The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-09-18
THE ASSASS|N'S STORY
TELLS OF HIS LIFE AND HIS
PURPOSE.
Declares Emma Goldman's Words
Burned Him Up-Insists he Had no
Accomplices-Wait for His Chance.

CHICAGO, September IA special to
the Daily News from Buffalo says: The
statement of Leon CZolgosz, made TO
the police, transcribed and signed by
the prisoner, is as follows II was
born in Detroit nearly twenty-nine
years ago. My parents were Russian
Poles. They came here forty-two years
ago l got my education in the public
schools of Detroit, and then went to
Cleveland, where 1 got work In Cleve-
land l read books on socialism and met
a g~eat many Socialists. ] was pretty
wen known as a Socialist in the West.
After being in Cleveland for several
years l went to Chicago, where l re-
manned seven months after which
went to Newburg, on the outskirts OF
Cleveland, ana went to work in the
NeExburg wire mills
During the last five years l have
had as friends anarchists in Chicago,
Cleveland Detroit and other Western
cities, and 1 suppose L became more or
less bitter. Yes. l know l was bitter.
| 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 a lecture l heard
some little time ago by Emma Goldman.
She was in Cleveland and 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 l had made up my mind that
1 would have to do something herioc for
the cause l loved.
Eight days ago, while l was in Chi
caSo, l read in a Chicago newspaper of
President McKinleys visit to- the Pan
American Exposition at Buffalo. That
| day / bought ticket for Buffalo and
got here with the determination to do
something, but l did not know just
what. l thought of shooting the Presi-
dent, but had not formed plan
II went to live at 1918 Broadway,
which is a saloon and hotel John No
wax, a Pole, a sort of politician, who
has led his people here for years, owns
it, l told Nowak that 1 came to see the
fair. He knew nothing about what was
setting me crazy. l went to the expo
sition grounds a couple of times day
Not until Tuesday morning did the
resolution to shoot the President take
hold of me 1t was in my heart; there
was no escape for me. l could not have
conquered it had my life been at stake
( There were thousands of people in town
| on Tuesday. / heard it was the Presl-
dents day All these people seemed
! bowling to the great ruler l made uI
my mind to kill that ruler. | bought
q 32-caliber revolver and loaded 1t. Or
Tuesday night l went to the far
grounds and was near the railroad gate
when the Presidential party arrived.
tried to get near him, but the police
forced me back They forced every
! body back so that the great ruler could
| pass | was close to the President
/ when he got into the grounds, but was
afraid to attempt the assassination pc
cause there were so many men In the
bodyguard that watched him. / was
not afraid of them or that l should get
hurt, but afraid | might be seized and
| that my chance would be gone forever
"Well, he went away that time and }
went homA On Wednesday l went 10
the grounds and stood right near the
President, right under him, near the
stand from which he spoke. l Thought
half dozen times of shooting While ne
was speaking, but l could not get close
enough. l was afraid l might miss, ano
then the great crowd was always Jost'
ling and | was afraid lest my aim fan
| waited Wednesday, and the Presidenl
got into his carriage again, and LOT
of men were about him and formed 9
Gordon that l could not get through
was tossed about by the crowd, and m.
spirits were getting pretty low. / wal
almost hopeless that night as l wen
home.
yesterday morning / went again t
the exposition grounds. Emma Gold
mans speech was still burning me up
| waited near the central entrance 70
the President, who was to board hi
special train from that gate, but tn
police allowed nobody but the Presi
dents party to pass where the trail
waited. so | stayed at the grounds al
: day waiting.
During yesterday l first thought o
r hiding my pistol under my handkerchie