Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-19
eTHE PEOPLE VS.. LEON cZoL.
9ai GOSZ." ~

~ GoSZ." ~
Such is the title to the action by
which the guilt of the cowardly as
sassin of the President will be deter
mined.
THE wheels of justice grind slow
ly. but they grind exceeding fine" AL
ready the wheels are in motion, and
the craven murderer can see ~the,I
shadow of death creeping upon him.
Slowly, but with never a pause, will
that darkness forge nearer and nearer
until he is on the brink of the grave
and this world fades away from him
for the unknown.
The authorities of Erie county, New
York, are to be commended for their
promptness in setting the wheels of
justice in motion in this national ca
lamity. No sooner was the body of
the beloved President removed from
their city than District Attorney Pen
ney was busy presenting evidence of
the preparation of the cruel crime
before the grand jury The thorough
ness with which this was done is seen
in the fact that twenty-eight witnesses
We're called and examined. Evidently
the authorities are giving the case the
carefulness its Importance demands;
there is no trusting to haphazard.
The grand jury Immediately at the
close of the testimony before them
voted true bill of murder in the first
degree VS. Czolgosz, which was return
ed to the County Court Monday, the
18th inst. On this same day the vii
lain was called before the bar of the
court to plead, and, his chicken heart
not having the courage to speak, a
/ plea of not guilty was graciously en-
tered for him by Judge Emery, pre-
siding.
Inus the law affords this, the most
despicable murderer, the same consid-
Grafton of a fair trial as would be ex.
tended the most innocent of men.
Nay, more: the court appointed two
eminent lawyers (Hon. Loren l..
Lewis and Hon. Robert c. Titus) to
defend the wretch. for which the state
of New York will pay $500. How
magnanimous of the law and his fell
low men to grant the privilege of de-
Tense to such bastard, who gave his
victim not word or sign of warning
of his deadly act. The irony of defend
ing such case seems to have i'm
pressed the Erie Bar Association, who
recommended these two lawyers (who
!, are now retired and were formerly
members of the supreme court of the
; state) for the disagreeable task. The
bar association reasoned that if law
: yer is appointed by the court to de
viled by all men: if he did not do his
duty the Judge would be. criticised ant
the dignity of the law would not be
: maintained. Hence the recommends
' ton of the bar association and the con
2 currence of the judge therein relieved
| his honor and the appointed lawyer!
r as much as possible from any charge
: of prejudice that might be made re
: CARELESS of the outcome.
e The defendant will 9be tried mex
: week.. The jury of twelve sworn goo
i men and true will find him guilty with
h out hesitation, and be thankful for tn
opportunity. The trial will probabl
l. be concluded the same week. ST
e weeks after the verdict and sentenc
J. the arch-fiend will be electrocuted, tn
s laws of New York humanely allowin
il murderers that length of time for re
Election, remorse, and for preparation
to. meet their God.
The State of New York, County c
v Erie, and City Of Buffalo, in the car
s and expense with which they hav
n safeguarded the most detested Grin
Il inal on earth, and the physical shelte
g and legal protection they have accorc
If ed him deserve credit, and set a goo
example to the lynchers and lynchin
If spirit existing over the country.