Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-07-22
ALA HANGED FOR
KILLING PRIEST
SLAYER OF FATHER LEO Helm
RlcHS PAYS THE DEATH
PENALTY.

Denver, Col, July 1G.--Guiseppe
was hanged at Canyon City last
night
Giuseppe Alias crime. the murder
of Father Leo Helnrichs, of the Or
der OF Franci lean monks, at the altar
rail in st. Elizabeths church in Den
ger while the priest was administer.
ing the sacrament of the Euchrist
struck horror to the heart Of every
persos in Denver and awakened anx-
iety throughout the catholic world
lest it should prove the beginning Of
a general plan of priestmurder.
ALA had been in Denver several
weeks, unemployed and apparently
penniless. Early on the morning Of
Sunday, February 23, according to
his story. he was arosed from
sleep by the ringing OF the chimes in
st. Elizabeth's church He arose,
dressed himself hurriedly and walked
out TO the worship. But he went not
with the thought of thanksgiving in
mind for he declared, and many times
repeated after his arrest that the
chimes recalled alleged wrongs ex-
perienced in his native italy, and at
tributed 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 10 the point
where communion Is given to all who
are prepared ALA approached the al
tar and, kneeing, awaited the ar.
rival of the priest officiating ut the
communion. not knowing, Ala has
said. or caring who ii should be. A
number of other communicates had
assumed the same posture and posi-
tons at the communion rail were
practically all taken. When Father
Leo-beloved by all who knew
him, both In and outside the church
appeared with the consecrated waf-
ers. all at the rail seemed impressed
with the solemnity and sacfedness
Of the service and inspired with
thoughts Of God ALA, however, ac-
cording TO his own statement, could
barely restrain a desire to spring at
the throat Of the priest, despite Of
the place. the scene and the peculiar.
~ sacred character of the action in
progress.
Along the line passed the priest
placing upon the tongue Of each
successive commitment the conse-
Grated wafer and repeating the lines
Of the mass declaring the Euchrist
thus administered Is the Savior him
self in person. Ala wns now the next
in line. Father Leo, placing the wafer
upon the tongue Of the stranger, all
unsuspecting Of L G murderous de-
sign IN Alias heart, began ''Takee,
eat: this is my body" but stopped
horror stricken. The subject Of the
prayer had sDst the blessed morsel
from his mouth Almost simultaneous
~ with this Dissertation a shot rang
out and Father Leo sank to the floor
MORALLY wounded A bullet from a
revolver fred by ALA, had penetrated
the priests body near the heart.
Father Wu1stan Workman hearing
the shot, rushed from the adjoining
sacristy just In time to administer to
ather Leo the last sacrament, Father
Leo expiring a moment later in the
arms Of bis brother priest Immedi-
diately after firing the sb9t, Ala,
with a curse, darted toward the main
aisle of the church and rushed for the
door With hair disheyeled ana
smoking gun fourishing over his head,
he made his way to within ten feet Of
the portal where he ripped and fell
Policeman Daniel Cronin, wao was
among the worshippers, wreuched the
gun from Alias hand and dragged him
] to the street In an effort to protect