1915day.year
Attempted assassination of Bishop Patrick Heffron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona, by Rev. Louis M. Lesches.
On August 27, 1915, Reverend Louis M. Lesches attempted to assassinate Bishop Patrick Heffron of the Diocese of Winona, shocking the local Catholic community.
The attack occurred during a church service in Winona, Minnesota, when Lesches, a disgruntled priest, confronted Bishop Heffron with concealed weapons. Heffron was struck but survived after parishioners and clergy intervened. Lesches was apprehended at the scene and later stood trial for attempted murder and assault. The incident exposed tensions within the diocese and raised questions about clerical authority and mental health. Although the bishop recovered and continued his ministry, the event left a lasting mark on the American Catholic Church. It remains one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of the Diocese of Winona.
1915
assassination
Bishop Patrick Heffron
bishop
Diocese of Winona
Rev.