Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-10-03
GUILTY OF MURDER.
CzOlgOsz, The Assassin, Convicted in
Short Order.
JURY WAS NOT LONG IN AGREEING.
The Trial Was Brief But Fair, and the
Verdict Was Inevitably Will Be
Sentenced Soon.

Buffalo, Special.-Leon F. Czolgosz,
alias Fred Nieman, was found guilty
Tuesday of murder in the first degree
by jury in Part III of the Supreme
Court, in having, on the 9Th day of
September, shot President William
Mckinley, the wounds inflicted after
wards resulting in the death Of the
President.
The wheels Of justice moved swiftly
and covered period Of only two days.
Practically all of this time was occu-
pied by the prosecution presenting
case SO clear, SO conclusive that even
had the prisoner entered plea Of in
sanity, the jury would not have return
ed verdict different from the one rem
dered today.
The announcement made in the af
ternoon by the attorneys for Czoigosz
that the eminent allienists summoned
by the Erie County Bar Association
and by the district attorney to exam
inc Czolgosz and to determine his eX-
act mental condition had declared him
to be perfectly sane, destroying the
only Testige OF d defense that Judges
Lewis and Titus could have put to-
gether. Before adjournment Justice
White announced that he would pro-
nounce sentence upon the prisoner on
Thursday afternoon at o'clock. He
was taken at once through the tunnel
under Delaware avenue to the Jail. To
all appearances he was in no way al
fected by the result Of the trial.
The crowd gathered at the city hall
was the largest which has seen hiIn
since his arraignment. People were
lined up on both sides Of the big ro-
tunda on the second floor when court
convened and fringed the stairs lead
ing from the floor above. There was no
demonstration except that Of curiosity.
A large number Of women witnessed
the proceedings.
At 2:44 in the afternoon District At
torney Penny abruptly announced that
the case Of the prosecution was ended.
W /
ing the court, said that the sudden
close of the case against Czolgosz was
a surprise to him and his colleague.
They had no witness to cali for the
defense. He asked the court that he
be allowed to address the jury at once.
The court consented and the Venerapie
jurist began an address that Will long
be remembered by those who heard II.
The jury retired at 3:5l to CONSIDER
the evidence. The scene IN the court
room then became dramatic in the eX-
treme. DecOrum was somewhat forgot
ten and the spectators stood up anu
MANY walked about the room and en-
gagged in conversation. The guards
about the assassin, who still sat in his
seat. before the bench, were doubled
Chief Of Detectives Cusack and two OF
his men taking positions just back OF
Czolgoszs chair. Others took seats TO
the left and righ. and many plain
among the crowd surging about the
clothes" men were seen mlngHng
room closely watching every one whose
face was not familiar to them. There
was no disposition to crowd about the
prisoner, although the object OF every
one seemed to be to get in a position
where he could have full view Of his
face.
Czolgosz had been seated in his chair
all afternoon. his hands clasped on
the arms of the chair and his head
hant forward The room was not
warm but he frequently took his hand
kerchief from his pocket and mopped
the perspiration from his forehead and
cheeks. At one time during the abb
sence of the jury did he raise his eyes
or lift his head or seem to know that
he was the object Of interest to sever
al hundred men and women. Every
time the door was Oepned all eyes
were turned in that direction, the eV.-
dent thought in every mind being thar
the jury would take only few mlnu-
tes to agree on a verdict
1t was 4:30 when the crier raped for
order and the jury filed into the room.
The clerk called their names, each Jur.
or responding present as his name was
called. No time was wasted. The
Jurors did not sit down.
Judge White said: Gentlemen, have
you agreed upon a verdict?'
I'VE have" responded foreman
Wendt
What is your verdict?"
THAT the verdict is guilty Of nur-
der in the first degree"
There was a moment Of silence and
then a murmur arose from the lips Lf
the crowd. 1t ended there. There was
no handclapping; no cheers. Justice
Whites voice could be clearly heard
in every part OF the room when he
thanked the jurors for their work ami
allowed them to go until II o'clock to-
morrow morning. Court was at once
adjourned Czolgosz was Immediately
handcuffed to his guards and hurried
from the court room downstairs 10
the basement and through the ttnrel
under Delaware avenue to the iail.