The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-11-08
NOT SORRY FOR CRIME
Assassin Showed No Indication
OF Breaking Down but
Spoke OF Father.
WANTED TO TALK ONCE
Talks to the Guards az He 10 Being
Strapped TO Death Chair, Say
Ing Mckinley Was Enemy
Of People.

-. 20 ~
Auburn, N. T., Oct. so.-At 7:12:30
o'clock Tuesday morning Leon Cool
gosz, murderer OF President VIM. Nc
Kinley, paid the extreme penalty ex-
acted by the law for his crimes.
He was shocked to death by 100
volts OF electricity.
He went to the chair in exactly the
same manner as have the majority Of
the murderers in this state. showing no
particular sign of fear. but in fact do
ing what few of them have done
talking to the witnesses while he was
being strapped in the chair.
II killed the president because he
was In enemy Of the good peoplAof
the good working people. I am not
sorry for my crime"
These were his words as the guards
hurried, him into the chair.
A moment later. mumbling through
the half adjusted face straps, he said:
II am awfully sorry I could not see
my father"
Davis then put upon the arms Of the
chair q bank OF twenty-five incandes-
cent electric lamps and attaching the
electrical wires, passed the current
through them so that the lights glowed
out brightly.
two electrodes which were lined with
sponges. into pals Of salt water so as
to get them wet enough to prevent the
current from burning the victims
flesh.
h assassin did not break down at
any time nor show any indication Of
doing 20.
Dresses for Death.
Czolgosz retired last night at o
o'clock and slept so soundly that when
Warden Mead went to the cell shortly
inside had to shake Czolgosz to awaken
him.. He sat UP on the edge of his cot
n made nc reply to the warden's
greeting of Good morning"
81 The prison official took from his
pocket the death warrant to read 1t
slowly and distinctly to the assassin,
who hardly raised his eyes during the
perfunctory ceremony.
U s as the warden stepped away
from the cell door, Czolgosz called to
him and said:
= would like to talk with the super
antendent.n
The warden responded: HE will be
down presently
Then the condemned man rolled over
o N his cot, apparently anxious to sleep
y Az b:15, however, the guard brought
TO him q pair OF dark trousers, with The
left leg slit &c as to allow h free ap-
pitcation OF the e~lectrodec and a light
gray outing shirt. He was told to get
up end put these on, which he did.
Contrary to the usual custom, he was
given new pair Of shoes. When
dressed he lay down on the cot again,
and In this attitude Superintendent
aCollinH found him at $3.50 when he went
gdown4to visit him.
The superintendent stood in front Of
the steel bars, and when the guard had
called Cxolgosz's attention. he said:
Wanted Many to Hear Him.
II want to make q statement before
you kill me-"
sWhat do you want to say, Czol-
sGosx3 4, asked the superintendent.
want to make 1T when there are a
lot oftspeople present I want them to
hear me. saidsthe prisoner.
wal YOU cannot" said the superin-
Then I won't talk at ALL said the
prisoner, sulleply.
after the superintendent had left the
guards brought Czolgosz's breakfast,
bacon and he ate with quite a good
deal OF relish. While he was p~artaking
sof thia the witnesses were gathering In
isthesOf1ces OF Warden Mead and at 7:08
the procession passed to the death
chamber, going through the long south.