Arizona republican., 1921-10-27
CATHOLIC. PRIEST |S5
 MURDERED
 BY FL: NJ
Black Hills Priest Is Lured To Death By Appeal To Administer Sacrament To Dying Man
NO CLUE TO MURDER
Scores of Men Ready To Form Posses To Appre- bend Slayer of Popular Young Churchman
TRepublIcan A.P. Leased WlreJ

LEAD. =. D. Oct. 26-The body of Father A. E. Kelknap, 30 years old, rector of St Patrick's cathedral here, was found early today on Poor Mans Gulch highway, just outside the city limits of Lead. bullet from a large calibre revolver had uicrccd his heart. The priest had been lured to his death by man who. a few minutes before, had ap- pealed to Father Belknap to come with h,m to administer the last sac ramcnts of the church to sick man. Toright the authorities of Lead were without a clue to the identity of the slayer Bloodhounds were on the way from Mitchell. S. D.. and when they arrived Deputy Sheriff Warren Owen announced he will take u1s the search for the murderer ThrouEhout the Black Hills, scores of men were ready tonight to form posses to apprehend the slayer of the young church man. Officials were delayed in taking up the trail through failure to get bloodhounds from the Nebraska state penitentiary.
 Although officials worked all day in efforts to solve the mystery of the killing. they admitted tonight they had made little progress.
 It was about 3.15 o'clock this morning when a man rang the bell at the door of Bishop J. J. I.awlers residence where Father Belknap livou The young priest answered the call himself, Father Thomas Ho- ben. assistant to Father Belknap, heard the man at the door and over heard part of the conversation, he said.
 Answers Sick Call
 sas a ,,7Cf1err and Mrs. F AL BellSnap, who lived at the residence, also heard parts of the conversation Like Father Hoben they said they heard a man ask Father BeIknap to come with him to the hon e of a sick friend, who was about to die and who desired the sacc- rament of extreme junction admin fstered. Father Belknap readily con sented. according to his parents and Father Hohen. who said they thought nothing of the call as '.so many re- quests of the kind had been made before"
 Father BelknaD went to his garage to get his automobile. His visitor accompanied him. The starter on the car would not work and after little delay the pair left the garage, afoot That was the last the occupants of the bishops residence heard of the priest until his body was found half ar hour later. It Ia yin the roadway face downward. A large bruise on tht back of the priests head indicated he had been struck from behind with | blunt instrument.
 Toney Bertoleno. who lives near where the crime was committed re- ported 10 the police he heard several s'aots. probably five. Other resi- 1ents Of the vicinity also said they heard shots.
 When the authorities reached the scene. the road was closed off and a guard was placed nearby so that tracks and trails would not be ob- scured. pending arrival of blood hounds.
 No Clue to Murderer
 Bishop Lawler declared tonight Father Belknap had no enemies Bishop Lawler said the priest never had received any threats.
 q can conceive of no reason fol the murder of Father BellSnap, Bishop Lawler said tonight
 No description of the man who called for the priest was obtainabl, as apparently no one but the pries saw the man. The coroner's in. quest which was 10 have been helC today was postponed until tomorrow in the hope that by that time som, clue to the murder would be obtained
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