With His Yells Prison Echoed
Assassin Breaks Down Completely on Reaching Auburn.
SORRY FOR MRS. MCKINLEY
And Sorry That He Will Leave Such a Bad Name—Murderer So Overcome
by Terror That He Could Not Walk.
Auburn, N. Y., September
27.—Czolgosz, President McKinley’s murderer, in the custody of Sheriff
Caldwell, of Erie county, and twenty-one deputies, arrived in Auburn
at 3:15 a. m. The prison is only about 50 yards from the depot.
Awaiting the arrival of the train
there was a crowd of about 200 people. Either for fear of the crowd,
which was not very demonstrative, or from sight of the prison, Czolgosz’s
legs gave out and two deputy sheriffs were compelled to practically
carry the man into the prison. Inside the gate his condition became
worse, and he was dragged up the stairs and into the main hall.
He was placed in a sitting position
on the bench while the handcuffs were being removed, but he fell
over and moaned and groaned, evincing the most abject terror. As
soon as the handcuffs were unlocked the man was dragged into the
principal keeper’s office. As is the case of all prisoners, the
officers immediately proceeded to strip him and put on a new suit
of clothes.
During this operation Czolgosz cried
and yelled, making the prison corridors echo with evidence of his
terror. The prison physician, Dr. John Gerin, examined the man and
ordered his removal to the cell in the condemned row which he will
occupy until he is taken to the electric chair. The doctor declared
that the man was suffering from fright and terror, but said that
he was shamming to some extent.
The collapse of the murderer was a
surprise to every one. En route from Buffalo he showed no indication
of breaking down. He ate heartily of sandwiches and smoked cigars
when not eating. He talked some and expressed regret for his crime.
He said:
“I am especially sorry for Mrs. McKinley.”
He reiterated his former statement
that he had no accomplices and declared that he never had heard
of the man under arrest in St. Louis, who claimed to have tied the
handkerchief over his hand, concealing the pistol with which the
president was shot. He says the handkerchief was not tied.
He went behind the Temple of Music,
arranged the handkerchief so as to hide the weapon and then took
his place in the crowd. To Jailer Mitchell he sent this message
to his father:
“Tell him I am sorry I left such a
bad name.”
Czolgosz was in a normal condition
this afternoon and seemed to have fully recovered from his collapse.
There are five cells for condemned men in the prison and Czolgosz
was placed in the only vacant cell, so all are now occupied.
Two keepers are constantly on guard
in the room, which is separate from the main prison, but to guard
against an attempt on Czolgosz’s part to commit suicide, two more
guards have been added and one will constantly sit in front of Czolgosz’s
cell and will have a key so that any attempt at self-destruction
may be easily frustrated.
Czolgosz Organized Anarchists.
Fort Wayne, Ind., September
27.—Czolgosz, the murderer of President McKinley, was here the latter
part of May or the early part of June and the purpose of his trip
was to organize a branch of the anarchists and distribute literature.
His first appearance was in a saloon near the Wabash passenger station,
where he talked a good deal and showed some money. The proprietor
of the place did not like his appearance and actions and put him
out. Nothing was thought of the occurrence until after the shooting
at Buffalo.
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