Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-24
Policeman Who Was Present Arrests
Murderer After a Struggle.
VICTIM STRANGER TO SLAYER
Only Excuse for Murder Was Antip'
sthy to Priests in General.
ONLY SHORT TINE IN AMERICA
Assassin Born In Italy and Left
Country Three Months Ago,
Going First to Central
America.


DENVER. Colo, Feb. 2s.-Father Lee
Heinrichs was shot and killed while ad-
ninistering the sacrament at early mass
in st. Elizabeth's Catholic church
Eleventh and Curtis streets. this city
at 6 o'clock this morning Kneeling at
the altar rail between two women, Alio
Giuseppe pressed the muzzle Of re-
volver against the body of the priest
after receiving from him the consecrated
wafer, and shot the priest through the
heart. Exclaiming MY God! my God!
Father Leo fell prone in front Of the
altar and died without uttering another
word
With q scream the assassin sprang into
the aisle and, waving the pistol about
his head, dashed to the church doors.
For a moment the hundred or more peo-
pie in the church were dazed. Then a
woman shrieked and the congregation be-
came panic-strIcken. Some women tainted
and many became hysterical.
Several men rushed to the aid of the
prie jthers started in pursuit OF
n ~. Among the latter was Pa
Janiel Cronin, who overlook the
italian on theI church steps.
pc attempted to shoot the police
III .A and was foiled and overpowered
oAt8 dAltI "a ae5p6AdAt AAbhAt III WAAA~H
several men had come to the assistance
of the officer. The murderer wss hur-
riedly removed to the city JAIL and as
threats of summary justice were made
by men in the crowd which quickly gath
cred In front OF the church, Chief Of Po-
lice Michael Delaney called out the re-
serve force OF patrolmen, who were kept
on guard day and night.
Church Closed for Day.
Before the commotion caused by the
TRAGEDY had subsfded the Franciscan broth
eTs connected with st. Elizabeth's church
silently brought candles for the dead and
placed them beside the body Of their su-
perior, where he lay BY direction OF
Bishop MattE the church door was closed
for the day and the following notice was
posted;
owing % the frightful tragedy enacted
in this church by an unknown criminal. the
wanton killing of our beloved pastor, SUI
perior and friend. Father Leo, all services
wil be discontinued for the day. Kindly,
reader, breath a silent prayer for the re-
pose OF the soul of our beloved friend
FATHER EUSEBIUS.
Deputy Coroner Daniel Hayes took charge
OF Father Leo's body, which was removed
to the city morgue. A single hole in the
white communion robes of the priest
showed that the bullet had gone straight
to the heart. The bullets remaining in the
revolver had beer sharpened to a fine
point
Giuseppe WAS placed in solitary confine-
ment at the city jail. He admitted to a
policeman who interviewed him, that the
priest whom he had killed was a stranger
TO him, and in explanation OF his crime
made the following statement
GrudEe Against Priests.
II just went over there because have a
grudge against all priests in general. They
are all against the working man. l went
to the communion rail because could get
q better shot ! did not give a damn
whether he was a German priest or any
other kind Of priest. They are all in the
same class.
Il left Italy three months ago, went first
to Central America and then came 20 The
United States and to Denver. / am an
anarchist. and l am proud OF IT, / shot
him. and my only regret is that / could
not have shot the whole bunch. Of priests
in the church. / am a shoemaker. but
have not worked since coming 10 Denver. "
Father Leo Heinrichs was born in
Koeln, Germany August 15 1867. He en-
tered the Franciscan order December 4.
lS8s and was ordained July g, 1891. He
came TO Denver last September from
Paterson, N. ]. He was three years I'm
orogan. N. Y, where he distinguished him
self by rebuilding the church. monastery
and other buildings that were destroyed by
Germany IN June and visit relatives whom
A.