Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-09
He Was Born in Detroit, Michigan,
Twenty-nIne Years Ago,
AIS JOURNEY TO BUFFALO,
On tuesday Resolved TO shoot the
President Emma Goldman. speech
The Prompting Cause.

Chicago, Sept. IA special TO the
Daily News from Buffalo says; The
statement OF Leon Czolgosz to the po'
lice. transcribed and signed by the
prisoner, is as follows;
II was born In Detroit nearly TWEEN
ty-nine years ago, My parents were
Russlan Poles. They came here forty
two years ago. got my education in
the public schools OF Detroit, and then
went to Cleveland, where 1 got work.
In Cleveland / read books on social
ism, and met great emany socialists.
| was pretty well known as a socialist
In the West. After being in Cleveland
for several years / went to Chicago,
where | remained seven months, after
which | went to Newburg, on the out
skirts Of Cleveland, and went to work
in the Newburg wire mills.
During the last FIVE years have had
as friends anarchists In Chicago, cleye-
land. Detroit and other western cities,
and | suppose became more or less bit
ter Yes, / know ! was bitter,
never had much luck at anything, and
rose and enyious, but what started the
craze TO Kill was a lecture heard some
little time ago by Emma Goldman. She
was up in Cleveland, and | and other
anarchists went TO hear her She set
me on fire.
Her doctrine that all rulers should
be exterminated was what set me to
thinking, so that my head nearly split
~ a.. I..lsl ts.saT % 10
went right through me, and when l
left the lecture had made up my mind
that | would have to do something he-
rolc for the cause ] loved.
Eight days ago, while i was In Chi
cago, read In a Chicago newspaper
OF President McKinley's proposed visit
to the Pan American exposition at
Buffalo. That day l bought ticket
for Buffalo, and got here with the de-
termination to do something, but l did
not know just what. | thought OF
shooting the President, but had no
formed plan,
Il went to live at 1913 Broadway.
which Is a saloon and hotel. John Now
ak a Pole, a sort OF politician, who
has led his peorle here for years. owns
II. | told Nowak that ! came to see
the fair. He knew nothing about what
was setting me crazy. ! went to the
exposition grounds a couple Of times a
day.
mot until Tuesday morning did the
resolution TO shoot the President take
hold Of me; II was In my heart; there
was no escape Ter me- could not have
conquered 1t had my life been at stake.
There were thousands Of people In town
on Tuesday. l heard II was Presidents
day. All these people seemed bowling
to the great ruler.
II made up my mind to Kill that
ruler. | bought a S2-callber revolver
and loaded H. On Tuesday night 1
went 10 the fair grounds and was nea,
the railroad gate when the presidential
party arrived. ] tried to get near him,
but the police forced me back. They
forced everybody back so that the great
ruler could pass. | was close to the
President when he got into the grounds,
but was afraid TO attempt the assas-
sination because there were so many
men In the bodyguard that watched
him. | was not afraid Of them or that
| should get hurt but afraid / might
be seized and that my chance would
be gone forever
"Well. he went away that time and
I went home. On Wednesday | went
to the grounds and stood near the Pres
ident right under him. near the stand
from which he spoke.
II thought half dozen times OF
shooting while he was speaking, but !
could not get close enough. | was
afraid lest my aim fail | waited
Wednesday, and the President got in
to his carriage again and lot Of men
were about him and formed q Gordon,
so that could not get through. was
tossed about by the crowd and my
spirits were getting pretty low. was
almost hopeless that night as ] went
home.
Yesterday morning I went again TO
the exposition grounds. Emma Gold
mans speech was still burning me up.
I waited near the central entrance for
the President who was to board his
special train from that gate. but the
police allowed nobody hut the Presi-
dents party to pass where the train
waited so I stayed at the grounds all
day waiting.
During yesterday first thought OF
hiding my pistol under my handkei-
chief. | was afraid II I had to draw II
from my porSet ] would be seen ana
seized by the guards. got 20 the tenn
pie Of music the first one, and waited
az the spot where the reception was 10
be held.
Then he came. the Presldent-the
ruler-and I got In line and tremhled
and trembled until I got right up 10
him. and then shot him twice through
my white handkerchief I would have
fired more. but was stunned by bow
IN the face-a frightful blow that
knocked me down-and then everybody
Jumped on me. thought I would be
killed, and was surprised the way they
treated me-"
Czolgosz ended his story In utter ex-
haustion. When he had about con-
cluded he was asked:
did YOU really mean to kin the Pres.
ident?"
~ aid." was the cold-hlooded replv.
"What was your motive what good
could II do you7" he was asked
81 am an anarchist. am n disciple
81 Emma Goldman. Her words set me
on fire." he replied. with not the SLIGHT
est tremor. ''T deny that have had an
accomnlice AT any time"
Czolgosz told District ATTORNEY
Penney: II don, regret nv act because
II was doing what I could for the great
cause. 7 am not connected with the
Paterson group or with those anarch
Tots who sent Bresci IN 1'aly 10 XIII
Humhert. had no confdants no one
10 help me. | was alone absolutely"