Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1901 — Page 2

CZOLGOSZ IS GVILTY.

Jury at 'Buffalo Convicts Him of Murder in First \Degree „

Leon F. Czolgosz, the anarchist assassin of President McKinley, Tuesday was found guilty of murder In the first degree after one of the most rapid yet dignified trials in the history of jurisprudence. Despite the eminence of the prisoner’s counsel It was apparent Tuesday when the alienists decided that Czolgosz was sane that no defense was possible, and consequently that any delay in the trial would be Tain. In a period of eight hours and twenty-six minutes the assassin of President McKinley had been found guilty and Judge Truman C. White had announced that he would pass sentence on Thursday afternoon. Remarkable as the trial had been throughout for its dignity equally with its absence of delay, not the least engrossing feature of the day was the address to the jury made by Loren L. Lewis, counsel for the prisoner. The venerable jurist explained the necessity of a defense for the prisoner even though

LEON CZOLGOSZ.

his guilt could scarce be questioned, and made his address tne occasion for a criticism of lynch law, which, in all probability, will go down in the annals of history as the most masterly vindication cf the jury system and condemnation of mob violence ever uttered. Prisoner Krow* CliicHgo Anarelilata. Superintendent of Police Bull was asked: "Were you present at headquarters when the prisoner was brought there on the night of the murder?” “Yes.” “Were any threats made against him ” “No.” “Tell us what Czolgosz said.” “He said he knew President McKinley. He knew that he was shooting - President McKinley when he fired. The reason he gave was that he believed that he was doing his duty. He said that on the day President McKinley spoke at the exposition grounds, the day previous to the assassination, he stood near the stand on the esplanade. No favorable opportunity presented itself. “He followed the president to Niagara Falls and back to Buffalo again. He got in line while the reception was in progress, and when he reached the president fired the fatal shots. Czolgosz told me in detail the plans he alone had worked out so that there would be no slip’in his arrangements. I asked him why he killed the president, and he replied that he did so because it was his duty.”, “Did he say he was an anarchist?” “Yes.” '‘Did he say any more on the subject?” asked the district attorney. “Yes. He said that he had made a study of the beliefs of anarchists-and he was a firm believer in their principles. The prisoner also stated that he had received much information on the subject in the city of Cleveland. He said that he knew a man In Chicago named Isaak. The Free Society was the name of the organ mentioned by the prisoner.”

Said Rulers Should Die. "Did he ever say anything about his motives In committing the murder?” asked the district attorney. “Yes,” was the reply. "He said that he went to the exposition grounds for the express purpose of murdering President McKinley. lie knew he was aiming at President McKinley when the fatal shots were fired. Czolgosz said that all kings, emperors and presidents should die.” Superintendent Bull was cross-exam-ined by Lawyer Titus and said the defendant had on his person some memoranda and $1.51 in money. There waa also a piece of paper, orange-col-ored, with an address upon It, a memorandum book and a letter of identlflcatioif card from the Order of The Golden Eagle. “Did you ask him if he was an anarchist?” Judge Titus asked. "Yes." “And he said he was?” “Yes.” At the conclusion of Superintendent Bull’s testimony, District Attorney Penny announced that the case for the prosecution was closed. Lewis Qltm Up Defense. Then Mr. Lewis arose slowly and, addressing the court, said: "We are embarrassed by the sudden «l«»lng of the case of the prosecution. We had not expected them te close so

abruptly. We have no witnesses to call for the defense, but I ask the court that my colleague and myself be allowed to address the jury." Permission was granted by the court and Judge Titus began his address at 2:45. “Qentlemen of the Jury,” he began, "a calamity has fallen upon this nation through the act of this man, but the question is whether his act was the act of- an Insane man. If an insane man it is not murder and he should be acquitted of that charge. He would then, of course, be transferred to an asylum. "Much discussion has occurred in our midst and has been called to my attention as to the propriety of any defense being Interposed In this case. Many letters have been received by me since I was assigned with my associate to defend this man, questioning the propriety of a defense being attempted. You, gentlemen, know, perhaps, how Judge Titus and myself came into this case. The position was not sought by us, but we appear here in performance of a duty which we thought devolved upon us, notwithstanding it was an exceedingly disagreeable one. "Gentlemen, when they become members of the legal profession become members of the court. They are compelled.if assigned,tb defend a criminal, or rather the one who is charged with a crime. They are compelled to respond and accept the duty unless they can present some reasonable excuse, and if they ref us 3 to perform that duty they are guilty of a misdemeanor and are liable to punishment by the court. “There are in our country Individuals, not, I hope, in very large numbers, but we know they are scattered all over the country, who think in a case like this or 'even in charges of much less degree that it is entirely proper that the case should be disposed of by lynch or mob law. We can hardly take up a paper without we learn that in some part of this free and independent country some man has been murdered on the suspicion or belief that he was guilty of some crime. This state of things does not exist in our community, but It does in some parts of our state, as every intelligent man knows. “Gentlemen of‘the jury, while I believe firmly in that, I do not believe it creates a danger to this court equal to the belief, becoming so common, that men who are charged witn crime shall not be permitted to go through the form of a trial in a court of Justice, but that lynch law shall take the place of the calm and dignified administration of the law in our courts of justice. When that doctrine becomes sufficiently prevalent in this

JUDGE WHITE.

country, if it ever does, our institutions will be set aside and overthrown. Trial an Object Lesson. “This trial here is a great object lesson to the world. Here is a case where a man has stricken down the beloved President of this country in broad daylight, in the presence of thousands of spectators. If there was ever a case that would excite the anger, the wrath ft those who saw it, this was one, and yet, under the advice of the President, ‘Let no man hurt him,' he was taken, confined in our prison, indicted, put upon trial here, and the case is soon to be submitted to you, as to whether he is guilty of the crime charged against him. That, gentlemen, speaks volumes in favor of the orderly conduct of the people of the city of Buffalo. “Here was a man occupying an exalted position, a man of irreproachable character; he was a man who had come here to assist us in promoting the prosperity of our great exposition. And he was shot down while holding a reception. “His death ha 3 touched every heart in this community and in the whole world, and yet we sit here and quietly consider whether the man was responsible for the act' he committed. That question Is one you are called to decide.” Judge Lewis was crying when he. finished and the eyes - of many of those in the courtroom were filled with tears. Judge Titus then arose and said that Judge Lewis had so completely covered the ground that it seemed entirely unnecessary for him to reiterate it and he would therefore rest.

District Attorney Sams Up. At 3:10 District Attorney Penney began summing up. He spoke In a clear, well-modulated voice and every word could be heard in any part of the room. He said in part: “It is hardly possible for any man to stand up and talk about tnis case without the deepest emotion. It was the most awful tragedy that ever came upon the world. We have shown you how this defendant stood in the temple of music that afternoon and shot down our beloved President. We have shown you how he deliberated on and planned this awful crime. We have shown you how he attended anarchistic and socialistic meetings, at which were sown in his heart the seeds of his terrible act. “This is no time for oratorical display. Counsel for the prisoner and myself have endeavored to eliminate all sensationalism from this case. It is not my intention to Indulge in extended remarks. You understand the responsibility resting upon you. National Heart la Broken, “It is a great lesson that so great a man can stoop so low; that he was so great he could forgive his own assassin. He was the noblest man, I believe, that God ever created. ▲ man

JUDGE TITUS.

(One of Counsel for Defense.) who stood near him in the temple of music said to me: ‘I have traveled In all parts of the world and have seen people assembled to greet their rulers, but when I saw people stand in the railroad stations and along the country through which the funeral train passed that they might get a look at the casket of this great man, I wa3 convinced as never before that there is such a thing as a national heart.’ “That national heart was broken and it will take God’s way and time to heal it. "It was broken by a class of people who are coming to our country in increased numbers, and while harbored by our laws they are propagating their malicious views; a class of people that must be taught that we have no place for them on our shores, a class of people that must be taught that they can not take the life of anyone irrespective of consequences.” Judge White'. Charge. Justice White Degan his charge to the jury at 3:29 o’clock. He arose from his seat and stepped to the side of the bench nearest the jury box. He said:

“Gentlemen of the jury:—In this case the defendant has acknowledged his guilt. Such an acknowledgment under such circumstances cannot go to the jury or the court. The law requires that the defendant charged with such a crime must be tried. The law says that all the facts must be observed and reviewed by you. The law guarantees that the defendant shall have a fair trial by twelve man, impartial and fair, capable of taking the testimony of the trial and giving it thorough consideration. “If when all the circumstances of the case are considered by you there still exists in your minds a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty you cannot find this man guilty. The people have submitted evidence tending to show that this defendant committed this crime; they have given evidence tending to show that there was design and premeditation, and, if in accordance with that premeditation and design these shots were fired, then the defendant is guilty of the crime of murder in the first degree.

“You must consider all this evidence that the people have submitted to you. You must consider it fairly and without prejudice. You are the sole judges of facts in this case." When the trial was ended and the verdict rendered. Judge Titus, at the request of District Attorney Penney, admitted that the defense had no suggestion to make as to the time when the final Judgment should be pronounced. Justice White then said that as it was the custom to give the guilty murderer two days between the finding of the verdict and the sentence, be would adjourn court till 2 o’clock Thursday, when judgment will be pronounced. The prisoner was then handcuffed to his guards and led back through the tunnel to jail. Length of trial —Eight hours and twenty-five minutes. Number of witnesses —For the prosecution, seventeen; for the defense, none. Actual time of taking testimony— Four and one-quarter hours. Time of the state m arguing for conviction—Fourteen minutes. ' Time occupied by the Judge In charging jury—Twelve minutes.

Tims occupied by the jury in deliber-ation—Thirty-four minutes. , Emma Goldman Oat. Anarchy took its high priestess from the prison to the hearthstone Tuesday morning at Chicago. With smiles and kind words for all Emma Goldman became a free woman shortly after nine o’clock. Prosecutor John Owens said there had been an agreement with the attorneys for the defense that both sides would abide in the Goldman case by the decision in the cases of the men who were released yesterday. He therefore would state that he would interpose no objection to her release. “Dismissed for want of prosecution," said Justice Prindiville. Then the woman with the stern blue eyes was taken through the crowd, and a few moments later escorted to a cab, which was driven to the home of the Isaaks.

FOR A PACIFIC CABLE.

Company to lay a Lino From California to Philippine*. Articles of incorporation were filed at Albany having in view the laying of a cable from the Pacldc coast to Hawaii and the Philippine islands. The company w. .l be affiliated with the Commercial Cable company, and all its incorporators are officials of that corporation. The length of the cable will be about 8,500 miles. The part first laid will be from California to the Hawaiian islands, a distance of about 2,200 miles. It is expected tnnt this portion will be laid and in operation within nine months. The time required for the laying of the remainder of the cable from -ue Hawaiian islands to the Philippine islands will depend upon how quickly the cable can be manufactured, but may be completed in two years. According to the articles of incorporat.on the company’s lines are to begin In New York city, although from that point to the Pacific coast the line of other companies may be used. The capital stock of the company is to be SIOO,OOO, divided Into shares of SIOO €"■o. The term of existence of the cempany is fixed at l,oou years.

Poisoned by Mosquito Bite.

Mrs. Thomas Eaves, living at Fourth and Walnut streets, Gloucester, N. Y., was bitten on a finger of her right hand several weeks ago by a mosquito. Her hand became swollen and she visited the Cooper Hospital, Camden, where physicians found it necessary to amputate the finger. It is supposed that the mosquito which bit her had been on some poisonous weed.

THE SULTAN S PALACE.

It 1. Proof Against Assassins, Bombs and Fires. According to a writer in the World’s Work, the sultan’s Yildiz palace at Constantinople is a monument to fear. It is assassin-proof, bomb-proof, earth-quake-proof, fire-proof, microbe-proof. Architects and engineers are building and rebuilding incessantly. Some new secret retreat is always under way. The entire domain is surrounded by an Immense wall, thirty feet high, and the choicest troops of the empire stand guard around it. An Inner wall, twelve feet thick, with gates of iron, incloses the private residence itself. The walls of the sultan’s dwellings are filled with armor plate, to resist projectiles. It is said that a mysterious passage connects with ten secret bed chambers, forming an intricate labyrinth. No one but his body attendant knows where the sultan may sleep during any particular night. He has electric lights and telephones in his own apartments, but forbids them in Constantinople. Telephones might prove handy for conspirators and he believes that a dynamite cartridge could be sent over a wire into the palace. He fears electric explosions, so Constantinople gets along with gas light. He hates the word dynamo, because it sounds like dynamite. Balloons are tabooed, lest one should pause over him long enough to drop a chunk of explosive. As to the real luxury of the Yildiz that is a matter of course. The domain is a small world in itself. Eive thousand people live within the outer wall, not counting a small army of workmen and the 7,000 imperial guardsmen. There are shops, factories, arsenals, stables, a library, museum, picture gallery, theater and even a menagerie. The monarch loves trees but he keeps their branches well lopped off, so that he can see to the farthest corner of his grounds.—Chicago News.

The Girl of Today.

Little does the girl of the present day realize how much better off she is than the girl in the early part of the nineteenth century. Then she had to submit to social restrictions too numerous to mention; she was treated with scorn and contempt if she once expressed any desire to work or do anything for herself and attempts to think out a subject for herself was deemed almost a sign of ill-breeding and lack of refinement. Her life was spent in a narrow groove, and her mind was not allowed to develop to its full extent. Intercourse with the other sex was carried on under the rigid surveillance of an austere and elderly chaperon. Nowadays a woman has almost perfect freedom in whatever she cares to do. Chaperons are getting rarer and rarer, and social intimacy with men is allowed without one thinking it means aught beyond a pleasant and natural friendship.— New York Weekly. In the bakeries of La Rochefoucauld In France it is said that women enter the oyens when they are 801 degrees. The least guarded of the monarchs of Europe is the old King of Denmark. He is said to walk about the streets absolutely unattended.

THE ASSNASSIN DOOM

Leon Czolgosz Is Sentenced to Die in Electric Chair. SAYS HE HAD’NO ACCOMPLICES. Murderer of McKinley Tell* Judge No One KUe Wu In Plot Dramatic Beene In Court —Palters While Making Bis Statements to Judge. History of the Trial. Monday, Sept. 16. Czolgosz arraigned In court before Judge White, charged with the murder of President McKinley on Sept 7. He refused to answer the Indictment Monday, Sept. 23.—Czolgosz placed on trial. Pleaded guilty to charge. Plea not accepted and trial proceeds. Tuesday, Sept 24.—Czolgosz Is found guilty as charged. Thursday, Sept. 26.—Judge White, who presided at trial, sentences prisoner to be put to death in the electric chair at Auburn prison, sometime during the week beginning October 28. Csolgoss Receives Sentence. Czolgosz was sentenced to death by Justice Truman C. White in the Supreme court at Buffalo Thursday afternoon. The assassin took advan-

BRINGING CZOLGOSZ INTO COURT FOR SENTENCE. FROM A SKETCH MADE IN COURT.

tage of the opportunity to speak, but he confined himself to taking upon his own shoulders the blame for the great crime of having murdered the president of the United States. He advanced no reason in justification of his monstrous deed. Not a word did he utter of anarchy, of his enmity to government or of the motives which prompted him to the commission of his crime. Hail Cleared By Police. Greater crowds gathered for the sentencing of the assassin than came for any one session of the trial itself. Before 12:30 p. m. a crowd had gathered in the corridor in front of Justice White’s court room. By 1 p. m. the corridor was jammed. Capt. Regan then appeared on the stairs with a squad of 100 uniformed officers and cleared the hall. It was a case of first come first served after a line was formed, and the tickets of admission issued for the trial were worthless. It took less than ten minutes for the single file to fill the court room and then the doors were closed to be opened only upon the arrival of officials, counsel and others connected with the day’s proceedings. Dramatic Scene In Court. In a hush that was like the silence of death Justice White pronounced the prisoner’s doom. Physically tottering under the ordeal, but sustaining himself by sheer force of nerve, the murderer heard the words of death pronounced, was shackled and quietly submitted to be led away. In no brazen fashion did the prisoner face the court. Swaying from side to side, boyish looking, trembling with nervousness, but held up by nerve, he stood leaning on the chair in front of him. Valters la His Words. Falteringly, hesitatingly, he spoke, after having been asked each question several times. He acted almost as if the words were being wrung out of him, it took him so long to find utterance, and he spoke so rapidly when the first word left bis lips in response to a question. His voice was hardly heard ten feet away, although every ear in the great court room was strained to catch the slightest sound from his lips. His face paled at no time during the proceedings. It was flushed with the •motion it was costing him so much strength to master. As the preliminary to the pronouncing of sentence many questions were asked by the district attorney. Czolgosz evinced the utmost willingness to answer all these questions, but his utterance seemed to smother In his throat. lawyer Offers Aid. It was only after an effort that each reply was blurted out As he stood his breast heaved, his eyes blinked rapidly and once he almost reeled, so that

ex-Judge Titus, his counsel, held up a hand to support him. He did not need the proffered aid, but straightened himself up of his own effort. It was with a feeling of relief that the assassin heard the words, “Remove the prisoner," pronounced by Judge White. He heaved a great sigh as he was manacled and was led away. T«IU of Hi* Life. “Stand up, Czolgosz, please,” said Mr. Penny, turning to the prisoner. Nudged by bailiffs, the prisoner stood up, the center of all attention in the crowded room. In answer to questions put by Mr. Penny, Czolgosz said under oath that he was born in Detroit, that he was educated in the common and church schools, that he had been a Catholic, that he was a laborer, and that he had lived in Cleveland and in Buffalo. The court clerk then asked the question for which all had been awaiting. Judge Titus asked that the prisoner be permitted to make a statement in exculpation of his act. Czolgosz leaned heavily on a chair. He then spoke, saying he alone committed the crime. No one had anything to do with his crime but himself, he said. Judge White—“ Before the passing of sentence you may speak on two subjects. First, you can claim that you are insane; second, that you have good cause to offer that judgment should not be pronounced against you; third,

that you wish a new trial. Given Liberty to Speak. “These are the grounds specified by statute. You are now at liberty to speak." Czolgosz—‘l have nothing to say on those things.” Judge Titus then consulted the prisoner. Judge Titus —“I think he ought to be permitted to make a statement in exculpation of his family, your honor.” Judge White —“The defendant may speak in exculpation of his father and brothers and sisters. If that 1b what he means to do it is proper." Say* He Did It Alone. Czolgosz—“No other person had anything to do with It. No other person knew of this but myself; my father or mother or no one else knew nothing about it. I never thought of the crime until two days before 1 committed it and never told nobody about it” Judge Lewis —“He says he did not

REMOVING HANDCUFFS FROM CZOLGOSZ’S WRISTS IN COURT.

make up his mind to do it until a few days before its commission. Judge Passes Sentence. Justice White —“Czolgosz, in taking the life of our beloved president you committed a crime that shocked and outraged all the civilized world. After learning all the facts and circumstances in the case, twelve good men have pronounced you guilty of murder in the first degree. You say that no other person abetted you in the commission of this terrible act The penalty is fixed by statute, and it becomes my duty to impose sentence upon you. The sentence of this court 1b that on October 28, at the plaice designated and in the manner prescribed by law, you suffer the punishment of death.

“Remove the prisoner.** Considerable surprise was expressed that Justice White dkl not pronounce the customary appeal to the Almighty in concluding his sentence, "and may God have mercy on your souL - The court quit at the middle of the

DISTRICT ATTORNEY PENNEY.

CF*rom a sketch made at Buffalo.) customary formula in pronouncing the sentence. Manacled and Led Away. The hush as the solemn words were pronounced was like the silence of the* tomb. For several moments the silence! was unbroken. The click of handcuffs put a startling termination on the strain. Like a great sob the emotion i of the court room welled up and were lost in the shuffling of feet. The final scene of the historic trial was concluded. Manacled to detectives who had 1 brought him into the court, the assassin was conducted away. Between the wall of bailiffs, policemen and spectators the murderer passed. He looked not into a single eye. Justified by himself or not, his deed lay heavy on his head. A groan of execration followed him down the broad court house stairs to the jail tunnel below.

POWERS OF HERDITY.

Some Remarkable Stories Told of It* Mysterious Influences. Doctors disagree as to the influence of heredity. Some hold that a great deal hinges upon it; others believe the contrary. Some of the authentic stories told to exemplify this mysterious bond between ancestors and descendants are very curious. There was a loan collection of old portraits exhibited In London lately and a young girl was among the visitors, She was an or-, phan and wealthy, but without near relatives, and was often heard to complain of the loneliness of her position. As she passed through the gallery one particular portrait attracted her attention and she went back to it more than once. Her companion saw in It nothing but the commonplace painting of a middle-aged man in the costume of ths latter part of the last century. “It is such a nice, kind face,” said the girl, rather wistfully. “I imagine my father might have looked like that had he lived." As most of the pictures were ticketed the visitors had purchased no catalogue, but, before going away, Miss B. bought one at the entrance and made a last visit to the portrait for which she had felt so strong an attraction. To her astonishment she found her own name opposite to its number and learned on Inquiry that the original was one of her direct ancestors. Another occult coincidence or psychological phenomenon happened a few years ago to a southern statesman and financier whose family has always beef of rank in his native state. This gentleman was overhauling old documents and letters which had been stored In n musty chest for years and intended to publish whatever might be of hlstorlo value and Interest. To his surprise he unfolded a letter yellow and timestained which was written in his own

peculiar handwriting, or seemed (• have been written by him, although the date was two generations before hit birth. The signature of the surname, which was the same as his own, was •• markedly characteristic that he could scarcely believe his own hand did not pen the letters—Montreal Herald and Star.

Fewer Strikes In France.

The statistics of the strikes in Frano* for June have just been published. In all the month gave birth t 0,67, while the total for the first six months of the year was 306. The same period in 1800 yielded 476, which shows an agreeable falling off in the discoateat of the working classes.