The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-05

Buffalo. \. Y. November doctors
Lowler. Gregg and Putnam. the special
lists who were requested by District At
torney Penney to examine into the
mental condition of Leon F. Czolgosz
the assassin of the president, have
made public their report in which they
state, IS the result OF frequent exami-
natiors Of CzoIgosz. OF the reports or
his watchers. and OF his behavior IN
court, that they have concluded that
he was sane at the time he planned
the murder. when he shot the president
and when he was on trial"
His first examination was but & few
hours after the commission OF the crime
and while he was still uniformed OF
the fate Of the victim. During the
first three examinations. Czolgosz an
swered questions unhesitatingly. After
that. however. he became more eau
tious and less communicative.
He had a common school education.
the report says, and read and wrote
well. During the first days examina-
tion he said he planned killing the pres
ident three or four days after he came
TO Buffalo. The report then recites, in
CZolgosZ's own words, the assassin's
story of the murder of President Nc
kinley.
The sanity of Czolgosz was held. the
report says, from the history OF his
life as it came from him. He had been
sober. Industrious and law-abiding.
It'll he was q years of age he was,
as others of his class, a believer In the
government of this country and of the
religion of his fathers. After he cast
his first vote he made the acquaintance
of anarchistic leaders who invited him
to their meetings. He was a good list
ener. and in a short time he adopted
their theories. He was consistent in
his adherence to anarchy. He did not
believe in government, therefore. he re-
fused to vote. He did not believe in
marriage, because he did not believe in
law. He killed the president because
the latter was a ruler and Czolgosz be-
lieved, as he was taught, that all rulers
were tyrants; that to kill a ruler would
benefit the people. He refused a law
yer because he did not believe In law,
lawyers or courts.
we come TO the conclusion that in
the holding of these views Czolgosz
was sane, because these opinions were
formed gradually under the influence
of anarchistic leaders and propagan-
dists. In Czolgosz they found a willing
and intelligent tool one who had the
courage Of his convictions. regardless
of personal consequences. The most
careful questioning failed TO discover
any hallucinations OF sight or hearing.
He had received no special command:
he did not believe ne had been especial
ly chosen to do the deed. He always
spoke Of his motive for the crime as
duty; he always referred to- the an
archists' belief that the killing Of rulers
was duty. He never claimed the idea
OF killing the president was original
with him, but the method OF accom-
plishing his purpose was his. and that
he did IL alone. His is not a case of
paranoia because he has not systema-
tied delusions reverting TO self, and be-
cause he is in exceptionally good condI-
ton. and has an unbroken record OF
good health His capacity for labor
has always been good and equal TO
that Of his fellows.
These facts all tend to prove that
the man has an unimpaired mind He
has false beliefs. the results OF false
teaching, and not the result OF disease.
he is not to be classed as degenerate,
because We do not find the stigmata
OF degeneration. Physically he has not
history Of cruelty or of perverted
tastes and habits. He is the product
OF anarchy, sane and responsible"