The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-02-28
MURDERED At
ALTAR BY ANARCHIST
italian Shoot Father Leo Helm.
richs Through Heart
During Devotions.

Denver. Colo, Eel. 26.-Fsther Leo
Heinrichs was shot and killed when adj
ministering the at early
mass in st. Elizabeth's Catholic church,
Eleventh and Curtis streets. this city.
at 6 O'clock yesterday morning.
Kneeling at the altar rail between
two women Guiseppi G~uarnaccio
pressed the muzzle Of a revolver against
the body OF the priest, after receiving
from him the consecrated wafer. and
shot the priest through the heat. tx
Calming, My God! My God!" Father
Leo fell prone In front of the altar and
died without uttering another word.
With an inarticulate scream. the
assassin sprang into the aisle, and
waving the smoking weapon about his
head dashed to the church door. For
q moment the hundred or more people
woman shrieked and the congregation
vas panic stricken. Some women faint
ed and many became hysterical.
Several men rushed to the aid OF the
priest and others started in pursuit or
the murderer. Among the latter was
Patrolman Daniel Cronin, who overlook
the fleeing Italian on the church steps.
Guiseppi attempted to shoe the police
man and was foiled and overpowered
only after g desperate fight In which
several men had come to the assistance
Of the officer.
Priest to Be n
In 20 centuries OF the history OF he
Catholic church. members of Its priest
hood in this city, declare there Is no
record of any trssedy to parallel the
killing OF Father Helnrichs. Never be-
fore has a servant of the church been
summoned from h performance OF
his duties III so tragic and dramatic
manne This crime will stand out as
one Of the most fearful In the GRIM
inal records of the world. and Its per-
p%etration will probably result in the
elevation of Father Leo to the POSI-
ton of a martyr and will lead to his
canonizat'on as one OF the saints OF
the church IT. whose service he fell
whilo performing his duty.
Lynchins Feared.
-,le murderer was hurriedly removed
to the city Jail, n as threats of sum-
mary justice were made by men IL the
crowd, which quickly gathered in front
of the church. Chief Of Police Michael
Delaney called out the reserve force
Of patrolmen, who We're kept on guard
day and night.
by direction OF Bishop Matte the
church door was closed for the day.
and the following notice was posted:
Owing to the erightful tragedy enacted
IN this church by an unknown criminal,
superior and friend. Tathcr Leo. all eerv-
ices will be discontinued for the day. Kind
ly, reader, breathe a silent prayer for the
repoSo OF the soul OF our beloved friend.
Father Eusebius.
Deputy Coroner Daniel Hayes tool
charge OF Father Leo's body. which
was removed u the city morgue 4
single hole In the white communion
robes OF the priest showed h a the
bullet had gone straight to the heart.
The bullets remaining in the evolve
had been sharpened to a fine point.
Boasts of Decd.
Gulseppi Guarnaccio was placed in
solitary confinement at the city jail.
He admitted to q policeman who In
tervlewed MIN that the priest whom
he had killed was a stranger to hin
and in explanation OF his crime made
the following statement:
X just went over there cau !
nave "a grudge against all priests in
general. They are oil against the
working man. l went to the COM
mu;ion rail because l could get a bet
ter shot. I did not give @ damn
any other kind of a priest. They are
4 all in tire same class.
81 LEI. Italy three months ago: went
first to Central America and then
came to ..e United States and to Den
YER. am an anarchist, but l am
regret IS that I could not have shot
the whole bunch of priests In the
church. l am a shoemaker. but have
not worked since coming to Denver
An examination of letters taken
from Guarnaccio showed that the only
was No. 10 Wallez Place. Wakefield,
Mass. Guarraccio told Chief of Po-
lice Delaney, Sheriff Nesbitt and sew
era! detectives who questioned him
thai he started out this morning with
the Intention OF killing four priests
Had he succeeded in Guiding the pc
Nee, ne says, he would have one from
one church to another until his vow
was carried out.
Among the papers taken from the
assassin was @ list Of assasstnations
from Czar Pnul, of Russia, to the Kill
Ing OF the king Of Portugal within
the last month.
Hurried Away.
Although no actual demonstration
against the murderer Of Father Lee
around town throughout the day o
the justice of lynching him. In orde
to avoid IN attack on the city jai
Guarancclo was taken to the count.
Jail. a more easily defended building
where he remained several hours
Small group of men began to congre
gate near the county Jail n after
consultation the authorities decided t
take G%uarnacc!o out of town. Accord
insly he was hustled into an automo
bile and q fast u was made to Lit
). Teton. Ia miles from Denver, thence t
J Colorado Springs.
Father Leo Eelnrichs wa born Il
Koelh, Germany, August Is. 1867, II
entered the Franciscan order Decen
Der 4. 1885, and was ordained Jul
&c, 1891. He came to Denver las
September from Paterson. N: J.. wher
for three years ne was rector Of S
B~onaventures parish. He had pre-
viously served three years in Orogal
I ". Y. where he distinguished himsel
: by rebuilding the church monas,er
/; and other buildings that were de
! stroyed by fire III 1909. He was plan
, ming to sail for Germany in juno an
, visit relatives whom he had not see
: for &c years.
. HISTORY PROFESSOR DEAD.
: Ne" Haven. Conn. Feo. 2c.-Hdwar
= Gaylord Bourne professor Of history a
, voln ,,r,3vorcffr IioJ thte. uFt,,,,o,