Czolgosz Will Not Talk
Says He Killed the President and Only Did His Duty.
[Friday Morning.]
Buffalo, Sept. 20.—The Courier this
morning prints the following:
“What’s the use of talking about that?
I killed the president. I am an anarchist, and simply did my duty.
That’s all I’ll say.”
Czolgosz said those words to-day to
Frank A. Olozanowski, editor of the Buffaloski, a Polish newspaper,
but would say nothing further. Olozanowski paid his second visit
to the assassin’s cell. He was sent by the district attorney in
pursuance of the vain efforts to move the prisoner’s stubborn tongue.
Last week Olozanowski was unsuccessful in his attempts.
“Czolgosz talked freely on every subject
which I suggested, except his crime,” said Olozanowski. “His conversation
would have been entertaining, coming from a man other than the president’s
assassin. He talked on Polish alliance and a variety of other subjects,
but when I spoke of his crime he merely said:
“‘What’s the use of talking about
that? I killed the president. I am an anarchist. I simply did my
duty. That’s all I’ll say.’
“Czolgosz spoke earnestly and determinedly.
I tried him several ways, but he would not add a word to his declaration.
I don’t believe anyone has any more from him about the crime. Czolgosz
is intelligent, and I don’t believe he will tell more.”
District Attorney Penney is getting
his case ready and unless some clear evidence pointing to a conspiracy
is secured, it will not take more than half a day to prove the plain
charge of murder. Although working hard and running down all promising
clews, the prosecution confesses now that it has no proof of a conspiracy
and seems unable to connect Czolgosz with any plan made by other
anarchists. Unless new proofs are unearthed before Monday, attention
will be concentrated on a speedy administration of justice.
The plan of defense will be mapped
out to-morrow by Judges Lewis and Titus, if they conclude to take
up the case.
Judge Titus has not given his final
consent, but has sent word that he will meet Judge Lewis to-morrow
and announce his intentions.
The best calculators now give Czolgosz
five weeks to live. The trial is scheduled to last only three days.
Two days must elapse, then, before sentence is pronounced, and the
prisoner is granted by law at least four weeks in which to prepare
for death. This would bring the execution five weeks from to-morrow,
Friday.
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