Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-09-27
CZ0LGOSZ ON TRIAL
ASSASSIN OF PRESIDENT M'KlN.
LEY PLEADED GUILTY.
Prisoner Was uneoncernsd-court Order,
the Plea to Be Recorded "Not Guilty.
Case May Be Concluded in Two Days
The Physicians Gave Important Test.
mony.

Buffalo, N. Y, Sept. 24.-Leon F.
Czolgosz was placed on trial yesterday
charged with the murder of President
William Mckinley. He entered plea
of guilty, which was subsequently
changed to mot 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
and within two hours eight jurors had
been secured. Technicalities were not
raised by the examining counsel, but
it was significant that every man who
said he had formed an opinion on the
case was excused by the District At
-torney. Those who acknowledged
they had formed an opinion or stated
they were prejudiced, but admitted
their opinion could be changed by evi-
dence were. accepted by both
sides. Justice Truman C. White, one
of the Oldest and most experienced
of the Supreme Court Judges, was on
the bench. Immediately after the
opening of the court, and after the
prisoner had pleaded, Justice Lorn L.
Lewis, senior counsel for the defend
ant, announced that; together with his
colleagues, ex-Justice Robert C. Titus
and Carlton 3. Ladd, they were ready
to act in behalf of the prisoner.
thought it best" he said, "for my
colleagues and myself, that 1 should
say something regarding our presence
here as attorneys for the defendant.
At the time my name was suggested !
was out of the city, and knew nothing
of what was transpiring here with
reference to the selection of counsel
for the defendant. When the circum-
stances of my selection were told to
me, I was extremely reluctant to ac-
cept. But the duty has been imposed,
and considered it my duty, in the
light of all the circumstances, to de-
fend this man. I ask that no evidence
be presented here-that the court will
not permit the acceptance of any evi-
dence-unless it would be accepted at
the trial of the. most meager criminal
in the land
81 am familiar with these circum-
stances" said Justice White, in reply
"and 1 wish to say, will give you
every assurance that the prisoner will
have fair and impartial trial. Dur
ing the progress of the trial he will
receive such treatment as the law de
mands in any criminal case"
The work of securing the jurors was
then undertaken, with celebrity that
was amazing. Before the day was oyel
the entire panel had been sworn, the
jurors had listened to a description
of the Temple of Music, where the
crime occurred; had seen photographs
of the interior of the structure, an6
had been told by three surgeons what
had caused the death of the President
and the effect of the assassin's sho
on the various organs of the body
They had also learned why the fata
bullet had not been located.
The probable duration of the trial
it is believed, can be placed at TIVE
full days. Judge Titus, for the de
fense, was non-committal, however
and merely said: THAT depends upoi
the turn things take" It is not prob
able that any defense will be put in
owing to the character of the prisone
and his refusal to help his attorney
in any way to procure evidence whicl
they could use in his favor. The ide;
of an attempt to enter the question o
his sanity is not thought of. in view o
the reports of the two alienists VIII
have recently examined him.