The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-09-27
TRIAL OF THE ASSASSIN.
Up Before Jury for the Murder
of the President.

Ne
UP Before a Jury for the Murder
of the President
Buffalo, Sept. 23.-Leon F. Czolgosz
was placed on trial today for the MUIR
der of President Mckinley on Sept, 6.
The trial was in the supreme court of
Erie county, Judge Truman O. White
presiding. The trial began at 10 O'Clock,
but long before that hour the streets in
the vicinity OF the city hall were the OBJ
lectlVe point OF many curious persons,
The various entrances to the great
building, with the exception of that on
Franklin street, were closed and guarded
Squads of policemen were stationed on
every landing and in a double line far
inside the place of entrance to keep back
the crowds, while in a station not far
away reserves were ready to reinforce
the detail on duty should the feelings of
the people become aroused to the extent
OF riOting. Mounted officers paced
slowly around every side of the structure
| and 10 one was allowed to stand on the
sidewalk for a moment, SO that at no
time was the crowd large.
No one outside of the building saw the
prisoner as he was taken from his cell to
the courtroom. His guardians made
use OF the tunnel OF sObs" under the
street to the city hall, and Czolgosz was
| brought into the courtroom only few
moments before the hour set for the
opening of his trial. No person was ad-
mitted to the building without a pass
signed by the chief of police, and it was
necessary to show this to every policeman
on every landing and in every corridor.
The officer at the door of the court
room was especially vigilant, and not
only examined the passes but scrutinized
the bearers critically before admitting
them to the room. The interior of the
city hall, as well as the outside, still
bore the sOmber draperies of mourning,
and quiet was enforced as befitting the
occasion.
Counsel for CzolgOez, former Supreme
Court Justice Loren l. Lewis. Robert C..
Titus and Carleton E. Ladd, saw him
again this morning before the time for
the opening of the court, but he had no
more to say to them than on the nro-
vlous occasions when they have visited
him. In view OF the meagerness. of, tba
opportunity for a defense, and the met
that the prisoner refuses absolutely tO
aid them, it is not Improbable that the
entire proceedings may be completed
within two days.
Insanity Dodge.
"The mental condition of the assassin
Will absolutely be the only defense to be
| offered" are the words of Judge Titus
and there is no little expectation that
the counsel will publicly abandon the
case today or tomorrow and merely Y
represent CzolgOsz during the trial, As
a result OF the examination of two alien
lsts-Dr. Carlos 7. Mcdonald and Dir.
| Allan Mclean Hamilton Of New York
clty--the question of insanity is eIimi-
mated from the subjects on which the de.
tense can rely for support.
Part Ill Of the supreme court of Er;a
county is small room on the south
side OF the second floor of the citv hall
II IS lighted only at the south end nv
latticed windows and here the iusticejs
bench and wltuess stand is placed. On
the right OF the room are the iurymen's
seats, and they have an unObstrnctpd
view OF the entire room. There ia no
railing in front of the jurymen and the
chairs are placed on platform some six
inches above the floor. The room has a
high ceiling, studded with drab walls.
which are scanned with cracks.
The enclosure for the bench and bar
occupies over one-half of the floor space
while the remainder is given over for
seats for the general public. Not over
130 of the latter could be accommodated
and these seats today were mainly oc-
cupied by the men summoned to serve
upon the jury. Czolgosz, with his cunn-
sci, occupied seats in the circle in front
OF the Justices bench. The prisoners
chair was just back OF that of Judge
Titus, and the deputy sheriffs with their
staffs OF office were placed at various
points in the room and quiet was en-
forced upon all. The spectators eats
were filled very slowly, owing to tie ex,
treme care shown by the officers il the
corridors in admitting those who ap-
piled, and it was not until court was
announced that the last one wB Oc-
cupied.
Court Opened