Mower County transcript., 1901-10-02
CZOLGOSZ CONVICTED
ASSASSIN OF PRESIDENT M'klN
LEY FOUND GUILTY OF WILL
FUL MURDER. s. 4 !
Not Single Witness Was Sworn for
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 IL
having on Sept. shot President Will
lam Mckinley, the wounds inflicted
afterwards resulting in the death o1
the president. - :..-s
The wheels of justice moved swiftly
The trial of the assassin consumed {
hours and 26 minutes and covered q
period of only two days. Practically
all of this time was occupied by the
prosecution in presenting case SO
clear, so conclusive that even. had the
prisoner entered plea of insanity 1t
is doubtful if the jury would have re
turned verdict different from the one
rendered. !.
The announcement made by ~thesat
torneys for Czolgosz that the eminent
alienists summoned by the Erie Coun-
attorney to examine Czolgesz and to
determine his exact ment<l, condition
had declared him to be perfectly sane
destroyed the only stage of defense
that: that Judges d Is Lewis. and Titus: could
Before adjournment Justice Whife
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-
vened, and fringed the stairs leading
from the floor above. There was no
demonstration except that Of curios-
ity. A large number of women wit
messed the days proceedings.
State Rests Its Case.
The second day Of the trial had been
devoted mainly to the evidence Of eye
witnesses of the assassination, but no
facts were brought out not previously
exploited in the public prints.
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 a
surprise to him and his colleague.
They had no witness to cali for the
defense. He asked the court: that he be
allowed to address the Jury at once.
The court assented and the Venerable
jurist began an address that will long.
be remembered by those who heard it.
Judge Lewis explained carefully the:
legal procedure which found him de-
Tending Czolgosz, and then discussed
the probability Of the sanity of the ac-
cused. He spoke of the prevalent feel
ing against anarchists, and the men
ace that bodies of men who recognized
no government were to the country. \.
But in mob violence he detected a
still greater danger, and drew lessons
from the present trial that should re-
buke those who desire merely revenge
and will not wait for the law to take
its course. sf
His tribute to President Mckinley
was made with emotion. One or two
jurors were moved to tears. The jur
ist spoke Of the nations loss, and as
he concluded abruptly Czolgosz was
the only person who was unmoved.
At the conclusion of Judge lewis
address. District Attorney Pehney
summed up for the state. His re-
marks was brief and to the point
Judge White then charged the jury,
occupying but a few minutes.
The jury retired at 4:07 p. m. and in
% minutes returned with their verdict.