Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-10-02

Bull, general superintendent OF police
the people of the State of New York
closed the case against Leon Czoigosz
| shortly before O'Clock in the after
| noon
Following the retirement of Snperin-
tendent Bull from the witness stand
ex-Judge Loren G. Lewis advanced to
the jury rail and earnestly outlined the
lease of the defense. The venerable jur-
ist urged that if TIE defendant was sane
he was guilty, while if he was insane
he was not guilty. He said the defense
1 had no testimony TO offer. He then de-
clared that the arguments for the de
| Tense would be offered, and without de-
/ lay began his argument for Czolgosz.
IF the President met his fate by the
| fact of an insane man his death awful
as it was. must be classed lawfully as
an accideat,1 urged ex-Judge Lewis,
''and the verdict of guilt should not be
fastened upoE the unfortunate being
who was its irresponsible cause"
EN-Judge Titus declined to say any
thing in addition to what his associate
had said on behalf of the defendant, so
District Attorney Penney eloquently
| closed for the prosecution. With the
presentation of Instructions by the
court the case of Leon Czolgosz, assas-
sin of President Mckinley, was in the
hands on the jury. and the jury soon
returned It's verdict.
AWFUL Array of Facts,
During the day an overwhelming ar
ray of awful facts was presented by
District Attorney Penney for the prose
cution. With crushing force witness
after witness told what he had seen
and heard, and woven together it made
the appalling story of the murder of
the nations chief by the being who sat
in the defendants chair. All the tragic
circumstances of the attack upon the
President Were dramatically recounted
and the revolving details of the prison
er's cold-blooded ayowal of guilt the
afternoon of the assassination were re-
peated.
Denial was made that the prisoners
confession hai been extorted by
threats or procured by promises of inn
munity, and proof was advanced to
show that the assassin had been well
treated by the police from the time of
his arrest. During it all Leon Czolgosz,
around whom the trial centered. sat
still, beads of perspiration standing
out on his face. and only yielded to
bis tense emotions when the story of
ais life was repeated. Then his eyes
fillei with tears.
Trial Is short.
Eight hours and twenty-five minutes is
the actual time occupied by the trial of
the case and the deliberations and return
OF the jury. Eighteen days had elapsed
from the shooting Of the President, and
ten days and fourteen hours since his
death. On Thursday at p. M, twelve
days after the crime was committed, the
assassin was sentenced to death.
No witnesses were sworn for the de-
Tense. Not word of evidence was be-
fore the court as TO the sanity of the
prisoner The alienists who examined
him we're not called. The court instruct
CO the jury that the proof of insanity is
with the defendant, that a man must he
presumed TO be sane unless proved in
sane. To the assassin was offered the
opportunity to go on the stand, but he
only shook his head when his lawyers
asked hin.
He did not trust himself to speak The
unccuce ened murderer had changed. His
pallor had turned from white to gray.
His hands shook He curtained his eyes
with the lids and sat with his head hang
ing on his shoulders. a nervous perspira-
ton oozing out on his face and hands.
In remaining mute throughout the as
sassin found a way to hold his compos-
ure, but in court he was most misera-
Bile picture No brayado, no courage, no
defiance of death.
Swiftness without haste. the naked
truth, the calm but unerring efficacy of
law. the decorum of long-written prece-
dent, the matchless majesty of reason.
These are the elements which combined
to make this trial almost incompatible
in the experience of those who witness
ed it.
Even the spectators seemed actuated
by the splendid motive of fair play. They
did not hiss nor storm nor buffet the as
SasSld as ue WIS itN kblouSu tdSAA hi1Aa't'
Calmly they heard his arraignment. 81
lently they witnessed his appearance be-
fore his accusers and dumbly they heard
the final judgment of his peers. After
the reading of the verdict, as Czolgosz
passea between his guards to jail, there
was a feeble kissing sound Of yindictive
satisfaction. Eat even this died as it was
uttered, and the arch monster of latter
day criminals passed into the shadow of
death marked only by the intangible in
fanny of his own deed.
Men will execrate his crime and forget
his name save when, in recounting the
circumstance of President Mckinley's
death. they cali to mind whether it was a
bullet or a dagger, human being or a
brute in human form. that happened to
be the agency Of his death. No one is
ever more deceived than the anarchical
criminal who confounds infamy with
fame. 4
The final acts in the execution of JUS
ice. it is to be hoped. will be marked by
thl same quiet and expeditions methods
which have marked the trial. Let the
law take its course, relentlessly but dis
passionately.
The shutting out of the worthless life
of the assassin Will be yiEdication of the
law. though it will count as absolutely
nothing in the balance against the life
which he ended. 1t is one Of the humil-
iating features of the affair that so in