The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1901-11-01
WITH A LIE ON HIS LIPS.
Czolgosz Died Declaring That Pres
ident Mckinley Was an Enemy
of Good People.
EXECUTION PROMPT AND SUCCESSFUL.
The Last Act In the Great Tragedy
of the Opening Year OF the Twen-
tieth Century COnsummated
Within Two Months of the Com
mission of the Terrible Crime.


within Two Months of the Com
mission of the Terrible Crime.
Auburn, y. Y, Oct. 29.-At 7:12b
o'clock Leon +. 0zolgosz, murderer of
President William Mckinley, paid the
extreme penalty eXacted by the law
for his crime. He was shocked to
death by 1,700 bolts of electricity. He
went to the chair in exactly the same
manner as have the ma ority of MUIR
derers in this state, showing no par
ticular sign of fear, but in fact, do
ing what few of them have done
talking to the witnesses while he was
being strapped in the chair.
Czolgosz' Parting FalsehoOd.
Il killed the president because he
was an enemy OF the good people
of the good working people. 1 am
NOT sorry for my crime"
These were his words as the guards
hurried him into the chair.
\ moment later, mumbling through
the half-adjusted face stramps, he
said:
Il am awful sorry / could not see
my father"
Czolgosz retired Monday night at
ten o'clock, and slept so soundly that
when Warden Meade went to the cell,
shortly before five o'clock Tuesday
morning. the guard inside had 70
shake Czolgosz to awaken him. He
sat on the edge of his cot and made
no reply to the warden's greeting of
good morning.
The Death Warrant Read.
The prison official took from his
pocket the death warrant, and read
it slowly and distinctly to the as
sassin, who hardly raised his eyes
during the perfuctory ceremony
just as the warden stepped away
from the cell door, Czolgosz called
to him and said:
Il 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
to sleep again,
The Execution Suit.
At 5:15, however, the guard brought
to him a pair of dark trousers, with
the left leg slit so as to allow the free
application of the electrode, and a
light gray outing shirt.
He was told to get up and put these
on, which he did.
Contrary to the usual custom. he
was given a new pair of shoes When
dressed he laid down on the cot
again, and in this attitude Supt. Col
Inns found him at 80 when he went
down to visit him.
The superintendent stood in front
of the steel bars, and when the guard
had called Czolgosz' attention, he
said:
Il want to make statement be-
fore you kill me-"
What do you wish to say, Czol-
gosz?" asked the superintendent.
His Request Denied.
Il want to make it when there arc
lot of people present. ! want them
to hear me-" said the prisoner.
well, You can not" said the su-
perintendent.
Then l won't talk at ALL" said the
prisoner, sullenly.
After the uperintendent had left
the guards brought Czolgosz' break
fast, consisting of coffee, toast, eggs
and bacon, and he ate with quite
good deal of relish While he was par
taking of this. the witnesses were
gathering in the offices of Warden
Mead, and at 7:0S the procession
passed to the death chamber, going
through the long south corridor.
In the Death Chamber.
In the chamber, Electrician Davis
and former Warden Thayer, of Danne-
mora, had arranged the chair test.
placing a bank of % incandescent
lights across the arms, and connect
ing the electrode wires at either end
The witnesses were ordered seated,
and then Warden Mead briefly ad-
dressed them, saying:
You are here to witness the legal
death of Leon f. Czolgosz. | desire
that you keep your seats and preserve
absolute silence in the death cham
There are plenty of guards and prison
officials TO preserve order and attend
to the proper details"
The Apparatus Tested.
The prison physician, DR.. Germ, and
DIR. Carlos f. Mcdonald. of New
York, took a position to the left of
the chair. Warden Mead stood direct
~ in front and Electrician Davis re-
tired to the little room containing
the electrical switch board. Thayer
gave the signal and the current was
turned through the electric lights,
flooding the chamber with brilliant
light and dramatically showing the
power that was used to kill the pris-