The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-01
TO Be EXECUTED DURING WEEK BE-
GINNING OCTOBER 18TH.
THE DEFENDANTS STATEMENT
Ee Declares That He Had ne Accom-
plfces and was Urged to Commit the
Crime by 10 One; That He Fad No
Thought of Murcering the President
Until Two Days Before b Deed-The
Prisoner Shows First Signs OF Fear
and Becomes Greatly Excited.

Kinley was this afternoon sentenced to
be e~lectrocuted in Auburn state prison.
during the week beginning October %,
1901.
Before sentence was passed the assas-
sin evinced a desire to speak, but he
could not get his voice above a whis-
per lad his words were repeated to the
court by his counsel.
There was no one else but me-" the
prisoner said in a whisper. mo one
else told me to do it and no one paid
me to do it. I was not told anything
about the crime. and I never though
anything about that until a couple OF
days before 1 committed the crime
Czolgosz sat down. He was quite
calm. but it was evident that his mind
was flooded with thoughts of his own
distress. His eyes were dilated, max
ing them appear very bright. His
cheeks were a trife pale and his out
stretched hands trembled. The guards
put the handouts on his wrists. He
looked at one of the officers. There was
an expression of the profoundest fear
and helplessness in his eyes. He
glanced about at the people who crowd
ed together in efforts to get a look at
him. The prisoners eyelids rose and
fell TREMENDOUSLY and hen he fixed his
gaze pom the floor in front of him.
AT this point Judge Titus came over
to the prisoner and babe him goodbye.
Czolgosz replied very Taintly, letting his
eyes rest upon the man who has been
his counsel. "Good-bye." he said
weakly.
CZolgosz was then hurried down stairs
and through the tunnels of sobs'' to
the Jail where he will remain until re-
moved to Auburn to pay the penalty for
his crime.
Although the time announced for the
converting of the court was 2 o'clock,
every seat and every foo Of standing
room were occupied before 1:30 o'clock
inc scores were clamoring outside for
admission. The doors were locked n
no more were admitted to the room.
The prisoner was brought into the
room at LBS o'clock. Five minutes later
Justice White took his place upon the
bench. AS soon as Justice White as
sumed the bench. District Attorney
Penny said: IF your honor please,
I move sentence in the case OF the peo-
pie versus Leon C~zolgosZ. Stand up,
CZolgosZ."
Clerk Fisher swore the prisoner and
his record was taken by the district at
torney as follows: Age % years., nativ-
ity, Detroit; residence, Broadway No
wax, Buffalo; occupation, laborer;
married or single-single; degree Of
education. common school and pa
rochial: religious instruction, Catholic;
parents,-father living. mother dead;
temperate or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS;
former conviction of crime-none.
The clerk of the court then asked:
Have you any legal cause to show why.
the sentence of the court should not
now be pronounced against you?"
gT -~ II. 49, IL
oner.
Clerk Fisher repeated his question
and Czolgosz replied: I'D rather ave
this gentleman here speak" looking to-
wards District Attorney Penny Il can
lead him better"
AT this point Justice White told those
in the court room that they must be
quiet or the would be excluded from
the room.
Mr.. Penny then said to the prisoner:
"Czolgosz, the court wants to know if
o nave any reason TIC give why SEN
tence shoul not be pronounced 10
you. Have you anything to say to he
judge? Say yes or no."
The prisoner did not reply and JUS
tice White, addressing the prisoner said:
I'm that behalf, what you have a
right to say relates explicitly to the
subject in hand here at this time and
which the law provides why sentence
SnOulu not De HON pIOLOuICSo against
you and is defined by the statute. The
first is that you may claim that you
are insane. The next is that you have
a good cause to offer either in arrest
of the judgment about to be pronounced
against FOL or for a new trial. These
are the grounds specified by the statute
in which you nave a right to speak at
this time and o are at perfect liberty
to do so if you wish"
The prisoner replied: 81 have moth
ing to say bou that"
The court said: Are YOU ready?'
Mr.. Penny replied: Yes"
Have you anything to say? asked
Justice White.
Yes" replied the prisoner.
at think he hould be permitted to
make a statement in e~xculpat1on OF ms
act if the court please" said Judge
Titus.
The court replied: THAT will depend
upon what his statement is"
Justice White hen said: Have you
(speaking to Judge Titus) anything to
say in behalf of the prisoner at this
time?"
ST have nothing to say within the
definition Of what your honor has read"
replied the attorney, but it seems to
me in order that the innocent should
not suffer by this defendants crime, the
court should permit him to exculpate at
least his father. brother and sister.
From the court: Certainly, If that IS
the object of any statement 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 repeated as follows:
lowing to the prisoners feeble voice.
he says no one had anything to do with
the commission Of his crime, but him
self: that his father and mother and no
one else had anything to do with and
knew nothing about it."
The prisoner continued: I was NOT
told anything about that crime and l
never thought anything about murder
until a couple of days before I commit
ted the crime"
Judge Titus again repeated as fol-
lows: He never told anyone about
he crime and never intended to COM
NIT it until a couple of days before It's
commission"
Then Justice White passed sentence
as follows: I'm taking the life of our
beloved president YOU committed a
1r;-, ~-L;oh cho1Ea1 o-I orrtro God the