Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1901 — THE ASSNASSIN DOOM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

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-

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

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

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.

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

DISTRICT ATTORNEY PENNEY.

REMOVING HANDCUFFS FROM CZOLGOSZ’S WRISTS IN COURT.