The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-09-13
THE ASSASSIN
in A WRITTEN CONFESSION,
Says He Had No AccOmpliceS,
But Was Fired By the Speeches
of Emma Goldman.

as follows:
81 was born in Detroit nearly twenty
nine years ago. My parents were Rus
siar Poles. They came here fcrty-two
years ago. l got my education in the
public schools of Detroit, and then went
to Cleveland, where got work. In
Cleveland / read books on socialism,
and met . great many Socialists. 1
was pretty we'll known as Socialist in
the West. After being in Cleveland
for several years went to Chicago,
where I remained seven months, after
which I went to Newberg, on the out
skirts of Cleveland, and went to work
in the Newburg wire mill.
''During the last five years ] have
had as friends Anarchists in Chicago,
Cleveland, Detroit, and other Western
cities, and 1 suppose 1 became more or
less bitter. Yes, I know I was bitter
l never had much luck at anything,
and this preyed upon me. 1t made me
morose and envious, but what started
the craze to kill was lecture | heard
some little time ago by Emma Gold
man. She was in Cleveland, and l and
other Anarchists went to hear her.
She set me on fire.
| '.Her doctrine that all rulers should
be exterminated was what set me to
thinking, SO that my head nearly split
with the pain. Miss Goldman's words
went right through me, and when l
left the lecture had made up my mind
that 1 would have to do something
heroic for the cause loved.
"Eight days ago, while 1 was IN Chi.
cago, read in Chicago newspaper ol
President McKinley's visit to the Pan
American Exposition at Buffalo. Tha,
day bought ticket for Buffalo, and
got here with the determination to dC
somethin =, but did not know just what
I thought of shooting the President
but l had not formed plan.
II went to live at No. 10TS Broad
way, which is saloon and hotel. JohI
Nowak, Pole, a sort of politician, whit
has led his people here for years, own
lit. 1 told Nowak that l came to Sc,
the fair. He knew nothing about wha
! was setting me crazy. went to tn,
exposition grounds a couple of times
day.
''Not until Tuesday morning did tn
a resolution to shoot the President TAX
hold of me. 1t was in my heart; ther
!; was no escape for me. 1 could not hav
$ conquered it had my life been at stake
There were thousands of people her
Tuesday. l heard it was President
N day. All these people seemed bowin
e to the great ruler. l made up m
II mind to kill that ruler. l bought a 3:
: caliber revolver and loaded it.
l. son Tuesday night 1 went to th
flair grounds and was near the railroa
: gate when the Presidential party a
t, rived. I tried to get near him, but til
police forced me back. They force
Everybody back so that the great rule
could pass. | was close to the Pres
D dent when he got into the grounds, bl
IL was afraid to attempt the assassin
e e. tion, because there were so many me
in the bodyguard that watched him.
was not afraid of them or that I shou
en- get hurt, but afraid I might be seiz'
he and that my CHANGE would be gone fo
1T, ever.
well, he went away that time and
: went home. On Wednesday 1 went
the grounds and stood near the Pre-
n dent, right under him near the sta
from which he spoke.
ST thought half a dozen, times
shooting while he was speaking, but
on could not get close enough. l W
es; afraid might miss and then the gre
crowd was always iostling and I W
. afraid lest my aim fail. 1 waited un
Wednesday and the President got il
mt his carriage, and a lot of men we
about him and formed Gordon tha
could not get through. was toss
about by the crowd and my spir
an al, were getting pretty low. I was aim
hopeless that night as l went hon
Yesterday I went again to the expo
tion grounds. Emma Goldman 5 spec
res. was still burning me up. wal
near the carriage entrance for
President, who was to board his spec
train from that gate, but the police
lowed nobody but the PresideI
party to pass where the train wait
h So stayed at the grounds all day w
ms. ing.
H. "During yesterday l first though
hiding my pistol under my handl
ichief. l was afraid if had to draw
hh1 hio. from my pocket would be seen
by seized by the guards. l got to
Temple of Music the first one and W
- ed at the spot where the reception
10 be held.
"Then came the President n
and l got in line and trembled
trembled until l got right up to b
and then shot him twice through
white handkerchief. | would have
more, but l was stunned by bio,