The Washington times., 1903-02-24
CZOLGOSZ'S SANITY
DISCUSSED BY EXPERT
Medical News" Says No
Contrary Evidence Exists.

In an editorial in this weeks issu,
the Medical News commenting on al
article by Dr. Charming entitled -
Later Interpretation Of CzoIgosz and III.
Crime" says.
No adequate evidence until the pres
ent time has been forthcoming TO show
that CzoIgosz was insane, Indeed, thr
very nature Of the hasty trial. the sup
pressed and determined hatred Of the
nation. urged swift and quick action
But now we may review the evidence
somewhat more calmly.
The gradual change in Czolgosz's life
from one of industry and cheorfulnCss a
that OF idle and moody consideration 81
the peoples wrongs appeared TO pave
the way fer the uubaIaneing Of an intel
iect never strong and hcreditarily handi-
capped by weak but rot necessarily
vicious family stock The desire of
doing some great act 10 relieve the pres
sure Of human woes ripened his prcdis-
position 10 mental alienation. and he at
tempted the futile method Of reform
common to his class in successful
magnicide
He never posed as insane. but
weighed his remarks well after the
crime as though keeping back some
thing. This something led many a.
think that a plot was in hiding. but DR..
Claiming sees nothing i'm this but evil
dencc OF a disordered mind which after
time might have developed and ampli-
fed itself into the possession Of well
systematized decisions.
The summary Of data is irrefutable,
and the conclusions are worthy Of seri-
Gus thought; in brief they are as fol-
lows: UD l feel from fuller informa-
tion than that possessed by these eX-
pcrts who examined CzoIgosz after his
crime, the opinion then expressed by
them cannot be accepted as the final
one; % owing to lack Of time it was
impossible in the examination referred
to. 70 investigate the early history OF
CzOlgosz. Had this been done some OF
his statements would have been found
TO be inaccurate; 90 he was not in my
opinion an anarchist in the true sense
OF the word. and while ararchical doc
trines may have inflamed his mind and
been a factor in the crime. il was not
the true cause or an adequate expla-
nation; t4) he had been in in health for
several years. changing from All indus
trious and apparently fairly normal
young man into a sickly, unhealthy and
abnormal one; (5J while in this physi-
cal and mental condition of sickliness
and abnormality. IL is probable that he
conceived the idea OF performing sorne
great act for the benefit Of the common
and working people. l6J this finally de-
veIoped into a true delusion that H. was
his duty 70 kill the President. because
he was an enemy Of the people. and re-
suited in the assassination; ca his con-
duct after the crime was not incuu-
sistcnt with insanity; tSl his history for
some years before the deed. the wsv I'm
which A. was committed and his actions
afterward furnish a good illustration of
the typical regicide or magnicide as
described by Regis, go the post-mOr;c m
examination threw no light on his men
tai condition and would not invalidate
the opinion that the existing dei'ision
was the result OF disturbed brain action /.
QOD finally. from a study Of all the facts
that have come to my attention. IN
sanity appears 90 me the most reason
able aud logical explanation Of The
crime. 30