened points.
 faafs f,tI ment:
 T 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 communion rail because [ could not get a better shot l did not give d. whether he was German priest or any other kind of a priest. They are all in the same class.
 'I left Italy three months ago; went first to Central America and then came to the United States and to Denver am an anarchist and l am proud of 1t. l shot him, and my only regret is that could not have killed the whole bunch of priests in the church. I am a shoe maker, but have not worked since coming to Denver
 Father Heinrich was born in Germany August 15 1867. He came to Denver last September from Paterson, N. J., where for three years he was rector of St Bonaventlra. He had previously served three years in Crogham, N. Y. where he distinguished himself by rebuilding the church. monastery and other buildings that were destroyed by fire in 1902.
 Although no actual demonstration against the murderer of Father Leo had been made. there was much talk around town throughout the day of the justice of lynching him. In order to avoid an attack on the city Jail Guamaccto was taken to the county jail. more easily defended building, where he remained several hours Small groups of men be- gan to congregate near the county Jail and after consultation the authorities decided to take Guamaccto out of town. Accordingly. he was hustled into an au- tomobile and a fast run was made to I.ittleton II miles from Denver, where a train was boarded for Colorado Springs.