The Glenwood post., 1908-07-18
Ah, cxsing Italy And Rom.
a Catholic Church Led
To Sc1ffsd Last Night
MAKES GRAVE CHARGE

CANON CITY, July 16-Calling
down the wrath of God upon the Ca
tholic church and especially the priest
hood, Guisseppi Ala, who assassinated
Father Leo Heinrichs in st. Elizabeth 's
church last February, went to his death
on the scaffold in the state penitentiary
at $3.50 last night.
Ala, as the black cap was placed
over his head shouted: "Vive Italy!
Vive the Protestant church,"
He was told at 4 'clock yesterday
afternoon that he had to die and said
he was ready. When the prison guards
came for him at $40 this evening to
lead him to the oose he began to shout:
Long live Italy! Long live the Pro
testant church! Down with the Ca
tholic church and to hell with Priests.
This afternoon Ala told some of his
ife's history and made one of the most
serious and startling charges that has
ever startled the Catholic world. He
declared that he worked for Father
Leo in Portugal, that the priest had
ruined his family and fed the country.
ALA said he had followed Father Leo
all over the world for the purpose of
killing hin; that he came to Denver
for thet pazPess and uead do 1t over
again II any man ruined his family.
DuEiaG his entire Imprisonment. Ala
has never asked for elemency and al
ways said he was ready to die. He
declared that he had carried out his
life's work. "some men ought to be
killed even il the man who does it has
to die himself" said Ala.
The drop fell at $40 p. M. but it
did not break his neck and he died of
strangulation. At $40 p. m. he was
pronounced dead by the prison physi-
clans and will be buried in the prison
graveyard today.
Story Of the Crime.
Giuseppe Alias crime, the murder
of Father Leo Heinrichs, Of the Order
of Franciscan monks, at the altar rail
in st. Elizabeth's church in Denver
while the priest was administering the
sacrament of the Eucharist struck hor-
FOR to the heart of every person in Den
yer and awakened anxiety throughout
the Catholic world lest it should prove
the beginning of general plan of
priest-murder.
Ala had been in Denver several
weeks, unemployed and apparently pen
niless. Early on the morning of Sun
day, February %, according to his
story, he was aroused from sleep by
the ringing of the chimes in st. Eli
zabeth's church. He arose, dressed him
self hurriedly and walked out to the
church, led by the musical tones peal
ing for the call to worship. But he
went not with the though of thanks
giving in mind, for he declared, and
many times repeated, after his arrest
that the chimes recalled alleged wrongs
experienced in his native Italy and at
.tributed by him to the church.
Entering tho 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 to the point
where communion is given to all who
are prepared. Ala approached the al
tar and kneeling, awaited the arrival
Of tho priest ofheiating at the com
munion not knowing, Ala has said, I
caring who It should be.
A number Of other communicates
had assumed the same posture and po
sitions 1t the communion rail were prae
ticaliy all taken when Father Leo be
loved by al who knew him, both in
and outside the ehureh-appeared with
the eonseeratsd wafers, all at the raj
sesned Impressed with tho solemnity
.nd -. rsdness Of thc service and in
spissl with tAeasAts Of 0sd. Alia
Aewsvss, sssesdiss 70 HE s~A ststs