The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08
GA. SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 8, 1901.
that would throw any light on the
crime.
THE ASSASSIN'S STORY.
DescipIe of Emma Goldman Tells OF
His Crime.

Daily News from Buffalo says:
THE statement of Leon Czolgosz
made to the police, transcribed and
signed by the prisoner, is as follows:
II was born in Detroit nearly 90
years ago. My parents were Russian
Poles. They came here AZ years ago. I
got my education in the public schools
of Detroit, and then went to Cleveland,
where l got work. In Cleveland I read
books on Socialism and met a great
many Socialists. I was pretty well
known as a Socialist in the West Af-
ter being in Cleveland for several years
went to Chicago. where 1 remained
seven months, after which l went to
Newburg, on the outskirts of Cleve-
land, and went to work in the New
burg wire mills.
During the last five years I have
had as friends anarchists in Chicago,
Cleveland, Detroit, and in other West
ern cities, and l suppose / became
more or less bitter. Yes, 1 know
was bitter. / never had much luck
at anything, and this preyed upon me.
1t made me noroSe and envious, but
what started the craze TO kill was a
lecture l heard some little time ago by
Emma Goldman. She was in Cleve-
land. and and other anarchists went
to hear her. She set me on fire.
" Her doctrine that all rulers should
be exterminated was what set me to
thinking, so that my head nearly spit
with the pain. Miss Goldman's words
went right through me and when 1
left the lecture l had made up my
mind that / would have to do some
thing heroic for the cause 1 loved.
Eight days ago while l was in Chi
cago read in a Chicago newspaper of
President McKinley's visit to the Pan
American Exposition at Buffalo. That
day I bought ticket for Buffalo and
got here with the determination to do
something, but I did not know just
what. I thought of shooting the Pres
ident. but 1 had not formed a plan.
L went to live at 1913 Broadway,
which is saloon and hotel. John
Nowak, a Pole. sort of politician,
who has led his people here for years.
owns it. I told Nowak that I came
to see the fair. He knew nothing about
what was setting me crazy. l went
to the exposition grounds a couple of
times day.
Not until Tuesday morning did
the resolution to shoot the President
take hold on me. It was in my heart;
there was no escape for me. l could
not have conquered it, had my life
been at stake. There were thousands
of people in town on Tuesday. 1 heard
it was Presidents day. All these peo-
pie seemed bowling to the great ruler.
made up my mind to kill that ruler.
l bought a S2-caliber revolver and
| loaded it.
con Tuesday night 1 went to the
| Fair grounds and was near the rail-
| road gate when the presidential party
arrived. / tried to get near him, but
the police forced me back. They forced
| everybody back so that the great ruler
| could pass. was close to the President
when he got into the grounds, but was
| afraid to attempt the assassination be-
| cause there were so many men in the
| body guard that watched him. I was
| not afraid of them or that 1 should
| get hurt, but afraid / might be seized
and that my chance would be gone for
ever.
"'Well. he went away that time and
/ went home. On Wednesday l went
to the grounds and stood right near
the President right under him, near
| the stand from which he spoke
"T thought half a dozen times of
shooting while he was speaking, but 1
| could not get close enough. was afraid
l might miss and then the great crowd
| was always jostling and / was afraid
| lest my aim fail. waited until We'd
nesday, and the President got into his
carriage again, and lot of men were
| about him and formed Gordon that 1
could not get through. / was tossed
about by the crowd and my spirits
were getting pretty low. I was almost
hopeless that night as I went home
Yesterday morning l went again to
the exposition grounds. Emma Gold
mans speech was still burning me up.
I waited near the central entrance for
the President, who was to board his
special train from that gate, but the
police allowed nobody but the Presi-
dents party to pass where. the train
waited. So stayed at the grounds all
day waiting.
During yesterday first thought of
hiding my pistol under my handker-
chief. / was afraid if l had to draw
it from my pocket I would be seen
and seized by the guards. 1 got TO
the Temple of Music the first one and
waited at the spot where the recep-
tion was to be held.
Then he came, the President--the
ruler-and l got in line and trembied
until 1 got right up to him and then
/ shot him twice through my white
handkerchief. would have fired more.
l was stunned by a blow in the face
d iIlSHLlul DiOW lHdL hIlOCh-u Ult
down-and then everybody jumped on
me. I thought would be killed, and
was surprised the way they treated
me-"
"Czolgosz ended his story in utter
exhaustion. When he had about con-
cluded he was asked:
Ibid you really mean to kill the
President?
"T did, was the cold-blooded reply.
What was your motive; what
could It dor
"T am an anarchist. I am a disci-
pie of Emma Goldman. Her words
set me on fire. he replied with not the
slightest tremor.
ct deny that 1 have had an accom-
plice at any time the prisoner told
District Attorney Penney. L don't re-
gret my act. because l was doing what
could for the great cause. I am
not connected with the Paterson group,
or with those anarchists who sent
Bresci to Italy to kill Humbert. I
had no confidants: no one to help me.
/ 4 was alone. absolutely"