Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1901-09-28
CZOLGOSZ CONVICTED
Jury Returned q Verdict of Murder
In the First Degree.
Assassin OF President Mckinley to Die In
the Electric Chair-Tho Prisoner In No
Way Affected by the Result
OF the Trial.


Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, was
found guilty Tuesday of murder in
the first degree by jury in part 3
of the supreme court, in having on
the 9th day OF September shot Presi-
dent William Mckinley, the wounds
inflicted afterward resulting in the
death of the president. The wheels
of justice moved swiftly. The trial
of the assassin consumed 8 hours and
26 minutes and covered period of
only two days. Practically all of this
time was occupied by the prosecution
in presenting u case SO clear, so con-
elusive that even had the prisoner
entered the plea of insanity it is
doubtful if the jury would have re-
turned verdict different from the
one rendered yesterday.
The announcement made by the
attorneys for Czolgosz that the emf
nent alienists summoned by the Erie
County Bar association and by the
district attorney to examine Czolgosz
and to determine his exact mental
condition had declared him to be per-
fectly sane destroyed the only stage
of defense that Judges Lewis and
Titus could have put together.
The crowd gathered at city hall
Tuesday was the largest which has
seen him since his arraignment. At
2:44 p. m. District Attorney Penney
abruptly announced that the case of
the prosecution was ended. Judge
Lewis arose slowly and, addressing
the court. said that the sudden close
of the case against Czolgosz was u
surprise to him and his colleague.
They had no witness to call for the
defense. He asked the court that he
be allowed to address the jury at
once. The court assented and the
venerable jurist began an address that
will long be remembered by those
who heard it. He said the defendant
had refused to in any way assist his
lawyers, not even to suggesting the
names of any witnesses, and the de-
Tense was compelled to rely abso-
lutely upon the unsupported plea that
the prisoner, to have alone and with
out provocation committed the crime,
must have been insane.
District Attorney Penney's sum-
ming up of the states case was an
able effort. The case yeas given to
the jury ut 1881 p. m.
After the jury had retired to con-
slider the evidence the scene in the
court room became dramatic in the
extreme. The guards about the as
sassin. who still sat in his seat be-
fore the bench, were doubled. 9th
ers took seats to the left and right
and many plain clothes men were
seen mingling among the crowd surg
ing about the room. closely watching
every one whose face was not IA
miliar one to them. There was no
disposition to crowd about the pris-
oner, although the object of every
one seemed to he to get in position
to command a full view of his face.
At no time during the absence of the
jury did he raise his eyes or lift his
head or seem to know that he was
the object of interest of several hun
bred men and women. Every time
the door was opened all eyes were
turned in that direction, the evident
thought in every mind being that
the jury would only take few min
utes to agree on verdict. 1t was
4:35 when the crier raped for order
and the jury filed into the room. The
clerk read their names, each juror
responding present" 'as his name
was called. The jurors did not sit
down. Addressing them, Justice
White said: Gentlemen, have You
agreed upon a verdict" eve have"
responded Foreman Wendt. what
is your verdict" "That the defend
ant is guilty of murder in the first
degree" There was q moment OF 81
lence and then a murmur arose from
the lips of the crowd. It.ended there.
There was no handclapping; no
cheers. Justice Whites voice could
be clearly heard in every part OF the
room when he thanked the jurors
for their work. Czolgosz was imme-
diately handcuffed to his guards and
hurried from the court room down
stairs to the basement and through
the tunnel under Delaware avenue to
the Jail. He appeared to be in no
way affected by the result OF the
trial.
Before adjournment Justice White
announced that he would pronounce
sentence up the defendant on Thurs
day afternoon at two o'clock.