The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-11-01
IS DEAD
ElectrOcuted at Auburn Prison.
New York.
saiu he Was Proud of the Das-
tardiy Deed He Did at
Buffalo

the chair in exactly the same manner es
the majority of murderers in the state
showing no particular sign OF fear. but
doing what few of them have done
talking to the witnesses while he was bf
ing strapped in the chair.
Il Killed the president because he was
an enemy OF good people-of good work
ing people. I'm not sorry for my crime
These were his words as the guards
hurried him into the chair.
A moment later, mumbling through
the half adjusted face straps, he said:
am awfully sorry could not see
my father"
Wanted to Talk to a Crowd.
Hall an hour before the execution the
prisoner sent for the superintendent and
| warden and said:
Il want to make statement before
you kill me-"
What do you wish to say, Czolgosz?'
asked the warden.
II want to make it when there are a
lot OF people present, | want them to
hear me, said the prisoner.
well, you can not" said the super
intendent.
"Then won't talk at ALL" said the
pfisOuer sdlleDIy.
de changed his resolution, however,
and did not break the rule of silence in
the death chamber.
The Execution Chamber
The chamber in which the murderer of
PRESIDENT Mckinley was executed was
not the same in which the first electrOcu
ton took place here. 1t il a compare
tiVely new building, strkingly elaborate
IN comparison with the very old prison
structures about it. 1t is built of grav
stone and Ia situated about half way
down the prison yard on the left hand.
or south side. Entrance to it is possible
either from the prison yard or from the
main south corridor and the execution
room proper may be entered without
passing the condemned cells.
Only Few Steps to Walk.
From his entry into the death house
Czolgoez was confined in the cell nearest
the death chamber, so that when he en-
tered the death room he had to step
only few feet through the stone arch.
and when the door closed behind him he
was beside the electric chair The cleo
trocutiOn room has seats for the wit
nesses and is well lighted. In a corner
OF wall is the closet in which the KEY
board is situated, and in which Eectri-
clan Davis stood when he switched the
current on.
The preiminaries were exactly like
those OF other executions. The witnesses
gathered in the office of the warden on
the second floor of the prison at a
quarter OF Z. At few minutes before Z
the witnesses were told to quickly follow
the warden and the state superintendent
of prisons, and after walking through
the long corridor took their places
silently beside the death chair in the
execution room.
Witnesses Warned to Keep Quiet.
In the chamber Electrician Davis and
former Warden Thayer OF Dannemora
had arranged the chair test, placing a
bank OF % incandescent lights across
the arms and connecting the electrOde
wires at either end. The witnesses we're
ordered seated, and then Warden Mead
briefly addressed them, saying:
"1Ou are here to witness the legal
death OF Leon F. CzolgOez. desire that
you keep your seats and preserve abso-
lutte silence in the death chamber, no
matter what may transpire. There are
plenty OF guards and prison officials to
preserve order and attend to the proper
Details"
The prison physician, DR.. Germ, and
DR.. Carlos f. Macdonald OF New York
took position to the left of the chair,
Warden Mead stood directly in front,
and Electrician Davis retired to the
little room containing the electrical
switchboard.
Thayer gave the signal and the cur
rent was turned on through the electric
lights, flooded with brilliant light and
dramatically showing the power that
was used to kill the prisoner.
CzOlgOsz Brought In.
Warden Mead gave the signal to have
the prisoner brought in and at 7:IO 1-2
O'Clock Keeper Tupper swung open the
big steel door leading to the condemned
cells, and as the steel bars behind which
Czolgosz had been kept were swung
aside two guards marched the prisoner
out into the corridor, two Others follow.
ing, and the chief keeper walking in
front.
The guards on either side of CzoIgosz
had hold OF his arms, as if either to SUD-
port him or to keep him from making a
demonstration. AS he stepped over the
threshold he stumbled, but they held
him, and as they urged him forward to-
ward the chair he stumbled again on the
little rubber covered platform upon
which the chair rests. His head was
erect, and with his gray flannel shirt
turned back at the neck be looked quite
bOyish. He was intensely pale, and as
he tried to throw his head back and
carry himself erect his chin quivered
very perceptibly.
Played Bold.
GAS he was being seated he looked
about at the assembled witnesses with
| quite steady stare, and said:
II killed the president because he was
an enemy of the good people-of the
working people"
His voice trembled slightly at first,
but gained strength with each word, and
he spoke perfect English.
81 am not sorry for my crime," he
said loudly, just as the guard pushed
his head back on the rubber headreast
and drew the strap across his forehead
and chin. AS the pressure on the straps
frightened and bound the jaw slightly, be
mumhled: