The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-10-03
NO DELAY IN TRIAL OF ANARCHIST.
GUILTY OF MURDER IN FIRST DEGREE
SENTENCED TO BE EXECUTED OCTOBER 28

fICu 1NlClllttu "a3 pCSuil III 'h' WV
of Buffalo on Monday, Sept. 23, an'
was ended at o'clock on Tuesday
afternoon, Sept. "a. President Nc
Kinlcy was shot on the 9th Of Sep,
tembcr, and his death resulted from
the wounds inflicted on the l1th OF
September.
The wheels OF justice moved swiftly
The trial of the assassin consumed
eight hours and twcnty-siN minutes
and covered period Of only two days
Practically all of this time vac 0ccu
pied by the prosecution presenting a
case 50 clear, SO conclusive that Gyul
ha.! the prisoner entered u plea OF in
sanity it is doubtful if The jury wruld
have returned a verdict different frvnl
The one rendered.
The announcement made by the at
torneys for Cozlgosz that the mm,n,
alicnis:s summoned by the Erie Bar
association and by the district attorney
to examine Czolgosz and to determine
his exact mental condition, had de-
clarcd him to be perfectly sane, de
stroyed the only stage OF a defence
that Judges Lewis and Titus could
have put together.
The crowds gathered at the city
hall where the court convened were
very large on both days, but there
was no demonstration except what
grew out Of curiosity, and a large mum
Der OF women witnessed the proceed
ings on the second day. The proscclt-
tion was onded very abruptly by the
District Attorney, and the counsel for
the defence began the argument, us
there was no evidence to be submit
ted.
The principal speech of the occa.
sion was made by Judge Lewis, aud
his associate declined to speak because
the ground had been so completely
covered. District Attorney Penney
briefly summed up the case, and asked
for a verdict Of guilty, a thc cvlucncc
fully substantlatcd the charge Of muir
der. Mr.. Penney said in closin" "that
although our beloved country has lost
her greatest man, il still should main
tain the respect Of the whole world,
and IL should be made known to the
whole world that no man can come
here and commit such dastardly act
and not receive the full penalty of the
law"
Justice White charged the Jury and
clearly defined the crime of murder.
lie recommended the patience Of The
jurors during the trial, and then or
dcrcd them to retire and bring in Il
verdict. The jury was absent for
thirty-four minutes, and on returning
to the court room they stood up while
the foreman declared the verdict,
which was that "thc defendant Is
guilty of murder in the first degree"
Czolgosz was brought into court ON
Wednesday afternoon and sentenced
TO be electrocutcd the week bc9inni: q
October 2S, 1901. This is the earliest
date, according to the laws Of New
York, that could be fixed for The cX-
ecution OF the condemned man. Czol-
gosz stood erect, looking straight at
Justice White when the sentence was
pronounced. He did not trcmblc, and
not muscle quivcrcd. There was no
demonstration of any. kind on the part
Of the spectators. The exact day for
his execution is not set, and only the
officials will know in advance when
the assassin will take his place in the
death chair and the electricity will be
turned on to end his life.
The following is the speech Of Judge
Lewis in behalf Of the prisoner:
Judge Lewis said that the sudden
close of the case against CZolwosz was
a 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 consented and the venerable
jurist began an address that will long
be remembered by those who heard it.
Judge Lewis SAID !:
"Gcntlemcn Of the Jury a calamity
has fallen upon rhis nation through the
act of this man, but the question is
whether his act was the act of an in
sane man. If an insane man, it is not
murder, and he should be acquitted of
that charge. lie would then, Of course
be transferred to an insane asylum.
Much discussion has occurred IN
our midst and has been called TO my
attention as to the propricty OF any de.
fcnse being intcrposcd in this case.
Many letters have been received by me
SlIlCC Wuo hSolollCt Nltll llS uSSOCldlt
to defend this man, questioning the
opriety Of defense being attempt.
cd. You gentlemen know, perhaps
how Judge Titus and myself came into
this case. The position was not sought
by us, but we appear here IN pc.for
nance of a duty which we thought dc
volVcd upon us, Notwithstanding il was
an exceedingly disagrrcablc one.
The defendants counsel appear
here, because, under our system 0
Jurisprudence, no man can be place,
on trial for the high crime of murder
the penalty of which, undcr the law i
death, without he has the assistance 0
counsel. The court has the power t,
designate counsel, and it IS the Guty o
the counsel thus designated to appca
in the case unless they can make SON
reasonable excuse and succeed IN bcin
relieved of the duty.
{" The defendant, no matter how SER
Gus crime he has committed, Is cr
titled, under the laws, to the bohcGL c