New-York tribune., 1901-10-30

Auburn. y. Y. Oct 29.-Leon czolgosz. the
murderer OF President William Mckinley. at
7:l2:30 o'clock this morning paid the extreme
penalty enacted by the law for his crime. He
was shocked 10 death by 100 volts OF cleo
tricity. He went the chair in exactly the
same manner have the majority Of murderers
In this State showing no particular sign OF fear.
but. in fact. doing what few OF them have done
talking 10 the witnesses while he being
strapped In the chair.
Il killed the President because he
enemy OF the good peopie-ot the good working
people. ] am not sorry for my crime"
These were his words the guards hurried
him into the chair.
moment later. mumbling through the half
adjusted face straps. he said: Il am awfully
sorry could not my father"
The current then turned on. and after
three contacts the prisoner was pronounced to
be dead.
czolgosz retired last night at 10 o'clock and
slept so soundy that when Warden Mead went
TO the cell shortly before o'clock this morning
the guard inside had TO shake Czogosz to
awaken him. He sat up the edge OF his cot
and made no reply to the warden's greeting OF
Good morning"
The prison official took from his pocket the
death warrant and read it slowly and distinctly
20 the assassin. who hardly raised his eyes dur
ing the perfunctory ceremony. Just the
warden stepped away from the cell door. Czol-
gosz called TO him and said:
Il would like 10 talk with the superintendent.
The warden responded, He viii be down pres
entity"
Then the condemned man rolled over on his
cot apparently anxious TO sleep again.
At 5;l5 O'Clock, however, the guard brought
10 him pair OF dark trousers with the left leg
slit. so as TO allow the free application OF the
frO6a md ligh- He
was told 10 get up and put these on. which he
did.
Contrary 10 the usual custom. he received
pair OF shoes When dressed he lay down
on the cot again, and in this attitude Superin-
tendent Collins found him at $50. when he went
down 10 visit him.
The superintendent stood in front Of the steel
bars. and when the guard had called Czolgosz's
attention. the latter said:
y want 20 make a statement before you kill
me-"
What do you wish 10 say. czolgosz?" asked
the superintendent.
II want to make it when there lot OF
people present / want them hear me-" said
the prisoner.
Well you cannot" said the superintendent
Then I won't talk at ALL" said the prisoner,
sunenly.
After the superintendent had gone the guards
brought Czolgoszs breakfast. consisting Of cof-
fee. toast. eggs and bacon. and he ate with
good deal OF .elish While ne partakng OF
this, the witnesses gathering In the Office 1
OF Warden Mead. and at 7O6 o'clock the pro- 4
cession passed TO the death chamber going |
through the long south corridor.
In the chamber Mr. Davis the electrician, and 4
former Warden Thayer. Of Dannemora, had ar /
ranged the chair test. placing bank Of twenty |
two incandescent lights across the arms and 1
connecting the electrode wires either end. The
witnesses ordered seated. and then Warden 1
Mead briefly addressed them, saying:
You are here 10 witness the legal death Of
Leon +. Czolgosz. i desire that you keep your 4
seats and preserve absolute silence in the death .
chamber matter waat may transpire. There I
are plenty OF guards and prison officials to pre- 4
serve order and attend 10 the proper details.
The prison physician. Dr. Germ, and Dr. Carlos |
+. Macdonald of New-York took a position TO 4
the left of the chair Warden Mead stood di- /
rectly in front, and Mr. Davis. the electrician. |
retired TO the little containing the cleo /
trical switchboard. Mr.. Thayer gave the signal. 4
and the current was turned through the electric |
lights. flooding the chamber with brilliant light 4
and dramatically showing the power that was 4
used TO kin the prisoner.
THE PRISONER BROUGHT IN
Warden Mead gave the signal 20 have the I
prisoner brought I'm, and at 1890 o'clock Chief
Keeper Tupper swung open the big steel door |
leading TO the condemned cells, and the steel Z
bars behind which Czolgosz had been kept were \
swung aside two guards marched the prisoner !
out into the corridor. two others following be- |
hind. and the chief keeper walking in front.
The guards on either side of CzolgOsz had hold /
OF his arms. either II 90 support him or 10 /
keep him from making a demonstration. AS he /
stepped the threshold he stumbled. but |
they held him up and they urged him for
ward toward the chair he stumbled again on !
the little rubber covered platform upon which |
the chair rests His head was erect and with /
his gray flannel shirt turned back at the neck.
he looked boyish. He intensely pale and |
as he tried 10 throw his head back and erect his !
chin quvered perceptibly AS he was being |
seated he looked about at the assembled wit
nesses with steady stare and said:
Il killed the President because he was an ene-
my Of the good people-of the working people"
His voice trembled slightly at first, but gained !
strength with each word. and he spoke perfect
English.
Il am not sorry for my crime" he said loudly.
just as the guard pushed his head back on the
rubber headrest and drew the strap across his
forehead and chin. AS the pressure on the straps
frightened and bound the Jaw slightly he mum
bled: I'm awfuy sorry I could not see my
father"
1t was exactly 711 O'Clock when he crossed
the threshold; only minute had elapsed and he
had just finished the last statement when the
strapping was completed. and the guards
stepped back from the man. Warden Mead
raised his hand and at 7:l2 80 Mr.. Davis turned
the switch that threw ]. 700 volts OF electricity
into the living body. The rush OF the immense
current threw the body hard against the
straps that they creaked perceptibly The