Family of Assassin in Buffalo

Father and Sister See Leon Czolgosz in Penitentiary Today.

     Paul Czolgosz, father of Leon Czolgosz, with Victoria and Waldeck Czolgosz, brother and sister of the convicted assassin, arrived in Buffalo shortly after 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Aside from several detectives and a Courier and Enquirer reporter, no one knew of their arrival.
     They came quietly, were led away from the depot and ate a lunch in a nearby restaurant while the crowds outside surged by, and not one of them knew how near they were to the family of the man who so foully murdered President McKinley. They had come to Buffalo expressly to see their imprisoned relative.
     From the moment of her arrival in the city Victoria Czolgosz worried continually over the fact that the party might be recognized by the crowds upon the streets, who might seek to harm them. However, no one recognized them, and they were able to make their way through the principal streets of the city in safety.

Detectives in Waiting.

     It was a few minutes after 3 o’clock when the train bearing the three members of the Czolgosz family arrived at the New York Central Station. Detective Charles Jones, Capt. LaPoynt and Chief Humphrey of the New York Central Railroad’s detective force were in waiting.
     The Czolgosz family left the train, accompanied by Detective Jacob Mintz, and were taken quietly from the station by means of a side entrance. Waldeck Czolgosz then spoke about having a drink, and left the party. Detective Mintz, with a Courier and Enquirer reporter, waited with the party for some time, but as the brother did not return, the detective and reporter took the father and sister to a Seneca Sreet [sic] restaurant, where they were served with light lunch.
     Later Detectives Sweeney and Hogan of Chief Cusack’s staff took the father and daughter to District Attorney Penney’s office, where they were closeted with that official for some time.

Search for Waldeck.

     When Superintendent of Police Bull was notified of Waldeck Czolgosz’s disappearance, he detailed Detective-Sergt. Geary to find him. The detective went to the New York Central Railroad and found the brother of the assassin mingling with the crowd. He said he was searching for his sister and father. He also was taken to the District Attorney’s office.
     All three of them claim to have no knowledge of a plot to kill the President.
     “Leon never spoke of anarchy to me,” said Victoria Czolgosz to a Courier reporter. “He was always a quiet boy around the house, and read a good many books and papers.”
     “I do not know Emma Goldman, nor have I ever seen her,” was the young woman’s response to a question put to her by the reporter as to whether she knew the Anarchist leader. “Leon never spoker [sic] of her, and I never heard any other person in the family speak of her.”

Victoria Is Pretty.

     Vivtoria [sic] Czolgosz is but 18 years old. She is extremely pretty and refined in her manner. She speaks English with but a slight Polish accent. The father, however, can speak nothing but Polish, and the girl acts as his interpreter.
     Waldeck Czolgosz bears a striking resemblance to the convicted assassin. It is said he is an Anarchist, and the authorities will question him closely, in the hope that he may be able to connect others with the assassination of the Chief Executive of the nation. He speaks both English and Polish.
     After the father, brother and sister of Czolgosz had been in conversation some time with District Attorney Penney, they were escorted to Police Headquarters. They were taken upstairs to the matron’s room. After they were given their supper they were taken down by means of the rear stairway to the office of Supt. Bull. They were closeted there with Assistant District Attorney Haller, Chief of Detectives Cusack and Detective-Sergts. Geary and Solomon.
     The conference lasted some time before the reporters were admitted. Waldeck did most of the talking for the party, the sister and father occasionally nodding acquiescence.
     The visit, as they state, was a natural one. They merely wished to see Leon before the death sentence was executed. They stated that they came of their own volition, and were not so much as asked by anyone to come.

Czolgosz Family Shunned.

     The Czolgosz family in Cleveland has been shunned by their acquaintances, and everything done to make life miserable for them. The father lost his position where he was employed, and the whole family has been pointed out and taunted because they are of the same family as the assassin.
     Waldeck Czolgosz stated that they came to Buffalo primarily for the purpose of obtaining a statement from the doomed murderer to the effect that his family is in no way connected with the affair, and asking that they be exonerated.
     Last evening they had not seen the prisoner. Chief of Detectives Cusack stated that they could not see him unless the permission of District Attorney Penney was obtained this morning. It is thought that the District Attorney will allow a visit in justice to the family. It will be no favor to Leon, as he has not even asked that he be allowed to see his relatives.

See Leon Today.

     The Czolgoszs had originally intended to see Leon yesterday afternoon and return to Cleveland last evening. As they were not successful they decided to wait until this morning. It was thought best by the police to allow them to sleep in the headquarters building over night [sic]. They were given comfortable beds and plenty to eat. Chief of Detectives Cusack stated that they were not under arrest, and that the department had merely extended a courtesy to them. He also added after the conference that he was satisfied to a certainty that they had no knowledge of the contemplated assassination.
     Notwithstanding this statement, [?]he fact remains that Waldeck sent Leon Czolgosz a money order for $10 while the latter was in West Seneca. This Waldeck acknowledged before the reporters. How he accounts for sending the money to Czolgosz in the name of Fred Snider the police, alone, know. It is though [sic] to be a significant fact that Waldeck knew that his brother was living under an assumed name.

Partly Owns Farm.

     Waldeck Czolgosz stated in Supt. Bull’s office last night that Leon had paid $300 towards the purchase of a farm, which the family evidently owned jointly. On July 11th he withdrew $70 and stated that he was going West. When they heard of him in August and learned that he was in West Seneca instead of Fort Wayne, Ind., where he had originally declared he was going, they appea[?]d to be greatly surprised.
     From the conversation that Waldeck had, something of Leon’s characteristics and habits was learned. In the first place he cared little for work. He preferred, while the others were toiling on the farm, to read. He read the daily papers and one Polish Socialistic paper, called “Stratz” [sic], printed in Scranton. He talked Sosialism [sic] and he and Waldeck belonged to a so-called Socialists’ Club in Cleveland.
     Waldeck Czolgosz was asked if he were an Anarchist. He replied that probably he would be one if he had time, but that he was too busy on the farm. The answer is a significant one when it is considered that he found time to be what he calls a Socialist.