The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-24
PLEA OF GUILTY CHANGED TO
NOT GUILT.
JURY WAS EASILY FOUND
No One Taken Who Had Not
Formed an Opinion Prose
cutlon's Statement.

Buffalo, Sept. 23.-Leon F. Czolgosz
was placed on trial this morning,
charged with the murder of President
VIM. Mckinley. He entered 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. Court convened at 10 o'clock
and within two hours eight jurors had
been secured. Technicalities were not
raised by counsel and it was signii-
cant that every man who said he had
not formed an opinion on the case
was excused by the district attorney.
Those who acknowledged they had
formed an opinion or stated that
they were prejudiced, but admitted
that their opinion could be changed
by evidence were accepted by each
side.
Justice Trueman G. White, one of
the Oldest and most experienced Of the
supreme court judges, was on the
bench. Immediately after the opening
of the court and after the prisoner
had pleaded, Justice Loran L. Lewis,
Sr., counsel for the defendant, an
nounced-that together with his col
leagues former Justice Robert G.
Titus and Mr.. Carleton E. Ladd-that
they were ready to act in behalf of
the prisoner.
II thought it best,' he said, "for my
colleagues and myself that l should
say something regarding our presence
here as attorneys for the defendant.
At the time my name was suggested
was out of the city and knew moth
ing of what was transpiring here with
reference to the selection Of counsel
for the defendant. When the circum-
stnaces of my selection were told to
me l was extremely reluctant to ac-
cept. But the duty had been impos-
ed and considered it my duty, in all
| the circumstances to defend this man.
II ask that no evidence be present
ed here-that the court will not per-
nit the acceptance of any evidence
unless it would be accepted at the
trial of the most meagre criminal in
the land"
81 am familiar with these circum-
stances" said Justice White in reply,
"and l wish to say 1 will give you
| every assurance that the prisoner will
have fair and impartial trial, and
that during the progress of the trial
I. he will receive such treatment as the
law demands in any criminal case"
The work of securing the Jurors
was then undertaken with a celebrity
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 was committed; had
seen photographs of the interior and
been told by three surgeons what
caused the death of the president and
| the effect of the assassin's shot upon
the various organs of the body. They
1 also learned why the fatal bullet had
not been located.
The presentation of the govern
ment's case began shortly before 8
o'clock when Assistant Attorney Hal
! ler began with much deliberation to
| address the judge. He spoke briefly.
1--WE shall show" said he, "that for
some days prior to the shooting the
defendant had premeditated the shoot
A ing of the president. He knew that on
the 9Th 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
concealed in his hand and as the
president extended his hand in kind
ly greeting he fired the fatal shot. He
fired two shots, in fact. One of them
took effect in the abdomen and caus
ed the mortal wound which resulted
in the presidents death. That ir
brief is the story we shall show you
Witnesses will tell you this story ant
am sure that when you have heart
the evidence you will have no Difficult
ty in reaching a verdict Of murder IL
the first degree"
The first witness, Samuel ]. Fields
oh;of ono;noar of tho Pan.Americal