Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-02-26
WRONG PRIEST
MURDERER'S
VICTIM
ALTO INTENDED TO KILL
YOUNG ITALIAN DIVINE
Object of Anarchist Hatred
Had Waged War on Anar-
chy in Far Off Sicily Dozen
Years Ago,


IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wire ]
Denver, Colo, Feb. 25.-The Post
today published what purports to be
statement said to have been made
by the assassin, Giuseppe Alio alias
Giuseppe Guarnaccio and Angelic Ca
briele, from which it appears that
Father Leo was not the priest whom
he intended to murder but was mis-
taken by him for a young Italian
priest who had been condemned to
death by a band of anarchists who
had been eXiled from Sicily This
priest, it is said, had been foremost In
the warfare against the malcontents
in AVola, Sicily, which eliminated
twelve years ago in an attack upon
an Easter procession in the streets Of
Avola, In the fight the priest was
struck upon the head with a club by
riOter, receiving wound which left
scar. Subsequently this priest, whose
name has not been learned, came to
America.
At a meeting of the exiled anar-
chists in Buenos AYres, Alio is said to
have confessed, he was chosen by lot
to kill the hated priest and was sent
to this country by his associates for
the purpose. He did not know where
to look for the condemned man but
is said to have identified Father Leo
as the man on January 16 last, think
ing he saw a scar on his forehead,
When told by the interpreter that the
priest he had killed was a German and
had never been in Sicily and that there
was no scar on his forehead, Alio
burst into an outburst of grief and ar
ter ii passed said:
IF | have killed the wrong man,
! am very sorry, but | will take the
consequences like a man"
Alio said his wife. who deserted him
in consequence of his attacks upon
the church, is living In Pagina, pro-
vince of Siracassa, Sicily and her
name is Sevastiana Alio
A coroner's jury, examining into the
death OF Father Leo, late today re-
turned verdict declaring that he|
came TO his death by the felonious act
OF the anarchist, Alio, Only two wit
nesses were examined. Joseph Hines,
an altar boy, told the story Of the
shooting Or Hugh Taylor described
the results of the autopsy performed
on the body. Alio himself is still inI
Jail at Colorado springs and was not
brought here for the inquest,
An information charging Alio with
murder has been prepared by the DIS
trict attorney but viii not be filed
likely until after the funeral tomor-
row.
The belief is growing in this city
that Father Leo Reinrichs was the /
victim Of an anarchist plot Most Of
the Catholic priests in the city believe !
this and believe that he has been
a marked man ever since his arrival
i'm this city last August
It is thought that the plot to XIII
him was formulated before he left
Paterson, n. j.. his former residence, /
and that anarchists have been waiting /
several months for an opportunity
Through the efforts Of Michael De- /
laney chief of police, it is hoped that
thirty anarchists in various carts of
the country will be placed under ar
rest within a few days. Delaney said
today:
1--WE have traced Alio and his band /
from the stone quarries Of south, IA
Italy and have located most of ,ne /
towns where they lived. After go lg
to Spain and South America tn "
came TO the United States, all got Z
to Paterson, from where they scatter
cd. We have located four who We're
detailed to work in Colorado. Alto
was one of them"
Alio is still kept in Jail at Colorado
Springs to avoid danger of lynch
ing. He Vehemently denies that he
belongs to any anarchistic body that
wishes the murder Of priests, or that
there was plot at the bottom OF the
murder.
Il did the killing" he says, ION my
own account because l hate priests
in general"
The body of the murdered priest
was placed this morning upon the
sanctuary Of St Elizabeth's church,
which was reblessed yesterday morn
ing 1t will lie in state until after the
public funeral services tomorrow.
The Franciscan brothers held a PR"
Vate ceremony over the body this
morning, after which the doors of the
church were opened and during the
day constant procession passed
through the church to look upon the
face of the martyred priest
The Franciscan brothers were sur
prised after the murder to learn that
Father Leo wore next to his skin
heavy chains, to each link of which
was fastened a hook sharpened to
needle point. The body and arms
were Scared, showing that the priest
had been undergoing this self imposed
penance for many years.