The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-05-26
PRIEST STABBED AT ALTAR
Father LuheIey, of Salisbury, Mo,
Attacked by Rich ParishiOneT.
No Motive Apparent, Except Possible
Tnsanity--Priest and Assailant
Had Been Friends.

st. Louis, Mo. The Rev Father
Joseph F. Lubeley, pastor of st.
Josephs Church at Salisbury, Mo,
1913 miles west of ST. Louis, was
stabbed twice while leaving the altar
by Joseph Schuette, wealthy parish
Toner. Schuette attacked the priest
just after he had finished high mass
Father Lubeley fell at the second
blow, and Schuette then turned his
knife on John Gates and Mrs. Bar
bara Ginter, who had rushed up to
aid their pastor. Mrs. Ginter was cut
on the hand and Gates was cut on
the hand and on the elbow. Neither
is seriously hurt.
Father Lubeley was stabbed in the
right temple and in the right side of
the neck, the knife just missing the
jugular vein. The attack came from
behind in full view of about 400 wor-
shippers while the priest was shaking
hands with one of the women
A dozen men grappled with
Schuette after he had stabbed Mrs.
Ginter and Gates, and he was quickly
pinioned to the ground He struggled
desperately, shouting and snarling,
and refused to be quieted, even when
his wife and five children, who had
accompanied him to mass, pressed
around him. While officers hurried
him to jail, physicians were attend
ing the wounded priest He recov-
cred consciousness quickly, and, de-
spite the gaping wound in his throat,
directed those about him After be-
ing given temporary aid he was
placed aboard train and brought to
st. Mary's Inf1rmary in ST. Louis, &C
companied by DR.. Baker and Miss
Tillie Lubeley, his cousin and house
keeper. Father Lubeley is a native
Of st. Louis and his mother and two
brothers reside here
Bishop Thomas Bonicum, of Lin
colin, Neb., and two nuns, the mother
general of the Order of St. Joseph and
der assistant, both bound for their
headquarters in Carondelet, were on
the train and aided in caring fer the
wounded priest.
Father Lubeley exhibited the great
est fortitude during the five hours
ride to St. Louis
"I'll be all right unless the knife
was infected" he said with smile.
But | cannot imagine why Schuette
attacked me. We were the best of
friends, and I never consciously did
anything to incur his enmity. He
must have lost his reason"
Schuette, according to members of
st. Joseph's Congregation, sat in the
rear of the church during the high
mass, though his family occupied
their pew in the centre of the church.
He is said to have glared at Father
Lubeley throughout the services, and
particularly during the sermon,
gnashing his teeth in seeming rage.
His peculiar actions recently have
caused comment in the town. The
day before he quarreled with John
Legandre, former sergeant-at-arms of
the Missouri House of Representa-
tives, and threatened him with his
knife.
Scheutte is prosperous farmer
and has been one of the most liberal
supporters of St. Joseph's Church.
One of his daughters was an intimate
friend of Father Luebeley's cousin.
Father Lubeley is thirty-three
years old and of powerful build. His
assailant is about forty-three years
old, tall and strong, but not as robust
as his victim. Father Lubeley cher
ishes no resentment against him.