The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-24
Trial Expected to Last But
Two Days.
NOT BELIEVED ADEFENsE WILL Be MADE
Testimony by Three Physicians, Two
Of Whom Attended the President,
the Third Having Performed
Autopsy, Took up Most of
the Afternoon.
(By the Associated Press.)

Buffalo. NJ Y, Sept. 23.-Leon F. Czol-
gosz was placed on trial this morning,
charged with the murder of President
William Mckinley. He entered plea of
Guilty" which was subsequently changed
to 'Not guilty by direction of the court.
All the events Of the day indicated that
the trial will be short. Court convened at
10 o'clock Within two hours eight ju-
rors had been secured. Technical,ties
were not raised by examining counsel.
but it was significant that every man
who said he had not formed an opinion
on the case was excused by the district
attorney. Those who acknowledged they
had formed an opinion or stated that they
were prejudiced but admitted that their
c. inion could be changed by evidence,
wore acceIted by each side.
justice Truemen c. White, one of the
oldest and most experienced of the Su-
preme curt judges, was on the bench. I'M
mediatcly after the opening of the court
ard after the prisoner had pleaded, JUS
tice Loran l.. Lewis, senior counsel for
the defendant, announced that together
C. Titus and Mr.. Carlton f. Ladd t'lev
were ready to act in behalf of the pris-
oner.
JUSTICE LEWIS SPEAKS.
II thought it best he said, ''for my
colleagues and myself that l should say
something regarding our presence here
as attorneys for the defendant. At the
time my name was suggested l was out Of
tho city and knew nothing of what was
transpiring here with reference to the Sc
lection of counsel to the defendant. When
the circumstances of my selection were
told to me l was extremely reluctant to
accept. But the duty had been imposed
and l considered it my duty in all the
circumstances to defend this man.
II ask that no evidence be presented
here--that the court will not permit the
acceptance of any evidences, unless it
would be accepted at the trial of the
most meagre criminal in the land
II am familiar with these circum-
stances, said Justice White, in reply,
"and l wish to say l will give you every
assistance, that the prisoner will have
a fair and impartial trial and that dur
irg the progress of the trial he will re-
ceivc such treatment as the law demands
in any criminal case"
The work of securing the Jurors was
then undertaken with celebrity that was
amazing. Before the day was over tie
entire panel had been sworn, the Jurors
had listened to description of the Tenn
pic OF Music, where the crime occurred,
had seen photographs of the interior of
that structure and had been told by three
surgeons what caused the death of the
President and the effect of the assassin's
shot upon the various organs of the body.
They had also learned why the fatal bull
let had not been located
THE GOVERNMENTS CASE.
The presentation of the Governments
case began shortly before three o'clock
when Assistant District Attorney Haller
began. with much deliberation, to address
tho jury. He spoke very briefly
1--WE shall show" said he. that for
some days prior to the shooting this de-
fendant had premeditated the shooting of
the President. He knew that on the
sixth Of September the President would
receive the populace in the Temple of
Music that on that day he went to the
exposition, got into line with the people
and approached the President; that he
had a weapon concealed in his hand, and
as the President extended his hand in
kindly greeting he fired the fatal shot.
He fired twice, in fact. One of them
took effect in the abdomen and caused
that mortal mound which resulted in the
Presidents death. That in brief is the
story we shall show you. Witnesses vii!
tel lyou this story and l am sure that
when you have heard the evidence you
will have no difficulty in reaching a ver-
dict f murder in the first degree.
The first witness, Samuel j. Fields,
Chief Engineer of the Pan American
Exposition. described the ground floor
plan of the Temple of Music and was
by Perry A. Bliss, photog-
rapher, who presented views of the in
terior of the building. The remainder
Of the afternoon was taken up with the
testimony of the three physicians, two
Of whom had attended the President
during his last days, while tbs other
performed the autopsy.
The prisoner Czolgosz, during the |