Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-09-24
.FIEND PLEADS GUILTY
But the Court Refused to AL
low It---Czolgosz's Plea
Then Changed.
PHYSICIANS GAVE TESTIMONY.
One Said the Family Of the Late Pres.
ident stopped the Autopsy--A Jury
Was Secured With Fair speed--A
Demand by His Attorney.

Buffalo. Sept. 24.--Leon f. Cool
gosz was placed on trial charged with
the murder of President Mckinley.
He entered plea of guilty which
was subsequently changed to mot
guilty" BY direction of the court.
Court convened about 10 O'clock
Monday and within about two hours
eight jurors had been secured. Tech
niealities were not raised by examln-
ing counsel, but it was significant
that every man who said he had not
formed an opinion on the case was ex-
cused by the district attorney. Those
who acknowledged they had formed
an opinion or stated that they were
prejudiced, but admitted that their
opinion could be changed by evidence,
were accepted by each side.
Justice Truman G.. White, one of
the oldest and most experienced of
the supreme court justices, was on
the bench. Immediately after the
opening Of court and Immediately af-
ter the prisoner had pleaded. Justice
Loran G. Lewis, senior counsel for
the defendant. announced that, to-
gether with his colleague, former JUS
tice Robert G. Titus. and Mr. Carlton
f. Ladd, they We're ready to act In
behalf of the prisoner.
'6sudoalV ue "a su9msaals
II thought it BEST he said, 'sfor
my colleagues and myself that
should say something for the defend
ant. At the time my name was sug-
gested was out of the city and knew
i.othing of what was transpiring here
with reference to the selection of
counsel for the defendant When the
circumstances Of my selection were
told to me | was extremely reluctant
to accept But the duty had been inn
posed and | considered it my duty,
In all the circumstances, to defend
this man.
Il ask that no evidence be present
cd here-that the court will not per-
nit the acceptance of any evidence
unless It would be accepted at the
trial of the most meager criminal in
the land
Il am familiar with these circum.
stances" sid Justice White. in re-
ply. "and | wish to say | will give
you every assurance that the pris-
Cner will have fair and impartial
trial, and that during the progress of
tbe trial he will receive such treat
uent as the law demands in any Grim
inal case
The work of securing the Jurors
was Then undertaken with CELEBRITY
Before the day was over the entire
panel had been sworn, the jurors had
listened TO description of the TEN.
pie OF Music. where the crime Or.
CURED, had seen photographs of the
interior OF that structure. and had
been told by three surgeons what
caused the death Of the president and
the effect OF the assassin's shot upon
the various organs OF the body. They
had also learned why the fatal bullet
had not been located.
me presentation of the govern
mcnt's case began shortly before z
O'Clock. when Assistant District At
torney Halter began with much delhi.
Grafton to address the jury. He spoke
very briefly.
We shall show" said he. that for
some days prior to the shooting this
defendant had premeditated the shoot.
Ing OF the president. He knew that
on the 9th OF September the president
would receive the pouIace In the Tenn
PIE OF Music; that on that dav ia
went 70 the exposition, got into line
Win the people and approached the
president; that he had a weapon con.
cealed IN his hand and as the prasi-
aent extended his hand in kindly
gIeeting. he fired the fatal shot
he nred two shots, In fact. One
Oh them took effect in the abdomen
dna caused that mortal wound which
.esuiled In the presidents death
inaI, ia Drief, Is the story we shall
sno" you. Witnesses will tell Won
ms story, and | am sure that when
sou nave heard the evidence YOU will
aaye no difficulty in reaching a yer.
uict OF murder in the first degree"
Some # the Testimony.
The first witness, Samuel ], Fields
chief engineer of the Pan-American
exposition, described the ground
moor plan of the Temple of Music
and was followed by Perry A. Bliss.
photographer, who presented views
OF the interior Of the building. The
remainder of the afternoon was taken
up with the testimony Of three physi-
clans, two OF whom had attended the
president during his last days, while
the other performed the autopsy. The
latter, Or. Harvey r. Gaylord. was
the first of the trio to be called. He
described the location of the wounds
IN the stoma and the direction OF
the bullet. IAe cause Of death was
attributed to the gunshot wound, but
fundamentailv he said. it was due to
me changes back of the stomach. in
the pancreas. caugad BY the ssbrea i.
ing down OF the material of the pan
bullet