Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-10-27
Priest | S
LuredFron1
Home, Slain
Called From, His Bed by Man
Who Represented He Want.
ed Curate to Answer
Sick Call.
Authorities Are BafAed

Authorizes Are baffled
Lead. S. D.. Oct. 26.-The body
OF Father A. B. Belknap, rector OF
St. Patricks cathedral here, was
found early today on Poor Mans
Gulch' highway, just outside the city
limits of Lead. A bullet from a
large caliber revolver had pierced
his heart.
The priest had been lurcd to his
death by man who, few minutes
before. had appealed to Father Belk-
nap to come with him to administer
the last sacraments OF the church
10 a sick man. M
Tonight the authorities OF Lead
were without clue to the identity
OF the slayer. Bloodhounds were
On the way from Mitchell, S. d., and
when they arrive, Deputy Sheriff
Warren Owen announced he will
rake up the search for the murderer.
Throughout the Black Hills, scores
of men were ready tonight to form
posses to apprehend the slayer of the
young churchman. Officials were
delayed in taking up the trail through
failure to get bloodhounds from the
[, Nebraska state pcnitentiary.
Although officials worked all day
I in efforts to solve the mystery OF
the killing, they admitted tonight
they had made little progress.
Called At Sis.
II was about Sis o'clock this
morning when man rang the bell
at the door of Bishop ]. ]. Lawler's
residence, where Father Belknap
lived. The young priest answered
the call himself. Father Thomas
Hoben, assistant to Father Bclknap,
heard the man at the door and over
heard part Of the conversation, he
said
The priests father and mother. Mr..
and Mrs. f. M. Belknap, who lived
at the residence, also heard parts
OF the conversation. Like Father Ho-
ben, they said they heard a man
ask Father Belknap to come with
him to the home OF sick friend who
was about to die and who desired the
sacrament of extreme JUNCTION ad-
ministered.
Father Belknap readily consented.
according to his parents and Father
Hoben, who said they thought moth
ing of the call as so many requests
Cf the kind had been made before"
Father Belknap went to his garage
to get his automobile. His visitor
accompanied him. The starter on
the car would not workand after
little delay. the pair left the garage.
aioot.
= Find Body in Road. n
That was the last occupants OF the
bishops residence heard Of the priest,
until his body was found half an
hour later. 1t lay in the roadway,
face downward. A large bruisc on
the back Of the priests head indicated
lie had been struck from behind with
blunt instrument.
Toncy Bertoleno, who lives near
where the crime was committed, re-
ported to police that he heard sew
cral shots, probably five. Other resi-
dents of the vicinity also said they
heard shots.
When the authorities reached the
scene, the TOAD was closed and
guard was placed nearby so that
tracks and trails would not be OBJ
scurcd. pending arrival of blood
hounds.
Bishop Lawler declared Father
Pelknap had no enemies. Bishop
Lawler said the priest never had re-
coived any threats.
Il can conceive of no reason for
tho murder of Father Bclknap,"
bishop Lawler said.
Reward Of $500 Offered.
No description Of the man who
called for the priest was obtainable,
as apparently no one but the priest
saw the man. The coroner's in
quest, which was to have been held
today, was postponed until tomor-
row in the hope that by that time
some clue to the murder would be
ODtalncd.
An examination Of Father Bel
knap's automobile indicated it had
been tampered with, according to
s3is friends, switch connecting the
starter having been removed.
Rewards totalling 81 500 for ap-
prehension of the slayer had been
offered tonight, city authorities.
county authorities and the knights
OF Columbus each contributing $500.
Father Belknap was born in jack
son county, Iowa, July 4, 1891. He
was ordained FIVE years ago and was
assigned to the diocese of Lead. He
served as pastor at Owl Creek and
Belle Fourche before. being as
signed to duty as rector of St. Pat
ricks cathedral in Lead, three years
ago.