The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-09-27
In CzoIgosz Case Con-
firms the Story
TOLD BY A SOLDIER
Who Accompanied Body of
President Nc kinIey to Can
ton--0ives Negro no
Credit.

One of the soldiers who accompanied |
the presidents body to Canton from
Buffalo, a sergeant stationed. at Buffa-
10, gave an interesting account Of
fke shooting of the president, which
was borne out by the testimony of two
members of his company, who were
witnesses against Czolgosz. OBrien
and Bertchey, two artillery men,
stationed as ushers in the temple Of
music at the time of the assassination,
were mentioned by him as being men,
bers of his company and friends of the
soldiers, who accompanied the body
of the president to Canton.
The sergeant said: Contrary to the
popular belief the colored man was
not near the president at the
time of the accident and was not in
the fight over the assassin at the first,
although he may have got into the
crowd later. He was not the first man
TO reach the assassin. O'Brien Of my
own company was the first man to
REACH THE ASSASSIN.
He was stationed three or four feet
fl ON the president and as soon as
he heard the shots fired he made
spring at the assassin. He was the
first to reach him and was the man
to take the gun out of his hand and
refused to give 1t to any one but his
superior officer.
THE colored man was given all sorts
of presents of money and various other
things from people in all parts of the
country. He could not pay for drink
in any saloon in Buffalo.
"O'Brien is short stocky fellow,
quick on his feet and always reliable.
Bultchey, another soldier, was the
next man to reach the assassin. g, The
story as given out by the newspapers
at the time was all wrong but Fosters
by Burtchey and O'Brien. There is one
thing of which it seems no one
is absolutely sure and that is in which
hand the assassin held the weapon.
Even those, who saw him raise his
hand are not positive. which it was.
. Brien says that he believes that the
TRIGGER WAS PULLED
with finger of his right hand and the
revolver was held in the left but the
movement was so quick and the ex-
element so intense, Immediately fol-
lowing, that he cannot be sure.
II believe that if anyone could have
prevented the deed, Foster If he had
been in his usual place, would have
done it as he is very careful and
shrewd detective. But it is probable
that even he, owing to the crowds that
surged around the president during his
hand shaking receptions, could have
done nothing.
After the shooting had occurred
and until the removal of the assassin
about 80 minutes elapsed. There were
10000 people on the grounds at the
shooting was quickly spread about
There must have been fully 10000 peo
pie at the entrance of the temple o.
music when they were ready to take
Czolgosz away. The captain of on
company had to resort to clever
, PIECE OF STRATEGY.
: He sent out of the hall an advance
OF unarmed men. They made the crow;
believe that they were clearing wa.
for the guard and prisoner to the righ
in the direction of the station whcI
in reality they intended taking hin
to the left. The crowd took the bal
: and fought with the soldiers and 81
cleared a passage in the other direc
ton. Then rush was made for th
! carriage. AS soon as the prisoner wa
put inside the unarmed guards raj
after. The carriage was soon surround
ed by bowling crowd of people, VIII,
] swore and cursed the soldiers. The,
were not all men either. Some of the'i
were women Of culture and refinement
l. One fine looking woman attacked on
4 of the men with her umbrella.
:. People think it strange that tn
3 soldiers did not kill Czolgosz them
e selves. The fact of the matter Is
4 they had on other than their uniform
$ they would have got that fellow ava
e and would have strung him up, becaus
those fellows were picked men, VIII
4 were at their best in a rough an
tumble fight and II it had not been tina
they were in uniform they would hav
K killed him then and there. Some c
e trem doubt even now whether they di
right. They said afterwards that the
S were almost crazy to get at him br
4 their long training stood them /
3 good stead"