Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-07-13
SLAYER
AL|ATOD|EON
GALLONS
GOVERNOR DECLINES TO
STAY HAND OF HANGMAN
Shocking Nature of Killing of
Father Heinrichs PrecIudes
Possibility of Public. Sym
pathy With Anarchist,

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire.1
Denver, Colo, July 12.-With the
arrival of today, the death sentence
imposed upon Giuseppe Ala, the
priest murderer, began to operate.
ALA will be hanged In the state peni-
tentiary at Canon City some time this
week, but the day and the hour is
known only to prison officials, and the
exact time has not yet been definitely
decided upon by them. Tho custom
in Colorado long followed by the
courts, is to designate the week when
convicted murderers sentenced to
death, shall expiate their crimes, leav-
ing it to the prison officials, who ac-
tually carry out the sentence, to select
the moment when the sentence shall
be carried out The law requires
that a certain number of legal wit
nesses be present at the time and on
previous occasions it has happened
that certain newspaper men have been
this capacity. In this way the pub
named In this capacity In this way
the public is made acquainted with
the hour selected for the hanging, but
until some such source of information
develops, the people generally much
continue ignorant of details of the plan
decided upon for any execution. This
is true of the ALA case and 1t would
not be surprising if the public re-
ceived its first news of the actual ar
rangements for Alias hanging after
it was all over and the prison ply
siclan had pronounced him dead.
That the death sentence under
which ALA now rests will be carried
into effect. without interruption from
the pardoning power of the state, is
practically certain. Governor Butchel
has stated IN emphatic language that
he will not even reprleve him be-
cause h. kAlleVesstlae seat ef Impose
ed was lawful and just In the alb
sencc Of Governor Butchel from the
state. executive duties fall to Lieu
tenant Governor Harper, and in the
event of that contingency arising dur
ing the week, ALA will have no bet
ter chance OF escaping the moose, for
the lieutenant governor is known to
be of the same mind in this particu-
lar as Governor Butchel.
Realizing that the shocking nature
of his crime-the killing of Father
Leo Heinrichs at the altar of St
Elizabeth's church in this city while
tho priest was administering the sac
rament at early mass one Sunday
morning-made impossible the stir
ring of human sympathy in his be-
half, ALA awaits only the coming of
the moment when he shall be sum-
moned to his doom. The greater por-
ton of the time he lies upon his cot
his face buried In the covers, occa-
sionaly mumbling a word or two not
Intended for any ears but his own
When approached by any one he flies
into rage even resenting the pres
ence of jail officials. For a week he
has absolutely refused y eat. tough
the choicest Of food was placed seforc
him. On Friday last the prisen ply
sician becoming alarmed at his nag
gard appearance. administered milk
Ly means OF a pump. This had the
effect of changing the prisoners mind
and since that he has eaten unassistcd.
Ala retains his fierce hatred Df the
priesthood and everything connected
with the church. When visited in his
cell recently by a Catholic prizes, sta
toned in Canon City he ravcd ard
stormed and was not quieted for some
time after the priest had Withdrawn.
Ala refused TO converse with the
priest and his attitude at times APP
peared threatening.