The Van Buren press., 1901-11-02
WITH A LIE ON HIS LIPS.
Czolgosz Died Declaring That Pres
ident Mckinley Was an Enemy
of Good People.
EXECUTION PROMPT AND SUCCESSFUL.
The Last Act In the, Great TRACED!
of the Opening Year of the Tween
tieth Century COnsum mated
within Two Months of the Com
mission of the Terrible Crime.

Auburn, N. Y, Oct. 29.-At 7:12la
o'clock Leon f. Uzolgosz, murderer OF
President William Mckinley, paid the
extreme penalty eXacted by the law
for his crime. He was shocked to
death by LOO bolts of electricity. He
went to the chair in exactly the same
manner as have the majority of muir
derers in this state, showing no par
ticular sign of fear, but in fact, do
ing what few of them have done
alking to the witnesses while he was
being strapped in the chair.
Czolgosx' Parting Falsehood. :.
81 killed the president because he
was an enemy OF the good people
of the good working people. l am
NOT sorry for my crime"
These were his words as the guards
hurried him into the chair.
A moment later, mumbling through
the half-adjusted face stramps, he
sad
81 am awful sorry l could not see
my father"
Czolgosz retired Monday night at
ten o'clock, and slept so soundly that
when Warden Meade went to the cell
shortly before five o'clock Tuesday
morning, the guard inside had tc
shake Czolgosz to awaken him. He
sat on the edge of his cot and made
no reply to the warden's greeting OF
good morning"
The Death Warrant Read.
The prison official took from his
pocket the death warrant, and reao
it slowly and distinctly to the as
sassn, who hardly raised his eyes
during the perfuctory ceremony.
Just as the warden stepped away
from the cell door, Czolgosz called
to him and said:
81 would like to talk with the SUI
perintendent."
The warden responded.
"He will be down presently"
Then the condemned man rolled
over on his cot, apparently anxious
to sleep again.
The Execution Suit.
At 5:15, however, the guard brough,
to him pair of dark trousers, witt
the left leg slit so as to allow the free
application of the electrode, and E
light gray outing shirt.
He was told to get up and put these
on, which he did.
Contrary to the usual custom, h,
was given a new pair of shoes. Wher
dressed he laid down on the cot
again, and in this attitude Supt. Col
Inns found him at $3.50 when he wen
down to visit him.
The superintendent stood in from
of the steel bars, and when the guart
had called Czolgosz' attention, hi
said:
~ want TO make statement be
fore you kill me-"
"What do you wish to say, Cool
gosz?" asked the superintendent.
His Request Denied.
81 want TO make it when there are
lot Of people present. ! want then
to hear me- said the prisoner.
well, you can not" said the 81
perintendent. ..rtv.....
"Then | won't talk at ALL" said the
prisoner, sullenly.
After the superintendent had left
the guards brought Czolgosz' break
fast, consisting of coffee, toast, eggs
and bacon, and he ate with quite 6
good deal OF relish. While he was par
taking OF this, the witnesses were
gathering In the Offices OF Warder
Mead, and ut 7:0s the procession
passed to the death chamber goins
through the long south corridor.
In the Death Chamber.
In the chamber, Electrician Davi,
and former Warden Thayer, Of Dame
mora, had arranged the chair test
placing q bank of 90 incandescen
lights across the arms, and connect
ing the clectrode wires at either end
The witnesses were ordered seated
and then Warden Mead briefly ad
dressed them, saying:
"You are here TO witness the legal
death Of Leon +. Czolgosz. ! desire
that you keep your seats and preserve
absolute silence in the death cham
Der, no matter what may trapspire
There are plenty Of guards and prison
officials TO preserve order and attend
TO the proper details" ngI
VIZ VThe Apparatus Tested.
The prison physician, DR.. Germ, nni
DR.. Carlos r. Mcdonald of New
York, took q position TO the left OF
the chair, Warden Mead stood direct
~ In front aud Electrician Davis re
tired to the little room containing
the electrical switch board, Thayei
gave the signal and the current was
turned through the electric lights
flooding the chamber with brilliant
light and dramnt icNlly showing thu
power that was used to XIII the pris.
oner. Warden Mead gave the slgno,
10 have the prisoner brought In, and
at 7;l0K o'clock Chief Keeper Upper
swung open the big steel door lending
20 the condemned cells, and as the
steel bars behind which Czogosz hhd
been kept were swung aside two
guards marched the prisoner out into
| the corridor, two others following,
and the chief keeper wnlking In front.
No Time Wasted.
II was just exactly I'll o'clock
when he crossed the Threshold, but
n minute had elapsed and he had Just
finished the last statement when tho
slrnpplng was completed and the
guards stepped back, Warden Mead
rolscd HIS hand and az 7il2,30 lGlectri.
elan Davis turned the switch that
threw LOO volts of electricity into
the living body,