Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-02-28
PRIEST IS KILLED
AT RAIL OF ALTAR
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART BY AN
ARCHIST TO WHOM HE IS CIV
ING COMMUNION.
Is REMEMBERED AS MARTYR,
Dead Father May Be Canonized as One
of the Saints of Catholic
Church.
THE TRAGEDY HAS NO PARALLEL

DENVER. Colo, Feb. 24.-MemberS
of the Catholic priesthood in this city
declare there is no record in the history
of the church of tragedy to parable
that of the killing cf Father Leo Helm
rlchs while administering the sacrament
to Guiseppi GuarnaccIo.
Never before has Il servant of the
church been summoned from the per
tormance OF his duties in SO TRACE and
dramatic manner. This crime will
stand out Us one of the most fearful in
criminal records of the world. and its
preparation may result i'll the elevation
Oh ather Leo to the position OF martyr
and lead to his canouiZation as one of
the saints of the church i'll whose service
he Tell while performing his duty.
Take Body to Paterson, N. J.
Father Eusebius, senior pastor Of the
81. Elizabeth 5 church. received Il tcle-
gram last might from the father provin-
cial i'll Paterson, y. j.. inStructmg INN
to forward the body OF Father Leo TO
that city for intermenl. Father Euse-
bus Will accompany the body.
Funeral services Will be held at ST.
ElIZabeth'S church at 10 o'clock Wcdnes-
day morning, when solemn requiem hugh
mass viii be celebrated, probably ny
Father EuSebius
Father William O'Ryan, pastor of st.
Leos church, will denver eulogy and 4
sermon against anarchy and socialism.
The funeral services will be attended 10y
500 members of the knights of Column
bus and the entire body of the knights
of st. John and other Catholic Organiza-
lions.
1t is a custom of the Franciscan order
that no eulogies be preached for its de
ceased members, but on account of the
tragic circumstances and the general eff
upon the public the rule will be set
aside
Assassin Talks Freely.
Guiseppi Guarnaccio, the murderer,
talked freely i'll Jail concerning himself
and his act, for which lie declared ne
has no regret. He said he is native OF
Sicily, 5S years old. lie became Il So
ciaGSt and anarchist at 30 years OF age.
He is a shoemaker. lie came to Amer
lea two years ago and has since been
teaching anarchy, working but little at
his trade. lie lived before coming TO
Denver in Paterson. \. J., III mill towns
Of Massachusetts and in Chicago. He
came TO Denver two weeks before Christ
mas.
The statements of Guarnaccio, that
he is an anarchist. are borne out by let
ltlS anu lJ'NlliI!4llSiS lilstli IipliA MN.
Among his effects was Il printed list OF
the murders of the worlds rulers, from
the assassination Of Gar Paul of Rus
STA III 1901, down to the recent killing
of the King of Portugal, Il few weeks
ago. He also had many pages OF
anarchistic literature, III his own hand
writing and on printed slips.
Killed at Altar Rail.
Father Heinrichs was shot and killed
as he gave the cOnSecrated wafer to the
The assassin was kneeliug
at the altar rail when lie fired. The bull
let went through the priests heart. As
the report of the pistol resounded
through the church there was utter 81
lence for Il moment. In the pause Fa-
Their Heinrichs' voice rang out in his
last words on earth:
My God. My Cod lie cried in loud
voice. ITO thee | commend my soulr'
GUarnacciO, with Il smothcred Italian
curse, and waving the revolver above his
head, dashed toward the church door
lie was arrested and threats of lynching
were voiced by the throng which gath
cred in front of the church. The muir
derer declared that Father Henrichs
was a stranger to him, but that he hated
all priests.