The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-23
CZ0LGOSz
ARRAIGNED
Assassin of President Mckinley
Placed on Trial.
Streets Near Court House Filled
With Eager Spectators.
SQUADS OF POLICE
Guard All the Approaches to
the Building.
Prisoner Still Declines to Aid
His Counsel in Defense.
He PLEADS GUILTY.
His Attorney Amended 1t to
Not Guilty."
Jury is Secured and Taking Of
Evidence Begins.
His Attorney Amended 1t to
" Not Guilty."
Jury is Secured and Taking Of
Evidence Begins

Bunalo. n. Y. t2s.-Leon Czolgosz
was placed on trial today for the muir
der OF President Mckinley on septem-
Der g. The trial was in the supreme
court Of Erie county. Judge Truman c.
White presiding.
The trial began at 10 O'Clock, but long
before that hour the streets in the Vi
cinity Of the city hall We're the objee-
tive OF many curious persons. They
We're willing TO take chances on being
admitted to the court room. even though
they knew that there were but $50 seats
available. The various entrances to the
great building. with the exception Of
that on Frank street were closed and
guarded Policemen were everywhere
and rigid discipline was the order OF
the day Squads Of blue coated men
We're stationed on every landing and in
q double line far outside the place Of
entrance to keep back the crowds, while
in a station not far away reserves were
ready to reinforce the detail on duty
should the feelings of the people become
aroused to the extent OF riotfng. Mount
ed officers paced slowly around every
side Of the structure and no one was
allowed to stand on the sidewalk for a
moment. SO that at no tirne was the
crowd large.
No one outside of the building saw
the prisoner as ne was taken from his
cell to the court room. His guardians
made use OF the tunnel under the
street from the jail to the city hail. ana
CzOlgosz was brought into the court
room only a few moments before the
hour set for the opening or his trial
No person was admitted to the building
without a pass BY the chief Of police.
and it was necessary to show this to
every policeman on every landing, in
eevry corridor. The officer at the door
Of the court room was especially vigil
liant and not only examined the passes,
but scrutinized the bearers critically.
before admitting them to the room. The
interior OF the city hall. as well as the
outside still bore the sombre draperies
OF mourning, and quiet was enforced as
behtting the occasion. The counsel for
Czolgosz. former Supreme Court Jus
tices Loren Lewis and Robert c. Titus
and Carleton E Ladd saw him again
this morning before the time for the
opening Of the court. but he had no
more TO say to them than on the pre-
vious occasions when they have visited
him. In view or the meagreness of the
opportunity for a defense and the fact
that the prisoner refuses absolutely to
a
entire proceedings may be completed
within two days
The mental condition Of the assassin
win absolutely be the only defense to /
be offered,' We're the words of Judge /
Titus. and there is no little expectation. |
that they viii publicly abandon the |
case today or tomorrow, and merely |
represent Czolgosz formally during the |
trial.
two alienists. DR.. Carlos Mcdonald and |
Dr- Allen Mclean Hamilton. of New
York city. the question of insanity is /
eliminated from the grounds on which /
the defense can rely for support Part /
III OF the supreme court Of Erie county j
IS a small room on the south side of the I
second floor OF the city hall 1t is /
lighted only at the south end by lat
ticed windows. and here the Justices I
bench and witness stand is placed. On 4
the right OF the room are the jury /
mems seats, and they nave an unOb- /
structed view of the entire room. There /
is no railing IN front of the iurymen. /
and the chairs are placed on a platform 1
some six inches above the floor The |
room has high ceiling studded with 4
drab walls which are scanned with I
cracks
The enclosure for the bench and bar
occupies over one-half of the floor
space. while the remainder is given
over to seats for the general public (
Not over $50 of the later could be ac-
commodated, and these seats today i
We're mainly occupied by the men sum-
moned to serve upon the jury. CzoI- /
gosz. with his counsel. occupied seats
directly in front of the Justices bench
The prisoners chair was just back of /
that OF Judge Titus and deputy sher-
IFS with their slaves of Office were
placed at various points in the room
and quiet was enforced upon all The
spectators seats were filled very slow
~, owing to the extreme care shown /
BY the Ofieers in the corridors in ad-
hitting those who applied and it was
not until count" was announced that
the last one wi s occupied.
Or. Allen Mclean Hamilton. Of New