The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-01
WENT TO THE CHAIR WITHOUT
APPARENT FEAR.
TALKING TO VERY LAST
Expressed Sorrow After Straps Were
Adjusted That He Had Not
Seen His Father.

Auburn, N. Y, Oct. 29.-At 7:12:3O
O'Clock this morning Leon +. Czol'
gosz, murderer Of President VIM. Nc
Kinley. paid the extreme penalty ex-
acted by law for his crime. He was
shocked to death by LOO volts OF
electricity. He went to the CHAIR IN
exactly the same manner as have a
majority Of murderers in this state,
showing no particular sign OF fear,
but in fact, doing what few Of them
have done, talking to witnesses While
he was being strapped in the chair.
Il killed the president because ne
was the enemy Of good people, Oh
good working people. | am not sorry
for my crime"
These we're his words as the
guards hurried him into the chair.
A moment later, mumbling through
the half adjusted face straps he said:
81 am awfully sorry l could not
see my father"
Czolgosz retired last night at ~
o'clock and slept SO soundly that
when Warden Mead went to the cell
shortly before 5 o'clock this morning
the guard had to shake CZolgosZ TO
awaken him. He sat up on the edge
of his cot and made no reply TO the
warden's greeting of good morning"
A prison official took from his
pocket the death warrant and read 1t
SLOWLY and distinctly to the assassin
who hardly raised his eyes during the
]perfunctory ceremony.
Just as the warden stepped away
from the cell door, Czolgosz called to
him and said:
81 would like to talk with the su,
perintendent."
The warden responded: HE will
be down presently
Then the condemned man rolled
over on his cot apparently anxious tt
sleep again. ,
At 5:15, however, the guard brough'
to him a pair Of dark trousers will
.. luS lcIL lc6 5Il ~ "o w ~ 49,
application Of electrode and a ligh
gray outing shirt. He was to get III
and put these on, which he die
Contrary to the usual custom he wa
given a new pair Of shoes. Whe1
he dressed he laid down on the co
and in this attitude Superintendent
Collins found him at $50 when h
went down to visit him.
The superintendent stood in from
of the steel bars and when the gaur
had called Czolgosz's attention h
said:
II want to make a statement b.
fore you kill me"
What do you wish to say. Go
gosz," asked the superintendent.
II want to make it where there al
a lot Of people present. l want the
to hear me-" said the prisoner.
"Well, you cannot" said the supe
intendent.
Then | won't talk at all" said tt
prisoner sullenly.
After the superintendent had lie
the guards brought Czolgosz's brea
fast, consisting of coffee, toast, Ell
and bacon, and he ate with quite
good deal Of relish. While he W
partaking of this, witnesses we
gathering in the offices Of Ward
Mead and at 7:Os the procession pas
." ~ ~ . +l,o 1natI 1h0tnhnv pOi
through the long south corrid'
In the chamber Electrician Davis a
former Warden Thayer of Dannemo
had arranged the chair as a test PHI
ing a bank Of % incandescent ligf
across the arms and connecting t
e%lectroide wires at the other end.
The witnesses were ordered seat
and then Warden Mead briefly
dressed them saying:
"You are here to witness the lei
death of Leon F. Czolgosz. des
that you keep your seats and p
serve absolute silence in the de,
chamber, 10 matter what may tr
spire. There are plenty Of qua
and prison officials to preserve or
and attend to the proper details"
Prison Physician DR.. Germ and
Charles F. Macdonald Of New Y
took positions to the left of the CHI
Warden Mead stood directly in IF
and Electrician Davis retired to a
tie room containing the electr1
switchboard. Thayer gave the
nal and the current was tur
through the electric lights, flood
the chamber with a brilliant light
dramatically showing the power
was used to- kill the prisoner. Y