The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-24
CzOLGOSZ ON TRIAL
ASSASSIN OF MCKINLEY FACES
JURY OF HIS PEERS.
HE ENTERS PLEA OF GUILTY.
THE PLEA REJECTED AND THE
TRIAL PROCEEDS.

the Case-fnS Place Where the
Crime Occurred Described to the
Jury, and Three Surgeons Told of
the Presidents Wound and Its Eff
fect-ShOOting Was Premeditated,
tus Explains His Position-TriaI
May Be Concluded To-day.
Buffalo, Sept. 23.-Leon F. Czolgosz
was placed on trial this morning,
charged with the murder of President
William Mckinley. He entered a plea
of guilty which was subsequently
changed to mot guilty by direction
of the court.
All the events of the day indicated
that the trial will be short. The court
convened at 10 o'clock. Within two
hours eight jurors had been secured.
Iechnicalities were not raised by ext
amining counsel, but it was significant
that every man who said he had not
formed an opinion on the case was ex-
cused by the district attorney. Those
who acknowledged they had formed an
opinion or stated that they were pref
udiced, but admitted that their opin-
ION could be changed by evidence, were
accepted by each side.
Justice Truman C. White, one of the
Oldest and most experienced of the
Supreme Court justices, was on the
bench. Immediately after the open
ing of the court and after the prisoner
had pleaded, ex-Justice Lewis, senior
counsel for the defendant, announced
that he and his colleagues, ex-Justice
Robert G. Titus and Mr.. Carlton Ladd,
were ready to act in behalf of the pris-
oner.
Il thought it best" he said, ''for my
colleagues and myself that 1 should
say something regarding our presence
here as attorneys for the defendant.
At the time my name was suggested I
was out of the city and knew nothing
of what was transpiring here with ref
erence to the selection of counsel for
the defendant. When the circumstances
OF my selection were told to me l was
extremely reluctant to accept But the
duty had been imposed and / consid-
cred it my duty in all the circum-
stances to defend this man.
Il ask that no evidence be presented
here-that the court will not permit
the acceptance of any evidence unless
1t would be accepted a t the trial of the
most meager criminal in the land"
Il am familiar with these circum-
stances" said Justice White in reply,
and I wish to say L will give you
every assurance that the prisoner will
have a fair and impartial trial, and
that during the progress of the trial
he will receive such treatment as the
law demands in any criminal case"
The work of securing the jurors was
then undertaken with celerity that
was amazing. Before the day was over
the entire panel had been sworn, the
jurors had listened to a description of
the Temple of Music, where the crime
occurred, had seen photographs of the
interior of that structure, and had been
told by three surgeons what caused
the death of the President and the ef-
feet of the assassin's shot upon the va
rious organs of the body. They had also
learned why the fatal bullet had not
been located.
The presentation of the governments
case began shortly before O'Clock.
when Assistant District Attorney Hal
Ter began, with much deliberation. to
address the jury. He spoke very brief
ly.
I'VE shall show" he said, that for
some days prior to the shooting this de-
fendant had premeditated the shooting
of the President. He knew that on
the sixth of September the President
would receive the populace in the
Temple of Music; that on that day he
went to the exposition, got into line
with the people and approached the
President that he had a weapon con-
cealed in his hand and as the President
extended his hand in kindly greeting
he fired the fatal shot
"He fired twice, in fact. One of them
took effect in the abdomen and caused
wound which resulted in the Presi-
dents death. That, in brief, is the
story we shall show you. Witnesses
will tell you this story, and / am sure
that when you have heard the evidence
you will have no difficulty in reaching
a verdict of murder in the first de-
gree"
The first witness, Samuel ]. Fields,
chief engineer. of the Pan American
Exposition, described the ground floor
plan of the Temple of Music and was
followed by Perry A. Bliss. photog
rapher, who presented views of the
building. The remainder of the session
was taken up with the testimony of
three physicians, two of whom had at
tended the President during his last
days, while the other performed the
autopsy.
The prisoner, Czolgosz during the
morning evinced no interest whatever
in the proceedings, but as the testi-
mony was introduced he paid more at
tention to what was said and looked
at the various witnesses closely.
The probable duration of the trial,
II is believed, can be placed at two full
days When District Attorney Penney
was asked by Justice White at noon as
to the time he would take in the pre-
sentation of his case, he declared that
he would conclude by Tuesday noon.
Judge Titus, for the defense, was nom
commmittal, however, and merely re-
piled;
THAT depends upon the turn things
take"
1t is not probable that any defense
will he put in. owing to the character
of the prisoner and his refusal to help
his attorneys In any way to procure
evidence which they could use in his
favor. The idea of an attempt to enter
the question of his sanity is not
thought Of in view of the reports OF
the two alienists who have recently ex-
an1ined him, and there Is ground for
the belief that the trial will be con-
cluded with a session OF but one day
more.
CzoIEosz Pleads Guilty.
The prisoner. when brought into
court. was attired in a new suit of
dark gray. a white shirt and a collar
and a light blue tie. His face was
cleanlv shaved and his hair combed. |
He sat down behind his counsel, with