The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-24
eovERNMENTs CASE.
Testimony Presented by the State at
Opening of Trial.

Buffalo, Sept. 24.-The presentation of
the governments case in the trial of
Czolgosz began shortly before O'Clock
Tuesday afternoon when Assistant Dis
triet Attorney Halter began, with much
elaboration, to address the jury. He
spoke very briefly
I'VE shall show" said he, that for
some days prior to the shooting this de-
PENDANT had premeditated the shooting
of the president He knew that on the
9Th Of September the president would
receive the pOpulace in the Temple of
Music; that on that day he went to the
exposition, got into line with the people
and approached the president, that he
had weapon concealed in his hand
and as the president extended his hand
in kindly greeting he fired the fatal
shot.
HE fred two shots. in fact. one Of
them took effect in the abdomen and
caused that mortal wound which result
ed in the presidents death. That in
brief is the story we shall show you.
Witnesses viii tell you this story, and
1 am sure that when you have heard
the evidence you will have no difficulty
in reaching q verdict Of murder in the
first degree
the first witness. Samuel ]. Fields.
chief engineer of the Pan-American ex-
position, described the first floor of the
Temple of Music and was followed by
p A Gliss, a photographer, who pre-
sented views of the interior of the
building. The remainder of the after
noon was taken up with the testimony
of three physicians, two of whom had at
tended the president during his last
days, while the other performed the
autopsy
The latter DR.. Gaylord, was the first
of the trio to be called. He described
the location of the wounds in the
stomach and the direction of the bullet.
The cause of death was attributed to
the gunshot wound. but, fundamental
~, he said. it was due to the changes
back of the stomach in the pancreas,
caused by the breaking down" of the
material of the pancreas as a result of
the passage of the bullet.
DIR. Herman Mynter followed and his
testimony was of Importance, inasmuch
as 1t brought out the fact that the
reason why the fatal bullet had not
been located at the autopsy was be-
cause Of the unwillingness of the presi-
dents relatives to have the body fur
Their mutilated bV their instruments.
DR.. Mynter and DR. Mann, who follow
ed him, both testified that the primal
cause of death was the gunshot wound
in the stomach One effect Of this
wound was. they said, TO cause the
gangrene to form in the pancreas, and
the spot of poisoned tissue was as large
as a silver dollar.
The prisoner, Czolgosz, during the
morning evinced no interest whatever,
but as the testimony was introduced
he paid more attention to what was
said and looked at the various wit
nesses closely.
DIR. Mynter was the next witness. At
torney Penney questioned him close re-
garding the operation performed on
President Mckinley at the exposition
hospital after the shooting. DR.. Mynter
said the surgeons found the bullet
wound in the left upper side of the alb
nominal cavity The president agreed to
an operation at once which was abso-
lutely necessary to save his life. The
abdomen was opened 1t was difficult |
to get at the wound in the back of the /
stomach. The stomach was turned over |
and bullet hole was found in the |
back of that organ. They could not |
follow the further course of the bullet |
and as the presidents temperature was |
rising it was agreed by the physicians /
present that no further search for it |
was advisable at that time. The stom- |
ach was replaced and the opening |
closed with sutures.- On the advice OF |
the physicians the president was re-
moved to Mr. Milburn's house.
Dr. Mynter then described the period I
of favorable symptoms shown by the |
patient. his relapse and death.
DR.. Mynter gave the names of all the |
doctors who were associated with him +
in the case and described the result of |
the autopsy, saying that it proved first,
tnat there was no Inflammation of the I
bowels; second, that there was no in 1
jury to the heart; third, that there was
a gunshot wound in the stomach and I
that there was a gangrenous spot back
OF the stomach as large as a silver dol
lar.
What was the cause Of death?"
asked Mr. Penney
The cause was blood poisoning from /
the absorption Of poisonous N after /
caused by the gangrene- 1t was the
gunshot wound"
Cross examination by Mr.. Titus was
directed to the possible presence OF mi
crobes in the intestines
Have you any idea that there may