Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-10-27
FATHER bELKNAP
Of LEAD, 6. D.,
LURED To DEATH
Body, the Heart Pierced BY
a Bullet, Found Just Out
side the City Limits; No
Clue to Slayer.
tBy The Associated Press.)

IJead, 3. ~, oCl. Io.--1 He pouS
of Father A. b. Belknap, 80 years
old, rector of st. Patrick's cathed-
raj here, was found early today
in "Poorman' Gulch" highway.
Just outside the city limits of Lead.
A bullet from a large caliber re-
volver had pierced his heart. The
priest had been lured to his death
by a man who, a few minutes be-
fore, had appealed to Father Bel
knap to come with him to admin
lister the last sacraments of the
church to sick man.
Tonight the authorities of Lead
were without clue to the identl-
ty of the slayer. Bloodhounds were
on the way from Mitchell, s. D..
and when they arrive, Deputy
Sheriff Warren Owen announced.
he will take up the search for the
murderer. Through the Black
Hills, scores of men were ready to-
night 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 Me-
DfaSka state penltentlary'
Made Little Progress.
Although officials worked all
dag in efforts to solve the mystery
Of the killing. they admitted to-
night they had made little prog
ress.
1t was about 3:15 o'clock this
morring when man rang the bell
at the door of Bishop ]. ]. Law
ler's residence. where Father Bel
knap lived. The young priest an
swered the call himself, Father
Thomas Hoben, assistant to Faith
er Belknap. heard the man at the
door and overheard part OF the
conversation. he said.
The priests father and mother,
Mr.. and Mrs. E. M. Belknap, who
lived at the residence, also heard
parts of the conversation. Like
Father Hoben, they said they
heard a man ask Father Belknao
to come with him to the home of a
sick friend, who was about to die
and who desired the sacrament of
extreme JUNCTION administered.
Father Belknap readily consent
ed, according to his parents. and
Father Hoben, who said they
thought nothing of the call as 80
many requests Of the kind ha1
been made before"
Starter wouldn't Work.
Father Belknap 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 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 |
bruise on the back of the priests
head indicated he had been struck |
from behind with a blunt instru-
ment.
Toney Bertoleno, who lives near
where the crime was committed.
reported to the police he heard
several shots, probably five. Other
residents of the vicinity also said
hey heard shots.
Road Is Closed Off.
w HeH TIC duliol lAltb icoIilSA
he scene the road was closed off
and a guard was placed nearby
20 that tracksyand trails would not
oe obscured. pending arrival of
oloodhounds.
Bishop Lawler declared tonight
Father Belknap had no enemies.
Bishop Lawler said the priest new
n had received any threats.
II can conceive of no reason for
he murder of Father Belknap,"
Bishop Lawler said tonight.
No description of the man who
,alled for the priest was obtain
bile. as apparently no one but the
,riest saw the man. The coroner's
which was to have been
leld today, was postponed until
omorrow in the hope that by that
ime some clew to the murder
would be obtained.
Auto Tempered With.
An examination of Father Bel
maps automobile indicated 1t had
zen tampered with, his friends ;
ay. a switch connecting the start
+ having been removed.
Rewards totaling $1,000 for
pprehension of the slayer had I
cen offered tonight, city authori-
les, county. authorities and the
lnights OF Columbus each con-
$1,000.