Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1901 — CZOLGOSZ IS GVILTY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

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

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

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

(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.

LEON CZOLGOSZ.

JUDGE WHITE.

JUDGE TITUS.