The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-07-16
CALLS DOWN VENGEANCE
UPON ROMAN PRIESTHOOD
Murderer Slew Denver Priest
While Latter Was Administer
Ing Holy Sacrament
-------
az AssocIated pressl

kBy Associated HIe5S.l
Canon City Colc, uly l5.-Calling
down the maledictions of the most
high upon the Roman priesthood and
shouting in Italian Long live Italy,
Long live the Prctestants, Giuseppe
Ala, the murderer of Father Leo
Helnrichs, was carried to the death
trap and exactly at $3.50 O'Clock last
night paid the penalty Of his crime.
Perhaps a more sensational and
| thrilling scene was never beheld by
any OF the l6 persons present than the
execution of this misguided Italian
murderer, whose cries and screams
Mere cnly hushed by the automatic
springing OF the mechanism which for
ever silenced the tongue that called
for vengeance against those whom
Ala had considered the destroyers OF
] his home and happiness.
4 At O'Clock yesterday afternoon
| Warden Cleghorn of the state peniten
tiary, through his interpreter, Antonio
Sasso. a prison guard, read the death
warrant TO Ala. Contrary TO expec.
1 ltations the prisoner exhibited no emo
don, not even moving muscle. and
! when the reading WAS finished, said.
AN right I am ready 10 die now.
| AT O'Clock supper was served to
the prisoner, 1t being the regular lnea
given TO the officers of the prison Be
fore eating he divided il into five por
tions saying that one was for his wife
one for himself and one each lor his
Three children. He then at with ap
parent composure and relish.
At Z o'clock Guard Sasso came TO
! f,.y urffh n
one hour the execution would take
lplace. Ala again assented, and said le
was ready at any time. He further
said he felt no sorrow whatever for
lhaving killed Father Leo. He was Ger
tain that Father Leo was the man he
lhad been searching Tor for many
lmonths, and claimed that he had rec
loguhZcd the priest By q scar on the
side OF his face. Ala said he had
worked for Father Leo in Portugal
Hand IVES sure that he had killed the
right man. Ala said he did not be
iliave there was a God, for if he would
naye been permitted to be his pres
lent prcdicament. He said he found no
fault with the law but that the priest
did wrong in breaking up his family.
At $3.50 O'Clock c%cFytning being IN
readiness the Wardees assistants ap-
porached Alias cell anu led the con
aemned man TO the executive house,
where the black cap and moose were
adjusted by the deputy During this
procedure Ala became frantic and
rent the air with yells and curses
lagainst the priesthood aud shouting
l"Long live ltaly--long live the Pro
tostantS AHA was placed upgn the
trap. chaplain Blake of the prison
uttered a shot prayer the dropping
/. water Of the automatic mechanism re
leased the great weight and exactly
at S.30 the body was jerked into the
air
Unfortunately, his neck was not
+, brolkn, owing 10 the slipping OF the
rope, and he died of strangulation
After ~ minutes Alias body Was cul
/. down and he was pronounced dead.
Story Of Crime.
Giuseppe Alias crime, the murder
: CT Father Leo Heinrichs. Of the order
Z of Franciscan monks. at the altar raj
in ST. Elizabeths church In Denver
4 while the priest was administering he
s sacrament Of the Eucharist, stTucl
horror TO the heart Of every person n
4 Denver and awakened anxiety through
cut the Catholic world lest 1t shoulG
prove the beginning OF genera
Z plan Of priest murder
AHA had ben In Denver seyera
weeks, unemployed and apparently
penniess. Eariy on the morning o
y sunday. February 30, according TO hi
4 story. he was aroused from sleep b.
( the ringing OF chimes In ST. Eliza
d beths church He arose. dressed huT
+ riedly and walked out 10 the church
4 led by the musical tones pealing fort
y call 10 worship. But he went no
q with the thought Of Thanksgiving il
+ mind, for he declared and many time
a repeated. after his arrest that to-
y chimes recalled alleged wrongs eNpei
n fenced "a his native Italy and attril
A luted By him TO the church.
Entering tue church, Ala wen
:. through the usual ceremony OF blegl
s ing himself With holy water and the
a seated himself where his view OF th
y altar would be unobstructed Their
s hl followed the ritual az 90 be poi1
q whore communion Is given 70 ali VIII
& are prpared Ala approached the q
E tar and, kneeiing, awaited the arivi
q OF the priest ofilciatlne az the con
4 muni0n, not knowing. ALA has said q
q caring who it should be-
H A number of other c0mmunicanl
had assumed the same p4Jfure an
s positions al the communion rail wer
= practically an taken. When Faths