The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-30

Auburn, N. Y, Oct. 29,-At 71290,
this morning, Leon F. Czolgosz, muir
derer of President William Mckinley,
paid the extreme penalty enacted by
law for his crime.
He was shocked to death by 100
volts of electricity. He went to the
chair in exactly the same manner as
have the majority of murderers in this
state, showing no particular sign of
fear, but doing what few of them
have done-talking to the witnesses
while he was being strapped in the
chair.
Il killed the President because he
was an enemy of the good people, of
the good working people. 1 am not
sorry for my crime"
These were his words as the guards
hurried him into the chair
A moment later mumbling through
the half-adjusted face straps, he said;
II am awfully sorry l could not see
my father
CzoIgosz retired, last night, at IL
o'clock and slept so soundly that when
Warden Mead went to the cell short
ly before o'clock this morning, the
guard inside had to shake Czolgesz to
wake him. He sat up on the edge OF
his cot and made no reply to the war
denis greeting of Good morning"
The prison official took from his
pocket the death warrant and read it
slowly and distinctly to the assassin,
who hardly raised his eyes during the
perfunctory ceremony.
Just as the warden stepped away
from the cell door, Czolgosz called to
him and said: II would like to talk
with the superintendent
The warden responded: "He will be
down presently"
Then the condemned man rolled over
on his cot, apparently anxious to sleep
again.
At SIS. however, the guard brought
to him a pair, Of dark trousers with
the left leg cut so as to allow free
application of the electrode, and a
light gray outing shirt. He was told
d 5G get up and put these on which he
Contrary to the usual custom he was
given a new pair of shoes. When
dressed he laid down on the cot and
in this attitude, Supt. Collins found
him at $50.
The superintendent stood in front of
the steel bars and when the guard had
called Czolgosz's attention, he said
Il want to make statement before
you kill me-"
What do you wish to say, Czolgosz?"
asked the superintendent.
Il want to make it when there are
a lot of people. / want them to hear
me-" said Czolgosz.
well, you cannot" said the super
intendent.
"Then I won't talk at ALL" said the
prisoner suIlenly.
After the superintendent had left the
guards brought Czolgosz's breakfast,
consisting of coffee. eggs, toast and
bacon. He ate quite a good deal and
with apparent relish.
The witnesses were gathering in the
office of Warden Mead and at 705
clock the procession passed to the
death chamber, going to the left south
corridor.
In the chamber Electrician Davis and
former Warden Thayer of Danamora
had arranged the bank of % incandes-
cent lights across the arms and con-
Meeting the electrode wires at either
end The witnesses were ordered
seated and then Warden Mead briefly
addressed them, saying
you are here to witness the legal
death of Leon Czolgosz. l desire that
you keep your seats and preserve abb
solute silence in the death chamber no
matter what may transpire. There are
plenty of guards and prison officials to
preserve order and attend to the prop
er details"
The prison physician, DR.. Germ and
DR.. Carlos F. Macdonald of New York
took a position to the left of the chair.
Warden Mead stood directly in front,
and Electrician Davis retired to the
little room containing the electrical
switchboard
Thayer gave the signal and the cur
rent was turned through the electric
lights. flooding the chamber with bril-
liant light and dramatically showing
the power that was used to kill the
prisoner.
Warden Mead gave the signal to
have the prisoner brought in. and at
7.1012 o'clock CzolgOsz. with his keep
ers swung into the execution room and,
as the steel bars behind which Czol-
gosz had been kept were swung aside,
two guards marched the prisoner out
into the corridor, two others following
behind and the chief keeper walking in
front.
The guards on either side of Czol-
gosz had hold Of his arms either as
if to support him, or to keep him from
making a demonstration.
AS he stepped over the threshold he
stumbled but they held him up and as
they urged him forward toward the
chair. he stumbled again on the little
rubber-covered platform upon which
the chair rests.
His head was erect, and with his
gray flannel shirt turned back at the
neck. he looked quite boyish. He was
intensely pale and as he tried to throw
his head back and erect, his chin quiv-
cred very percepubly.