Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-31

Auburn. N. Y, Oct 29.-At 7.123O
o'clock this morning Leon f. C2olgosz,
the murderer of President William
Mckinley, paid the extreme penalty
eAaoted by the law for his crime. He
was shocked TO death by !, TOO yolts of
electricity. He went to the chair in
exactly the same manner as have the
& majority o! murderers In this State,
showing no particular sign OF fear, but,
In fact doing what few of them have
dome talking to the witnesses while
he was being strapped in the chair.
killed the PRESIDENT because he
was an enemy OF the good people, of
the good working people. / am not
sorry for my orime''
These were his words as the guards
Buried him into the chair.
A minute later, mumbling through
the half-adiusted face straTs, he said
am awfully sorry l could not see
my father y
Czolgosz retired last night at 10
O'Clock. and slept so soundly that when
Warden Mead went to the cell shortly
before O'Clock this morning the guard
inside had to shake Czolgosz to aw AIKEN
him, He sat up on the edge OF his
cot ana made no reply to the warden
greeting of Good morning." The
prison official took from his pocket the
death warrant, and read it slowly and
distinctly to the assassin, who hardly
raised his eyes during the perfunctory
ceremony.
just as the warden atepped away
from the cell door, Czolgosz called 10
him and said: 81 would like to talk
with the superintendent. -
The warden responded: "He will be
down presently 2
Then the condemned man rolled over
on his cot, apparently anxious to sleep
again.
at 5. 10 O'Clock, however, the guard
brought TO him q Eair of dark trousers,
with the left leg slit SO as to allow the
free application of the electrodes. and
light gray outing shirt. He was told
to get up and put these on, which he
did. Contrary to tho usual costume,
he was given new pair of shoes, When
dressed, he laid down on the cot again,
and in this attitude Superintendent
Collins found him at o. 80 o'clock, when
he went down to visit him.
WANTED TO TALK roA LOT OF PEopLE,
The superintendent stood in front Of
the steel bars and when the guard had
called Czolgosz's g attention, he said
you kill me.
What do you wish to say, CzoIgosz?''
asked the superintendent.
II want to make 1t when there are
lot OF reople present 1 want them to
hear ME, i" said the prisoner.
tendent.
Then wont talk at all, " said the
prisoper sullenly.
After the superintendent had left,
the guards brought Czolgosz's break
last, consisting of coffee, toast, eggs and
bacon, and he ate with good deal of
relish. While he was partakIng of this,
the witnesses were gathering in the
Office of Warden Mead, and at 7.C6
O'Clock the procession Passed to the
death chamber, going through the long
south corridor.
In the chamber Electrician Davis and
former Warden Thayer OF Dannemera
had arranged the chair test, placing a
bank of % inoandasent lights across
the arms, and connecting the electrotle
wires ct either end.
BRIEF ADDRESS BY waRDEg.
The witnesses we're ordered seated,
and then Warden Mead briefly ad.
dressed them, saying You are here
to witness the legal death OF Leon f.
N Czolgusz. desire that you keep'your
seats aud preserve absolute silence in
lthe death chamber, no matter what may
transpire. There are plenty of guards
and prison officials TO preserye order
N and attend to the proper details
Ihe prison physician, DIR. Germ, and
Dr.. Carlos F. Macdonald OF New
York took position to the LETT of the
chair, Warden Mead stood directly in
front and Electrician DAVIS retired to
the littiesronm containing the electrical
switohboard. Thayer gave the signal,
and the current was turned through the
electric lights flooding the chamber
with brilliant light and dramatically
showing the power that was used to Kill
| the prisoner.
Warden Mead gave the signal to have
the prisoner brought 10, and at Z. 10. 50
O'clock Chief Keeper Tupper swung
open The big steal door leading to the
condemned cells; and as the steel bars
behind which Czogosz had been kept
\ were swung aside, two guards marched
the prisoner out into the corridor, two
others following and the chief keeper
\ walking in front.
STUMBLED AND QuIvEREr.
4 The guards oG either eide OF Czolgosz
aad hold OF his arms as il either to sup
Il port him or to keep him from making q
demonstration. AS he stepped over the
\ threshold he stumbled, but they held
HIM up, and as they urged him forward
toward the chair he stumbled again on
the little rubber covered platform upon
which the chair rests. His head was
erect. and with his gray flannel shirt
I turned back at the neck he looked quite
boyish. lie was intensely pale, and as
he tried to throw his head back and
carry himsolf erect his chin quiyered
I very perceptibly.
As he was being seated he looked
about at the assembled witnesses with
a steady stare, and said 81 killed the
President because he was an enemy of
the good people, of the good working
n people, His voice trenbled slightly
4 at tirst, but gained strength with eaoh
word, and he spoke perfect English.
am not sorry for my crime +" he
said loudly Just as the guard pushed
his head back on the rubber head rest
and drew the strap across his forehead
Y and chin.
n As the pressure ON the straps tight
snsd and bound the Jaw, be slowly