Publication information

Source:
Buffalo Sunday News
Source type: newspaper
Document type: article
Document title: “Czolgosz May Be Tried Next Week”
Author(s): anonymous
City of publication: Buffalo, New York
Date of publication: 15 September 1901
Volume number: 28
Issue number: 45
Pagination: [?]

 
Citation
“Czolgosz May Be Tried Next Week.” Buffalo Sunday News 15 Sept. 1901 v28n45: p. [?].
 
Transcription
full text
 
Keywords
Leon Czolgosz (arraignment); Leon Czolgosz (grand jury); Thomas Penney (public statements); Samuel Caldwell (public statements); Leon Czolgosz (grand jury: jury members).
 
Named persons
Wellington Beebe; Richard H. Bell; C. J. Bostwick; George J. Britting; George C. Bryant; Samuel Caldwell; Leon Czolgosz; Edward K. Emery; Isaac W. Gail; Albert E. Gray; Christian F. Heltz; Wheeler C. Holmes [middle initial wrong below]; Nelson A. Hyde; Theodore Krehbiel; Robert L. Loud; Thomas Penney; Robert G. Purvis; Frederick Rensler; Orton V. G. Samson [misspelled below; initials reversed below]; Truman C. White; William H. Willett.
 
Document


Czolgosz May Be Tried Next Week

 

Case Will Go to the County Court Grand Jury Monday and Tuesday.
——
CRIMINAL TERM TRIAL.
——
Unless Legal Delays Are Interposed, Action Will Be Begun in Court at Once.
——
JUSTICE WHITE WILL PRESIDE.
——
Czolgosz Says He “Does Not Want a Lawyer,” Which Leads to the
Belief He May Plead Guilty of the Crime.

     Unless some accident prevents or District Attorney Penney changes his plans those of the public who are lucky enough to get into court will have their first opportunity to see Leon Czolgosz, the anarchist murderer, about the middle of next week, when he will be arraigned before Judge Emery in the County Court on the transfer of the indictment, which, it is expected, the grand jury will return against him either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Since his arrest Czolgosz has been so closely confined in the dungeon at Police Headquarters that none but the highest police and government officials have had a chance to see him.
     There will undoubtedly be an immense crowd about the City Hall and the court when he is arraigned, but the Sheriff will take care to guard his prisoner well. The authorities do not expect any trouble, but should trouble occur they will be prepared.
     Yesterday afternoon Mr. Penney stated that the case against the assassin will be presented to the County Court grand jury on Monday.
     “All dispatch will be used and he will be indicted and tried as fast as the law can act,” said Mr. Penney. “I did contemplate asking the Governor to call a special session of the Supreme Court to sit next Wednesday, but after considering the situation in all its phases I have thought it best to have the man indicted by the present grand jury, arraign him in the County Court and have his case transferred to the Supreme Court, where it will be tried as soon as possible.”

BEFORE JUSTICE WHITE.

     This means that Czolgosz will, in all probability, be tried by Justice White, who is scheduled to sit at the Criminal Term of the Supreme Court which convenes on Monday, Sept. 23, a week from tomorrow.
     Mr. Penney spent the greater part of yesterday forenoon and the early afternoon at the Milburn house, awaiting the technical verdict of the physicians and surgeons on the cause of the President’s death. Then he returned to his office and held a short conference with County Judge Emery concerning the procedure that will have to be gone through in transferring the indictment that will be found against Czolgosz from the jurisdiction of the County Court to that of the Supreme Court, as though a man may be indicted for an offense punishable with death by a County Court grand jury, only the Supreme Court can try a case in which the extreme penalty may be imposed.
     The District Attorney has all his evidence in such shape that enough for securing an indictment can be presented at once. Subpoenas will be served on witnesses today. Some were served last night. All will be summoned by tomorrow morning. There are a large number of witnesses, but it is thought that it will not be necessary to have each and all of them testify before the grand jury as in some instances the stories of two or more are practically the same.
     The assassin has not yet asked for any counsel and at the last interview Mr. Penney had with him he said that he didn’t want any. Mr. Penney says, however, it is likely that the court will assign some lawyer to defend him.

MAY PLEAD GUILTY.

     Whether Czolgosz will plead guilty or not, the authorities do not state. Some think that he may plead guilty and then try to justify his dastardly act by quoting anarchistic axioms.
     From what Sheriff Caldwell said last evening it appears that Czolgosz will very likely be confined in the County Jail, just across from the City Hall.
     “I won’t run any chances with the wretch,” said the sheriff; “while he is in my custody he won’t get any chance to escape. Neither will crowds have an opportunity to harm him as I intend to bring him to and from the court through the tunnel under Delaware avenue. I will take personal charge of him while he is in my custody.”
     Last week ironworkers were hammering and banging inside the Jail. Though the sheriff will not say definitely, it is supposed they were preparing safe quarters for the murderer so that when he is to be taken to court it will not be necessary to transport him through the streets, but, as the sheriff says, can be taken through the tunnel connecting the City Hall with the Jail.

CZOLGOSZ GRAND JURY.

     The following are the grand jurors of the County Court grand jury before whom Mr. Penney says he will present Czolgosz’s case: Wellington Beebe, cheese manufacturer, Aurora; Theodore Krehbiel, farmer, Clarence; Frederick Rensler, farmer, Hamburg; George C. Bryant, baggageman, 26 Ross avenue; Wheeler G. Holmes, 2d, farmer, Aurora; Orton G. V. Sampson, R. R. clerk, Bloomfield street; Albert E. Gray, insurance, Aurora; Richard H. Bell, mushroom grower, Newstead; Nelson A. Hyde, retired, Sardina; Robert L. Loud, piano dealer, 300 Norwood avenue; William Henry Willett, farmer, North Collins; George J. Britting, farmer, Alden; Isaac W. Gail, farmer, Wales; Christian F. Heltz, farmer, Hamburg; Robert G. Purvis, purchasing agent, 114 Mayer avenue; C. J. Bostwick.
     The jury was sworn in by Judge Emery on September 9.