Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-14
the comparison for the same month las
year Is as follows:
ALA TO BE HANGED THIS WEEK
Actual Date of Execution IL known
Only 90 the Prison
OmciRla.

DENVER. July 13.-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
penitentiary at Canyon City some time this
week, but the day and the hour is known
only to prison officials, and perhaps has not
been definitely decided upon by them. The
custom. in Colorado long followed by the
courts is to designate the week when con-
victed murderers sentenced to death shall
eNpiate their crime, leaving IT to the prison
officials who actually carry out the SEN
tence to select the moment when the SEN
tence shall be carried into effect. The law
requires that a certain number Of witnesses
be present at the time and in previous
cases 1t has happened that a certain num-
Der OF newspaper men have been named In
this capacity. In this way :he public Is
made acquainted with the nour selected for
the hanging, but until some such source Of
Information develops the people generally
must continue ignorant of details of the
plan decided up for any execution. This Is
true of the ALA case and it would not be
surprising If the public received its first
news Of the actual arrangements for Alias
hanging after it was all over and the prison
physician had pronounced him dead.
That the death sentence under which Ala
now rests will be carried into effect with
out interruption from the pardoning power
or the state is practically certain. Cover
nor Buchtel has stated in emphatic Ian
guage that he will not even reprieve him,
because he believes the sentence imposd
was lawful and just. In the absence OF
Governor Buchtel from the state, execu-
tive duties fall upon Lieutenant Governor
Harper and in the event of that contin-
gency arising during the week Ala will have
no better chance of escaping the moose, for
the lieutenant governor is known to be of
the same mind in this particular as Cover
nor Buchtel.
Realizing that the shocking nature Of
his crime, the killing of Father Leo Helm
richs at the altar of st. Elizabeth's church
IN this city, while the priest was adminis-
terlng the sacrament at early mass one
Sunday m~orning-made impossible the stir
ring Of human sympathy in his behalf.
Ala awaits only the coming Of the moment
when he shall be summoned to his death.
The greater portion of the time he lies
upon his cot, his face buried in the covers,
occasionally mumbling a word or two not
intended for any ears but his own. When
approached by any one he flies into a rage,
even rCsenting the presence of Jail officials.
Eor a week he had absolutely refused to
tn, although the choicest food was placed
before him. Or Friday. last, the prison
physician becoming alarmed at his haggard
appearance administered milk by means of
a pump. This had the effect of changing
the prisoners mind and since then he has
eaten unasslsted.
Ala retains his fierce hatred of the
priesthood and everything connected with
the chursh. When visited in his cell re-
Gently by a Catholic priest, stationed in
Canyon City, he raved and stormed and
was not quieted for some time after the
priest had withdrawn. ALA refused to con-
verse with the priest and his attitude at
times appeared threatening.