Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-09-26
CZOLGOSZ MUST DIE
JURY FINDS HIM GUILTY OF
FIRST DEGREE MURDER.

Wheels of Justice Move Swiftly for
the Assassin of William Mckinley.
Trial Covers Period of Only Two
Days-Prisoner Not Affected.
Buffalo, Sept. 25.-Leon Czolgosz
was found guilty of murder in the first
degree by a jury in part III of the SUI
preme court, in having on the sixth
day of September shot President Will
lam Mckinley, the wounds inflicted
the president. The wheels of justice
moved swiftly. The trial of the as
sassin consumed eight hours and
twenty-siX minutes, and covered a pc
riod of only two days. Practically all
of this time was occupied by the pros
ecution in presenting a case so clear,
so conclusive, that even had the pris-
doubtful if the jury would have re-
turned a verdict different from the
one rendered. The announcement
made by the attorneys for Czolgosz
that the eminent alienists summoned
by the Erie County Bar association
and by the district attorney to exam
inc Czolgosz and to determine his
exact mental condition had declared
him to be perfectly sane destroyed the
only stage of a defense that Judges
Lewis and Titus could have put to-
gether.
The crowd gathered at City hall
yesterday was the largest that has
seen him since his arraignment Peo-
pie were lined up on both sides of the
big rotunda on the second floor when
court convened and fringed the stairs
leading from the floor above There
was no demonstration, except that of
curiosity A large number of women
witnessed the proceedings. At 2:44
p. m. District Attorney Penney an
nounced that the case of the prosecu-
tion was ended. Judge Lewis arose
slowly and addressing the court, said
that the sudden close of the case
against Czolgosz was surprise to
him and his colleague. They had no
witness to call for the defense. He
asked the court that he be allowed to
address the jury at once. The court
assented and the venerable jurist be-
gan an address that will long be re-
membered by those who heard it.
District Attorney Penney requested
the judge to charge the jury that the
law presumes every individual sane
unless proven otherwise and the court
said to them: The law presumes the
defendant in this case sane"
Lawyer Titus also asked the court
to charge the jury that if they were
satisfied from the evidence that at
the time of the committal of the as
sault the defendant was laboring un-
der such defect of reason as not to
know the quality of the act or that it
was wrong. he was not responsible
and the jury must acquit.'
Il SO charge" said the Judge.
Case Given to the Jury.
The case was given to the jury at
1851. After the jury had retired to
consider the evidence the scene in
the court room became dramatic in
the extreme. Decorum was somewhat
forgotten and the spectators stood up
and many walked about the room and
engaged in conversation The guards
about the assassin, who still sat in
his seat before the bench, were
doubled. and many plain clothes men
We're seen mingling among the crowd
surging about the room, closely
watching every one whose face was
not familiar one to them There was
no disposition to crowd about the pris.
oner, although the object of every one
seemed to be to get into a position
to get a full view of his face. Czol-
gosz had been seated in his chair all
afternoon, his hands clasped on the
arms OF the chair, his head bent for
ward and to the left. The room was
not warm, but he frequently took his
handkerchief from his pocket and
mopped the perspiration from his fore
head and cheeks. At no time during
the absence of the jury did he raise
his eyes or lift his head or seem to
know that he was the object of inter-
est OF several hundred men and wom-,
en-. Every time the door was opened
all eyes were turned in that direc-
tlon, the evident thought in every
mind being that the jury would only
take few minutes to agree on YER
dict. 1t was 4:35 when the crier
raped for order, and the jury fled
into the court room.
The clerk read their names, each
juror responding present" as his
name was called
Addressing them, Justice White
said: Gentlemen, have you agreed
upon verdict?"
I'VE have" responded Foreman
Wendt.
What is your verdict?'
That the defendant is guilty of
murder in the first degree"
There was a moment of silence and
then murmur arose from the crowd.
1t ended there. There was no hand
clapplng, no cheering.
Before adjournment Justice White
announced that he would pronounce
sentence on the defendant Thursday
afternoon at o'clock. The prisoner
was taken at once through the tunnel