Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-09-12

ago. My parents were Russian Poles. They
came here ~ years ago. | got my educa-
tion In the public schools of Detroit and
then went to Cleveland, where ! got work.
In Cleveland l read books on socialism
and met a great many socialists. l was
pretty well known as IA socialist in the
West. After being in Cleveland for sew
oral years | went to Chicago, whore | re-
manned several months after which |
went to Newburg on the outskirts OF
Cleveland, and went to work in the New
burg wire mills.
During the last FIVE years | have had
as friends anarchists In Chicago, Clevc-
land, Detroit and other Western cities,
and l suppose l became more or less bit
ter. Yes. | know | was bitter. ! never
had much luck at anything and this prey
ed upon me. 1t made me morose and en-
vious. but what started the craze to Kill
was n lecture heard some little time ago
by Emma Goldman. She was In Cleveland
and / and other anarchists went to hear
her She got me on fire. Her doctrine
that all rulers should be exterminated was
what set me to thinking. so that my head
nearly split win the pain. Miss Gold
mans words went right through me and
when left the lecture had made up my
mind that | would have to do something
heroic FOR the cause | loved
Eight days ago while ! was In Chicago,
read in a Chicago paper of President
NcKinleys visit TO the Pan-American ex-
position Mt Buffalo That dny l bought a
ticket for Buffalo and got here with tho
determination to do something, but | did
not know just what. | thought of Shoot
ing the President, but 1 had not formed
a plan.
Il went to live at 1913 Broadway, which
is a saloon and hotel. John Nowak, a
Pole. 81 sort of politician. who has led his
people for years, owns 1t. told Nowal
that I came to sec the fair. He knew
nothing about what was setting me crazy.
! went to the exposition grounds couple
Of times day. Not until Tuesday MORN
ing did the resolution to shoot the Prcsi-
dent take a hold of me. 1t was In my
heart; there was no escape for me
could not have conquered 1T had my life
been at stake. There were thousands ot
people in town on Tuesday | heard II
was Presidents day. Al those people
seemed bowling to the great ruler. made
up my mind to kill that ruler | bought a
32-callhro revolver and loaded It,
on" Tuesday night ! went to the fair
grounds and was near the railroad gate
when tho presidential party arrived.
tried to get near him. but the police forced
me back. They forced every body back so
that the great ruler could pass. | was
close to the President when he got into the
grounds. lut was afraid to attempt the as
saSsnation. because there were so many
mon in tle bOdVCunrd that watched him,
| was not afraid of them or that | should
get hurt. but afraid might he seized aud
that NV chance would bc gone forever.
Wen. h. went away that time and | went
home. on Wednesday went to the
grounds and stood right near the Pre- ST.
dent right und.r him near the stand from
which he spoke.
81 thourht half a dozen times of shoot
ing while he WIS gpcakiug. but | could
not get close -rourh | was afraid |
,niph. miss and tbcn the great crowd WAS
always iostlinr ana was afraid lest my
aim fail | waited until Wednesday. ard
the President got into his carriage ae,in
and a lot of mon were about him and form
ed n Gordon that could not get through.
| was tossed about bv the crowd and my
spirits were Getting pretty low. | was al
most hopeless that night as ! went home.
Yesterday morning went again to the ex-
positton grounds Emma Goldman's
srcech was stul burning me M. waited
near the central entrance for the Prosi-
dent. who was to board his special train
from that gate. but the police allowed no.
BODY but the Presidents party to pass out
while the train waited. So STAYED at the
grounds all dav waiting.
Ing my pistol under my handkerchief. l