The Irish standard., 1908-03-14
HOW Ne MET HIS DEATH
First Accurate Version of the
Murder of Father Leo,
At Denver, Given by His Com
panion on the Altar.

At Denver, Given by His Com
i panion on the Altar.
Father Eusebius Schliagmann, OF
the Order of Franciscan Monks, pas
tor of the Church of st. Francis OF
Assist, New York City, " 10 was with
Father Leo Heinrich VIII n he was
shot down by an anarchist before the
altar in Denver and who accom-
panied his remains to Paterson, N.
!. j.. on his arrival gave to the press an
accurate version of the murder, which
differs in several particulars from
that of the earlier dispatches.
IAN altar boy who had seen the
murderer reach for his hip pocket had
said to Father Leo, Look out, Fa-
ther!' at the same time taking him
by the sleeve. The priest asked
'Why?' AS he turned he faced
Guannacoto, who fired Immediately
at his heart, the ball penetrating the
upper ventriclc.
Father Leo did not fail. For a
few seconds he stood upright as
though nothing had happened. Sec
ing he had dropped some Of the con-
secrated particles of the sacrament
he stopped to pick them up, and as
he did so the boy asked: Father, are
you shot?' 'Yes,' answered Father
Leo. I'm badly shot Where is Fa-
ther Eusebius. Call him. These
were his last words.
Turning to the statue Of the vir-
gin Mary. at whose feet he was shot
and died, he placed the ciho-ium upon
the steps of the altar, and, falling on
his knees, he prepared to give up his
soul to his Maker. When reached his
side a few minutes later he was breath
ing easily. On his face was a smile.
He looked as though he wished to say:
Father, forgive them, Cor they know
not what they do He died after hav-
ing received the sacrament Of extreme
JUNCTION.
Father Leo and 1 said two masses
each and preached an English and a
German sermon. had the first two
masses a week ago Sunday, and it
was his turn therefore last Sunday.
Father Wulstan Workman, of Mon
treal, who was in Denver for hts
health. had asked permission to say
one Of the early masses, and Father
Leo had asked him to say the half
past seven o'clock mass.
Il have no doubt that if had been
in Father Leo's place, or if Father
Wulstan had been, the murderer would
have shot just the same. In other
words, do not believe the bullet was
intended for any one particular priest.
but for the priesthood. Father Leo
died in the Lords service ard with tfre
blessed sacrament in his hands. case
probably without parallel in the his
tory of the world
From the death of Father Leo in
such tragic way Father Eusebius
drew several lessons.
"As to the result of this tragedy
so far as the teachers Of anarchy and
other subversive doctrines are con-
cerned, there probably will be none,'
he said. Father Leo's death has
caused a profound sensation the world
over, and today he is one &C the most
famous dead on account of the manner
of his death. This country is excited
and the police are doing all they can:
but fear that in short time all wilt
be quiet again and this tragedy for
gotten.
Nov is the time to get at the bot
tom of this situation. Arrest and put
behind the bars every anarchist, or
whatsoever proclaims doctrines sub
versivc of law and order. Hang every
one that does murder, ami him or her
who advocates murder. We have law
in this land, and to that law we should
have recourse.
Further. We should keep out of this
country all undesirable Immigrants. BY
this do not mean the poor and the I'M
fortunate, but 1 do mean the criminal
class. For this purpose think the
United States should establish immi-
grant bureaus in Europe. srd particu-
larry in those countries where anarchy
and the PRONUNCIATION Of anarchistic
doctrines are rife. Application should
be made to those bureaus by those
wishing to cmigrate and their records
should be investigated.
"As to the motive back Of the MUIR
der Of Father Leo, there was no motive
other than the assassin's Gjabolical ha-
tired of the church and If the priest
hood. Guannacotto said lie was an an
archist and was sorry he did not shost
tho whole d lot IF t1,a,O, nv,