The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-09-25
ASSASSIN On Trial
McKinley's Slayer Enters Plej
Of Guilty.

Plea Of Not Guilty Several Witnesses
Are Examined For the Prosecution ano
Trial WIN Proceed Rapidly.
BUFFALO, Sept. 2I-Lcon +. Czol
gosz was placed on trial yesterday morn
hg. charged with the murder Of Prcsi.
dent William Mckinley. He entered q
plea of guilty" which was subsequently
changed TO mot guilty" by direction OF
the court.
All the events of the day tended TO in.
dicatc that the trial will be short. There
was not suspicion Of quibble over
any question whatever and counsel for
both sides seemed to be in perfect har.
mony. Court convened at 10 o'clock,
and the work Of procuring jurors went on
rapidly. Before two hours had elapsed
eight had ben secured, and this in itself
was an unprecedented record in any
murder trial in the State. Technicalitics
were not raised. but il VAS noticeable
that every man who acknowledged that
he had not formed an opinion on the
case was excused by the District At
torney Men who had formed an opinion
or stated that they were prcjudiced, but
were willing 10 acknowledge that their
opinion could be changed 10y evidence
were accepted by both sides.
Justice Truman G. White, one Of the
oldest and most experienced Of the SUI
premc Court judges, was on the bench.
Immediately after the opening of the
court and after the prisoner had pleaded,
Justice Ioran l.. Lewis, senior counsel
for the defendant, arose aud announced
that together with his colleague, former
Justice Robert C. Titus, and Mr.. Carl
ton Il. Ladd, they were ready to act in
behalf of the prisoner
IL thought IL best" he said, for my
colleagues and myself that should say
something regarding our presence here
as attorneys for the defendant. At the
time my name was suggested | was out
Of the city aud knew nothing of what
was transpiring here with reference to
the selection of counsel for the defend
ant. | was out of the city at the time
was assigned. and when | returned
and the circumstances of my selection
We're told 10 me | was extremely reluc
tant to accept. But the duty had been
imposed. and | considered it my duty, in
all the circumstances To defend this man.
II ask that no evidence be presented
herc-that the court will not permit the
acceptance Of any evidence unless it
would be accepted at the trial Of the most
meager criminal in the land"
Il am familiar with these circum-
stances" said Justice White in reply,
"and | wish to say that | will give you
every assurance that the prisoner will
have a fair and impartial trial. and that
during the progress of the trial he will
receive such treatment as the law de-
mands in any criminal case"
The work Of securing the jurors was
then undertaken with celebrity that was
Before the day was over the
entire panel had been sworn and were
seated In the box and had listened to n
description Of the Temple Of Music,
where the crime occurred. and seen
OF the interior of that
structure. and had been told by three
surgeons what caused the death of the
President and the result of the assassin's
shot upon the various organs of the body.
They had also learned why the fatal bull
let has not been located.
The jurymen who will sit on the trial |
are as follows:
Frederick V. Lauer, plumber.
Richard ]. GarwoOd. builder.
Henry w. Wendt, manufacturer.
d e..
James s. Stygull, plumber.
William Lotion, farmer, Eden.
Walter T.. Everett blacksmith.
Benjamin c. Ralph, assistant cashier
Third National Bank.
Samuel l.. Waldow, farmer, Alden.
Andrew j, Smith, butter and eggs.
Jochim ii. Mertens, boot and shoe
dealer.
Robert J. Adams, contractor.
Government Presents Its Case.
The presentation Of the Governments |
case began shortly before three o'clock, |
when Asst. Dist. Atty. Haller began,
with much deliberation, to address the |
jury. His talk was very brief, and con-
sumed scarcely five minutes. I'VE shall |
show" said he. that for some days |
prior to the shooting this defendant had |
premeditatcd the shooting of the Presi- |
lent. lie knew that on the 9th of Sep |
.cmbcr the President would receive the |
populacc in the Temple of Music; that |
On that day he went to the Exposition,
got into line with the people and APP
the President; that he had
weapon concealed in his hand. and as the
President extended his hand in kindly |
greeting he fired the fatal shot
He fired two shots, in fact. One of |
them took effect in the abdomen and
caused that mortal wound which result
ed in the Presidents death. That in
brief is the story we shall show you.
Witnesses will tell you this story, and
am sure that when you have heard
the evidence you will have no difficulty |
IN reaching a verdict of murder in the
irst degree"
The first Witness Samuel j. Fields, |
chief engineer of the Pan-American Ex- |
position, described the ground floor plan
Dt the Temple Of Music, and was follow
ed by Ferry \. Bliss, a photographer.
VINO presented views of the interior of the |
The balance of the afternoon
was taken up with the testimony Of |
three physicians, two of whom had at |
tended the President during his last |
days. while the other performed the |
autopsy. The latter. DR.. Harvey II.
Gaylord. was the first Of the trio TO be |
called. lie described the location Of the |
wounds in the stomach and the direction
Of the bullet. The cause of death he at |
tributed to the gunshot wound. but.
fundamentally, he said it was due to the
changes back Of the stomach. in the pan
ereas. caused by the breaking down.
Of the material Of the pancreas as
result Of the passage Of the bullet.
Dr. Herman Mynter followed and his |
a l.