Statements by the Attorneys for Czolgosz

By Former Justice Titus.

     “We, whose duty it was to defend the assassin of the President of the United States, did the best we know how,” said former Judge Robert C. Titus. “In the spirit of the law we left nothing undone that might have been done to give the prisoner a fair and just trial. As was shown in the evidence, we were without even the assistance of the prisoner. He failed to confide in us. Hence, we took such a course as the law permitted. It did not develop that there was any ground for making the insanity plea; hence such a plea was not made. The counsel for the defense concluded its case satisfied that it had left nothing undone that might have helped the undortunate [sic] prisoner. Everybody knows that our participation in the case was not of our own seeking.”

By Former Justice Lewis.

     “I am well satisfied with the work done by the defense,” said Judge Loran L. Lewis. “With what evidence we had—not very much—we gave the prisoner as fair a showing as could be expected. The fact that the case only lasted two days is a compliment to the state, as it must be a gratification to the whole country. Of course I entered the case as I did, against my own wishes, but the defendant had to have such defense as the law allows. Some people will realize this and thank us for our setting aside our own sentiment, while others, I suppose will not hesitate to condemn us.”

By Attorney Ladd.

     “The shortness of the trial itself goes to show what little the counsel for the defense had to work on,” said Carlton E. Ladd, who with Judges Titus and Lewis formed Czolgosz’s defense. “We used every available means to defend the prisoner. We had no great recourse of the law to reach back to. We simply had to see that the trial was fair, and this, I think we did.”