The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-08
Attempted to Get Near the President Several
Times Before He Succeeded.
Surprised He Was Not Killed by Mob AFTER Firing
His Observation-Disclosures of the WduId-Be
Assassin-More Reds Arrested.

BUFFALO, Sept. THE statement Of
Leon Czolgosz, the would-be assassin of
President Mckinley, made to the police,
transcribed and signed by the prisoner. fol-
lows:
81 was bern in Detroit nearly twenty-nine
years ago. My parents were Russian
Poles. They came here forty-one years
ago. 1 got my education in the public
schools of Detroit and then went to Cleve-
land. where 1 got work. In Cleveland L
read books on socialism and met a great
many Socialists. L was pretty well known
as a Socialist in the West. After being in
Cleveland for several years L went to Chi
cago, where / remained seven months, aft
er which ] went to Newburg. the out
skirts of Cleveland, and went to work in
the Newburg wire mills.
During the last five years 1 have had
as friends Anarchists in Chicago, Cleve-
land. Detroit and other Western cities,
and L suppose 1 became more or less bitter.
Yes. 1 know I was bitter. never had
much luck at anything and this preyed
upon me. 1t made me morose and envious,
but what started the craze TO kill was a
lecture I heard some little time ago by
Emma Goldman. She was in Cleveland
and 1 and other Anarchists went to hear
her. She set me on fire. Her doctrine that
all rulers should be exterminated was what
set me to thinking so that my head nearly
split with the pain. Miss Goldman's words
went right through me, and when L left
the lecture I had made up my mind that
| would have to do something heroic for
the cause 1 loved.
Eight days ago, while 1 was in Chicago.
1 read in Chicago newspaper of President
McKinley's visit to the Pan-American ex-
position at Buffalo. That day 1 bought
ticket for Buffalo, and got here with the
determination to do something, but L
didn't know just what. l thought OF shoot
ing the President, but 1 had not formed
a plan. / went to live at 1913 Broadway.
which is a saloon and hotel John Nowak.
a Pole, sort of politician. who has led
his people there for years, owns it.
told Nowak / came to see the fair. He
knew nothing about what was setting me
crazy. went to the exposition grounds
a couple Of times a day. Not until Tues
day morning did the resolution to shoot
the President take hold of me. 1t was
in my heart; there was no escape for me.
I could not have conquered 1t had my life
been at stake There were thousands Of
people In town. / heard ii was Presidents 5
day. All those people seemed bowling to
the great ruler. / made up my mind TO
kill that ruler. 1 bought a S2-caliber re-
volver and loaded it.
ION Tuesday night 1 went to the fair
grounds and was near the railroad gate
when the presidential party arrived. I tried
to get near him, but the police forced me
back They forced everybody back so that
the great ruler could pass. l was close 10
the President when he got into the grounds,
but was afraid to attempt the assassina-
ton because there were many men in
the body guard that watched him / was
not afraid of them or that l should get
hurt, but afraid l might be seized and that
my chance would be gone forever. Well.
he went away that time. and l went home.
ION Wednesday l went TO the grounds
and stood right near the President. right
under him near the stand from which he
spoke l thought half a dozen times Of
shooting while he was speaking. but 1
could not get close enough I was afraid
| might miss and the great crowd was
jostling. and / afraid lest my aim
fail. | waited Wednesday and the Presi-
dent got into his carriage again and lot
Of men were about him and formed a
Gordon that 1 could not get through. /
was tossed about by the crowd and my
spirits were getting pretty low. / was al
most hopeless that night as l went homo
Yesterday morning / went agt IN to the