The daily sentinel., 1908-07-16

Sunday. February 90. according to his
story. he was aroused from sleep by
the ringing of the chimes in st. Eliza
beth's church. He arose, dressed him
self hurriedly and walked out to the
church. led by the musical tones peal
ing forth a call to worship. But he
went not with the thought of thanks
giving in mind for he declared. and
many times repeated, after his arrest
that the chimes recalled alleged
wrongs experienced in his native Italy
and, attributed by him to the church
entering the church. Ala went
through the usual ceremony of bless
ing himself with holy water, and then
seated himself where his view of the
altar would be unobstructed. There
he followed the ritual up to the point
where communion is given to all who
are prepared. Ala approached the
alter and. kneeling, awaited the arrival
of the priest officiating at the com
munion. not knowing, Ala has said, or
caring who il should be.
A number of other Communicates had
assumed the same posture. and posi-
tions at the communion rail We're prac-
tically all taken. When Father Leo
beloved by all who knew him. both in
and outside the church-appeared with
seemed impressed with the solemnity
and sacredness of the service and in
spired with thoughts of God. Ala,
however according to his own state
ment. could barely restrain desire to
spring at the throat of the priest. de-
spite the place. the scene aud the
peculiarly sacred character of the ac-
tion in progress.
Along the line passed the priest,
placing upon the tongue of each sue
cessive communicant the consecrated
wafer and repeating the lines of the
mass declaring the Eucharist thus ad-
miHistered is the Savior himself in per-
son. ALA was now the next in line
Father Leo placing the wafer upon the
tongue of the stranger. all unsuspect-
ing of the murderous design in Alias
heart. began: Take, eat; this is my
BODY but stopped horror stricken.
'he subject OF the prayer had spat the
blessed morsel from his mouth. Al
most simultaneously with this descra-
tion n shot rang out and Father Leo
sank to the floor moTtally wounded.
a bullet from a revolver fired by Ala
had penetrated the priests body near
the heart. Father Wulstan Workman.
hearing the shot. rushed from the ad-
/ joining sacrsty just in time to admin
/ lister to Father Leo the last sacrament,
Father Leo expiring a moment later in
the arms of his brother priest. I'm
metliately after firing the shot. Ala.
with curse darted toward the main
aisle of the church and rushed for the
dood. with hair disheveled and smok-
ing gun flourishing over his head. he
made his way to within ten feet of the
portal where he tripped and fell.
Policeman Daniel Cronin, who was
among the worshippers. wrenched the
gun from Alias hand and dragged him
to the street in an effort to protect
him from the maddened worshippers.
Outside, the policeman and his charge
We're surrounded by several hundred
persons who We're about to tear Ala
from the officers hands. when several
priests and Franciscan brothers ap-
peared on the steps and pleaded with
the enraged people to leave the aveng-
/ ing of the awful murder to God. The
presence of the ecclesiastics interced-
ing for the life of the destroyer of g
beloved brother had effect The single
policeman was permitted to take Ala
away in buggy hastily driven to po-
loce headquarters. Several hours later
Ala was spirited out of town in ar
automobile and taken to Colorado
Springs for safe keeping.
! The trial was compare lively brtef
but every opportunity of defense was
given. Insanity was offered plea
to escape the moose. The best alienists
in Denver testified that Ala was sane
and he was sentenced to be hanged
A petition from citizens in Alias native
town in Italy pleading for his life. and
declaring that he was undoubtedly
/ insane was forwarded to the Italian
consul here but for some reason un-
| explained was never presented to the
governor. Many believe that the mur-
der of Father Leo was part of an
anarchistic plot against the Catholic
clergy but nothing has recently trans
| pired tending to substantiate this
| view. Previous to coming to Denver
Father Leo lived at Paterson. N j.
Paterson is the headquarters of the
Franciscan monks in this country and
it has been thought possible that he
incurred the enmity of some one or
perhaps a group of anarchists there
personal in its nature and applying
only to him. His great popularity and
goodness of heart went strongly to dis
prove this theory and no evidence to
support 1t has come to light. Whether
or not Ala brooded over fancied
wrongs until his mind became disea--
ed, it is admitted that for years he ha ?
entertained Il hatred for the priest
hood. and on this Sunday morning
when the chimes sounded from the
church he had apparently lost all pow
er of control for good but the cunning
of evil remained. The result was mur-
der which has no parallel in history.