The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-27

the Anarchists Defense-Plea OF In
sanity Not Entered-Judge Lewis
Addressed the Jury in the Prisoners
Behalf and District Attorney Pen
ney Summed Up for the State.
Buffalo, Sept. 25.-Leon F. Czolgosz,
alias Fred Nieman, was found guilty
of murder in the first degree by jury
in part III of the supreme court, in
having on Sept. shot President Will
lam Mckinley, the wounds inflicted
afterwards resulting in the death or
the president.
The wheels of justice moved swiftly.
The trial of the assassin consumed 3
hours and &c minutes and covered
period of only two days. Practically
ell of this time was occupied by the
prosecution in presenting a case so
clear. so conclusive that even had the
prisoner entered plea OF insanity II
IS doubtful if the jury would have re-
turned a verdict different from the one
rendered.
The announcement made by the at
torneys for Czolgosz that the eminent
Rlienists summoned by the Erie Coun-
ty Bar association and by the district
attorney to examine CZolgoSZ and to
determine his exact mental condition
had declared him to be perfectly sane
destroyed the only stage of a defense
that Judges Lewis and Titus could
have put together.
Before adjournment Justice White
announced that he would pronounce
sentence upon the defendant on Thurs
day afternoon at o'clock. The pris-
oner was taken at once through the
tunnel under Delaware avenue back to
the Jail. To all appearances he was
in no way affected by the result OF the
trial.
The crowd gathered at city hall was
the largest that has seen him since
his arraignment. People were lined
up on both sides of the big rotunda
on the second floor, where court con-
Tened, and fringed the stairs leading
from the floor above. There was no
demonstration except that Of curios-
fly. A large number of women wit
messed the days proceedings.
State Rests Its Case.
At 2:44 p. m. District Attorney Pen
ney 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
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
surist began an address that will long
be remembered by those who heard it.
Judge Lewis said in part:
Gentlemen of the Jury-A calamity
has fallen upon this nation through
the act of this man, but the question
rs whether his act was the act Of an
insane man. If an insane man, it is
not murder and he should be acquitted
Of that charge. He would then, OF
course, be transferred to an asylum.
"You sat here and listened to the
defendants plea of guilty when he
was arraigned at the opening of this
term, but the law of our state will not
permit him to plead guilty to such
crime as this. The law is so careful
Of the rights of it's citizens that it will
not permit man to plead guilty of
this crime of murder, so that, even
after he had conceded his guilt in this
case, it was incumbent upon the court
TO insist that the trial should proceed
and that the people should establish
beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant was guilty Of the crime
sharged against him,
Object Lesson to the World.
snow it is the duty of every Amer
lean citizen or every good man to
stand firmly by the law, and put his
voice against any idea that a man
should be punished for any crime until
he is proved guilty in court, beyond
any reasonable doubt.
"This trial here is a great object
lesson to the world. Here is a case
where man has stricken down the
beloved president of this country, in
broad daylight, in the presence of
hundreds of thousands of spectators.
If there was ever a case that would
excite the anger, the wrath of those
who saw it, this was one, and yet,
under the advice of the president, let
no man hurt him. he was taken, con-
hned in our prison, indicted, put upon
trial here and the case is soon to be
submitted to you, as to whether he is
guilty Of the crime charged against
him.
Here was q man occupying an ex-
allied position, man of irreproachable
character; he was a man who had
come here to assist us in promoting
the prosperity of our great exposi-
ton. And he was shot down while
holding a reception.
His death has touched every heart
In this community and in the whole
world, and yet we sit here and quietly
consider whether this man was re-
sponsible for the act he committed.
That question is one you are called to
decide.
nAfAnss Presents No Evidence.
"The law presumes the defendant
innocent until he is proven guilty and
we start with the assumption that the
defendant was not mentally RESPONSE
BILE for the crime he committed. We
have not been able to present any evil
6ence upon our part. The defendant
has even refused on almost every &C.
easion to talk with his counsel. He
has not aided us so we have come here
unaided to consider this important
question. But 1 know there is in every
human being a strong desire to live.
Death is a spectre that we all dislike
to meet and here this defendant, with
out having any animosity against our
president, without any personal mo-
tive, SO far as we can see, committed
the act, which, if he was sane, he
knew must cause death How can a
man with a sane mind perform such
an act? The rabble in the streets will