Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-11-01
czoLeosz PAYS THE DEATH PEN.
Atty.
Put to Death in the Electric Chair at
Auburn Prison tuesday Morning.

Leon Czolgosz the murderer of Presi-
dent Mckinley, was put to death in the
electric chair at Auburn prison, N. Y,
at IL minutes past 7 o'clock Tuesday
morning Czolgosz retired at 10 o'clock
the night before, and slept so soundly
that when Warden Meade went to the
cell shortly before o'clock the guard
stationed inside during the death watch
had to shake the prisoner to awaken him.
He sat up on the edge of his cot and
made no reply to the wardens greeting
of Good morning"
The prison official took from his pocket
the death warrant and read It slowly and
distinctly to the assassin, who hardly
raised his eyes during the perfunctory
ceremony He asked for the superin-
tendent, and when that official. came. he
said: 81 want to make a statement be-
fore you kill me-"
what do you wish to say, Czolgosz?"
asked the warden. 81 want to make II
when there are a lot of people present
/ want them to hear me- said the pris-
oner.
'Well you cannot" said the superin-
tendent "Then ! won't talk at ALL" said
the prisoner, sullenly.
A little later he ate his breakfast with
apparent relish. Meantime all prepara-
lions had been carefully made in the
death room. and at 40 the signal was
cell and brought in between two guards.
the chief keeper walking in front, and
two other guards following behind. He
was taken directly to the electric chair.
Looking about steadily as he was being
strapped to the chair he said
"I 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 and as the pressure of the straps
bound his jaw he mumbled: I'm
awfully sorry I could not see my father"
Within a minute from the assassin's
entrance the straps had been drawn. The
guards stepped back, the signal was
given, and the 17OO-volt current was turn
ed through the assassins body The cur
rent was applied three times in success
sion. and the examination of the physi-
clans then showed that the man was
dead Less than four minutes had
elapsed since he left his cell His body
was taken Immediately to the dissecting
room and an autopsy made the principle
object being to find whether the brain
showed any evidence of insanity. It was
the opinion of the physicians that it was
entirely normal in all respects.
Every portion of the body was then
placed in a pine casket, and it was
buIltu III NIt pIlSOl cemetery. 10 make
sure of its immediate destruction. as the
law provides, a carboy of acid was
poured upon the body In the grave and
ii was believed that ii would be COM
pletely consumed within u hours
of the assassin's clothing was burned,
and every precaution taken to destroy
everything that could furnish material
for sensation mongers
The superintendent of prisons gave out
statement recalling briefly the facts
that within about six weeks of the death
of President Mckinley the assassin had
been tried, convicted. sentenced and exc
cuted, and successful precautions had
been used throughout to prevent him or
his anarchistic friends from gaining any
undue notoriety. Strict orders secured
the assassn's complete seclusion. and
from the time he entered the prison until
he was executed he was practically out
of public view. During his imprisonment
more than 1900 letters. papers and pack
ages came by mail to the prisoner. None
were ever delivered to him. The other
convicts in the lighthouse were not per-
mitted to talk to him. and his guards
watched in silence. The world went on
in ignorance of the life of the prisoner,
and the prisoner lived in ignorance
what went forward in the world
1t proves that CZolgosz had lied to the
superintendent in several of his state
ments. Among other things he claimed
that he could not read nor write but his
brother, Valdez Czolgosz. positively as
sured the warden that his brother could
read and write