The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-30

A OBDttNs n. u oct lJ---AJ az ~
~ o'clock this morning Leon Czol-
gosz. the assassin Of President
Mckinley. paid the extreme penalty
exs.ted by the law for his crime. He
was shocked to death by 1.7OG volts of
electricity. He went to the chair in
exactly the same manner as the ma
jOrity of murderers in this state. show
ing 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 he
was an enemy o. the good people--of
the good working people 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 straps. he said:
Il am awfully sorry L could not see
my father"
Last Sleep a Sound one.
C;solgosz retired last night at 10
o'clock and slept so soundly that when
Warden Mead went to the cell shortly
before . O'Clock tris morning the guard
inside had 20 shake Czolgosz to awak-
en- him. He sat upon the edge of his
cot and made no reply to the warden's
greeting OF Good morning"
The prison official took from his
pocket the death warrant and read il
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 t.
him and said:
- would like to talk with the super
intendent."
The warden responded: He wiz be
down presently"
Then the condemned man rolled over
on his cot apparently anxious to sleep
again.
At Sis. however. the guard brought
20 him a pair OF dark trousers with the
left leg slit so rs TO allow the free APP
plication OF the electrOde and a light
gray outing shirt. He was told 70 get
up and put these on, which he did.
Takes Matters Comfy
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 Superintendent
Collins found him at >: 30 when he went
down 20 visit hir'
The superintendent stood in front Of
the steel bars. and when the guard
had called Czolgosz's attention, ne
said.
Il want TO make a state@ent before
you kill me-
What do you wish to say, Czol-
Eosz?" asked the superintendent.
Il want to make it wheI there are q
lot Of people present 1 want them to
hear me- said the prisoner.
well you cannot" said the super
intendent<
"Then / won't talk at ALL" said the
prisoner. suIlenly.
After the superintendent had left. the
guards brought Cz0lgosz's breakfast.
consisting Of coffee. toast. eggs and
deal OF relish. While he was partaking
Of this the witnesses were gathering
in the Office Of Warden Mead, and at
EOS the procession passed to the death
corridor
Arrange for the Execution.
In the chamber. Electrician Davis
and Former Warden Thayer of Dame
mora had arranged the clair test. plac-
ing bank OF twenty-five incandescent
lights across the arms and connecting
the electrOde wires at either end. The
witnesses were ordered seated and then
Warden Mead briefly addressed them,
saying.
You are here to witness the legal
death a Leon +. CzolEOsz. 7 desire
that EoL keep your seats and preserve
absolute silence in the death chamber,
no matter what RAY trSnspire. There
are plenty Of guards anu prison off,
Gals TO preserve order and attend 10
the proper details"
The prison physician. DR. Germ. and
J Dr Carlos +. Mcdonald Of New York
took a position to the left Of the chair
Warden Mead stood directly in front
Bttle room containing the electrical
switch JOard
Thayer gave the signal and the cur.
rent was turned through the electric
lights. flooding the chamber with bril-
liant light and dramatically showing
the power that was used TO kill tht
prisoner
March to the Death Chamber.
Warden Mead gave the signal to have
the prisoner brought in. and at 7:10:3
o'clock CHEZ Keeper TUper swung Oper
the big steel door leading to the con,
demned cells. and as the steel bars be-
hind which Czolgosz had been KEEP
were swung aside. two guards marched
the prisoner out into the corridor, two
others following. and he chief keeper
walking in front
The guards on either side of CzolEos;
had hold of his arms as If either TO sup
port him or 20 keep him from makinf
n demonstration. As he stepped owe
the threshold he stumbled. but they
held him up. and as they urged hin
,'orward toward the chair he stumbled
again on the little rubber-cOvered plat
form upon which the chair rests.
His head was erect. and with his graz
flannel shirt turned back AT the neck
he looked quite boyish He was intense
" pale. and as BE tried 10 throw hi
head back and carry himself erect hi
chin quivered very perceptibly As N
was seated he looked acout at the as
HrHluitQ WlAitSHtS WIN quite a SLedQl
stare and said
Why He Killed the President
Il billed the president because h
was an enemy of the good people,
the working people"
His voice trembled slightly at FIRST
but gained strength with each word
and he spoke perfect English.
II am not sorry for my crime" h
said loudly. just as the guard pushes
his head back on the rubber headres
and drew the strap across his fOreheai
and chin. AS the pressure on the strap
frightened and bound the jaw slightly
he mumbled. 4 am awfully sorry
could not see my father"
IT was just exactly I'LL o'clock whel
he crossed the threshold. but a minut
1888 - and he had just finishe,
emeut when the strappinl
and the guards steppe
raised his hand and d
d