Czolgosz Sees a Priest, but He Refuses to Repent

President McKinley’s Slayer Unwilling to Renounce Anarchy and Return to Faith of His Early Years.

     Auburn, N. Y., Oct. 22.—Leon F. Czolgosz, the assassin of President McKinley, who is awaiting electrocution in the prison here during the week commencing next Monday, this afternoon received a visit from the Rev. T. Szadinski, a Polish priest of the Roman Catholic Church.
     Father Szadinski, who is pastor of St. Stanislaus’ Church, Rochester, was in this city and was asked to visit the prisoner. This afternoon he went to the prison and remained there about an hour.
     The interview between priest and prisoner proved unsatisfactory to both. It took place in the condemned man’s cell and the conversation was carried on in Polish. During the interview Czolgosz said that he had been baptized in the Roman Catholic faith in the Polish church in Detroit. He had abandoned the church early in life and had lost all faith in its teachings. Father Szadinski urged him to renounce his belief in anarchy and return to the faith of his early years. Czolgosz declared his inability to do so, and he was informed that unless he could the consolation of the church would be denied him.
     The priest urged the condemned man to consider the matter carefully and told him that if at any time he decided to reëmbrace the faith he would return from his home in Rochester and stay with him until the end.
     Father Szadinski, before taking his departure, left with Czolgosz some Catholic literature printed in Polish, and also some emblems of the church. Czolgosz assured Father Szadinski that in case he determined to accept the offices of religion he would send for him, but he did not hold out much hope that he would renounce the doctrines of anarchy.
     Warden Mead and Superintendent Collins, at their conference in Albany yesterday, arranged all the details and fixed upon those to be invited to witness the execution.
     The law requires that invitations be sent out three days before the date of execution, and the law will be lived up to in the present instance.