Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-03-12
A PECULIAR CASE
Giuseppe Ala, the Priest-- Killer,
viii Be Placed on Trial
at Denver.
his DEFENSE NOT KNOWN
Conflicting Statements and Apparent
Lack Of Motive Point to lnsan.
Ity-But AIlenIsts Say
He Is Sane.

Denver, Col, Mar. 9.-Guiseppe ALA
the priest-killer, will be placed on
trial in the criminal branch Of the dis
trict court at ten o'clock Monday
morning. The shocking nature Of his
crime-the shooting down Of Father
Leo HeinTichs at the altar in st,
Elizabeth's Catholic church on Sunday
morning, February 20, when he was
giving the sacrament, aroused think
ing people throughout the country and
caused them to speculate as to the
origin and purpose Of the. plot, II any
existed, that made Father Leo a
marked man. Alias conflicting state
ments regarding the shooting have led
many people to believe he must be In
sane. However, four Of the most ex-
pert brain specialists in this city have
given 1t as their opinion that ALA is
perfectly sane and this after observ-
ing him since his return to this city
from Colorado Springs. whittier he was
taken to avoid possible mob violence.
Ala had practically recovered from
the fear Of summary vengeance and
was in fair condition to be studied
by men skilled in detection Of mental
faults. Notwithstanding public an
nouncement through the press Of the
results of the observations of the spe-
cialists appointed by the district at
torney, the defense has engaged three
alienists to be present during the
trial. They will sit in the court room
and observe the defendant for the pur-
pose of detecting any sign Of insanity.
Should they be successful, no doubt
the defense will be quick to grasp that
as q means Of saving the life Of ALA.
On the other hand the prosecution
has summoned eight alienlsts to be
present, whose expert knowledge will
be used to Offset any claim Of insanity
that might be raised by Alias attor.
ney With the question Of insanity
aside, people wonder what excuse or
reason Ala could have had for want
ing the life of the priest. In this con
nection his first confession, in which
he admitted that he was an anarchist
comes to mind. Ala said he hated
the priesthood; that they kept the
people poor because Of exactions they
made, while they themselves lived in
luxury. He killed Father Leo because
he was a priest, he declared. Anoth-
er statement made by the murderer
was to the effect that he sought ven
geance upon an italian member of the
Catholic clergy who had been instru-
mental in putting down the antI-cleri.
cal riots in Alias old home and had
incurred his hatred therefore He
thought he recognized a sworn enemy
In Father Leo. Ala, when told that
he had murdered a German whom he
had never seen or heard OF before, pro
fessed to be very remorseful and fell
on his knees and Wept.
A few days later the much wrought
up murderer told another story In
which he declared that the death OF
Father Leo was a matter for which
he was IN noWise responsible: that the
priest fell dead while carrying out a
ceremony Of the church, and that he
had ned IN fear Of the power that had
suddenly struck down TIE priest And
this n spite Of tie fact hat two men
haiusd nereely via Ana a re en-