Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-09-27
DEATH SENTENCE.
Murderer Czo|gosz Will Meet
Punishment Due Awful Crime.
DnrIng Week Beginning, Oct. 28--
Electric Chair His Fate.
Declares He Was Alone in Crime and no Ont
Knew OF Plans.


CzoigosZ, the assassin OF Prcsi lcnt
Mckinley. was sentenced. this after
noon. to be pat to death by electricity,
IN Auburn state prison during the
week beginning Oct. IS, 1901. before
sentence was passed, the assassin
tNinCed desire to speak, but he could
not get his voice above Il whisper ana
his words We're repeated to the court
by his counsel.
Ihere was no one else but me-" the
prisoner said in a whisper. mo one
else told me to do it: and no one paid
me 70 40 II. ! was not told anything
about the crime and | never thought
anything about that until a couple of
days before | committed the crime. :"
CzolSoSZ sat down. He was quite
calm but it was evident that his mind
was Hooded with thoughts of his own
distress. His eyes We're dllated, max
ing them appear very bright. His
cheeks We're a triiie pale and his out
stretched hand trembled The guards
put the handouts on his wrists He
looked at one Of the officers. There was
an expression Of the profoundest fear
and helplessneSs in his eyes. He
glanced about at the field Of heads
which crowded together in efforts to
get a look at him. Every eye was
cold. The prisoners cyelids rose and
fell tremulously and then ne fixed his
gaze upon the floor in front of him.
At this point Judge Titus came over
to the prisoner and bade him goodbye.
CzOlgosz replied very family. lettirg
his eye rest upon the man who has
been his counsel.
Goodbye" he said. weakly
CZolSosZ was then hurried down
stairs and through the tunnel of sobs'
to the Jail, where he will remain until
removed TO Auburn to pay the penalty
for his crime.
Although the time announced for the
oonvening of court was o'clock, every
seat and every foot of standing room
was coupled before 1880 and scores
were clamoring outside for admission
The doors We're locked and no more
were admitted to the room.
The prisoner was brought into the
room at minutes to ? Five minutes
later Justice White took his place upon
the bench and Crier Hess said: "Pur-
suant to a recess, this trial term Of
the supreme court is now open for the
transaction of business"
District Attorney Penney said: If
your honor pleases. | move sentence
in the case of the People vs.. Leon
Czolgosz. Stand up, Czolgosz."
Clerk Fisher swore the prisoner, and
his record was taken by the district
attorney as follows: Age, 2S; nativity,
axis. Buffalo: occupation, laborer.
Married or single-single. Degree of
education-common school and paro-
chial Religious instruction-Catholi
Parents. living or dead-father living
mother dead. Temperate or intemper-
ate-temperate. Former conviction of
crime-One.
The clerk of the court then asked:
Have you any legal cause to show
now why the sentence of the court
should not now be pronounced against
you?''
II cannot hear that replied the
prisoner.
Clerk Fisher repeated his question
and CzolgosZ replied:
I'D rather have this gentleman here
speak" looking towards District At
torney Penney, Il can hear him bet
ter
At this point Justice White told
those in the court room that they must
be quiet or they would be excluded
from the room.
Mr. Penney then said TO the prisoner:
"Czolgosz. the court wants to know II
YOU have any reason to give why SEN
tence should not be pronounced against
YOU. Have you anything to say TO the
Judge? Say yes or no.
The prisoner did not reply and JUS
tice White. addressing the prisoner
said: In that behalf, what you nave
a right to say or relates explicitly TO
the subject in hand here at this time
and what the law provides why SEN
tence should not be now pronounced
against you and is defined by the stat
ute.
The first is. that you may claim that
you are insane
THE next is. that you have good
cause to offer either in arrest OF thc
Judgment about to be pronounced
against YOU. or for new trial. Those
are the grounds specified by the stat
ute on which you have a riGht 10 SPEAK
at this time and you are at perfect
liberty to do so if you wish.
The prisoner replied: II have nothing
to say about that.
The court said: Are you ready
Mr.. Penney replied: Yes.
Have YOU anything to say asked JUS
tice White
Yes" replied the prisoner
Judge Titus said Il think ne should
he permitted to make statement in eX-
cuIpation Of his act. if the court please
The court replied: That Will depend
upon what his statement is.
Justice White then said: Have you
speaking to Judge Titus anything TO
say in behalf of the prisoner at TINS
time?''
Il have nothing to say WITHIN 'he deh-
milton of what your honor mas read,
replied the attorney.
But il seems to me that in oruer ii.''.
the innocent should not suffer py TINS
defendants crime, that the court snouid
permit him to eXculpate at least ms
father. brother and sisters.
Continued on page 81