Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-10-03
CZOLGOSZ MUST DIE
The Week Beginning October
2Sth, is the Time Set

Leon F. Czolgoz. the assassin Of
President McKinley, was last
Thursday afternoon sentenced to
be electrocuted in the Auburn state
prison during the week beginning
October 2S. 1901. Before the SEN
tence was passed the assassin
esinced a desire to speak, but
could not get his voice above a
whisper, and his words were re-
peated to the court by his counsel,
He was quite calm, but it was
evident that his mind was flooded
with thoughts OF his own distress.
Rs eyes were dilated, his cheeks
pale and his outstretched hand
trembled.
When Judge Titus came over to
the prisoner and babe him goodbye,
Gzolgoz replied very family, let
ting his eyes rest upon the man
who had been his counsel. 'Good-
bye" he said weakly.
The prisoner was brought into
the room at five minutes after two.
Five minutes later Justice White
took his place upon the bench.
AS soon as Justice White assumed
the bench, Crier Hess said: "Pur-
suant to recess, this supreme court
is now open for the transaction of
business.
District Attorney Penney said:
''Jf your honor please. move
sentence in the casa Of the people
vs.. Leon f. Czolgoz Stand up
Czolgoz. y
"Have you anything to say?"
asked Justice While.
Yes" replied the prisoner.
~ think he should be per-
mitted IT, make a sta ement in ex-
cuipation of his act, if the court
please" said Judge Titus.
The court replied: THAT will
depend upon what his statement
isl
Justice White then said:
"Have you (speaking to Judge
Titus) anything to say in behalf of
the prisoner at this timer
The attorney replied: 'It seems
to me, in order that the innocent
should not suffer for this defend
ants crime, the court should per-
init him to exculpate at least his
father, brother and sisters
From the court: Certainly
If that is the object Of any state
ment he wishes to make, proceed"
The prisoner said: "There was
no one else but me. No one else
told me to do it, and no one paid
me to do it," Judge Titus re-
peated it after him.
The prisoner continued: 81 was
not told anything about that crime
and I never thought anything
about the murder until a couple of
days before l committed the crime"
Judge Titus repeated this also.
Then Justice White passed SEN
tence as follows:
sIn taking the life of our be-
loved president, you committed a
crime which shocked and outraged
the moral sense of the civilized
world. You have confessed that
guilt and after learning all that al
this time can be learned from the
facts and circumstances of the case
~ good jurors have pronounced
you guilty and have found you
guilty of murder in the first de
gree.
"You have said, according tt
the testimony Of creditable wit
nesses and yourself, that no othe
person aided or assisted You in tn
mission of this terrible act
God grant it may be so. The pen
atty for the crime for which 70
stand convicted is fixed by the stat
ute and it now becomes my duty t
pronounce this judgment agains
you.
"The sentence of the court
that in the week beginning Octt
Der %, 1901, at the place, in til
manner and by the means pr
scribed by law, you shall suffer til
, punishment Of death"
, The crowd filed slowly out ,
the room and the court adjourne'
Czolgoz was taken to the Al
burn state prison tonight to ava
death by electrocution. The trai
left at 1000 p. M. Czolgoz WI
, "sn eaked' out the back entran'
d of the Erie county Jail, surroundt
by II men, and was hustled into
special car which had backed dow
on the terrace tracks few rods
9 the rear of the Jail. Sheriff Cal
Q we'll arranged for the departu
:, and his moves were kept SO seer
e that no one but the guards, IN
II road men and newspaper men w
\ were in the Jail knew that he W
e being Struggled out Of the jail.
al In the seat with the prison
e was Tailor Mitchell and surroun
d ing him were several arm
ii officers.