The Would-Be Assassin

     Buffalo, Sept. 6.—Leon Czolgosz, the accused and self-confessed assassin, has signed a confession covering six pages of foolscap, which states that he is an anarchist, and that he became an enthusiastic member of that body through the influence of Emma Goldman, whose writings he had read and whose lectures he had listened to. He denies having any confederate, and says he decided on the act three days ago, and bought the revolver with which the act was committed in Buffalo. He has seven brothers and sisters in Cleveland. Some of them are butchers and others in different trades. He is now detained at police headquarters pending the results of the president’s injuries. Czolgosz does not appear in the least degree uneasy or penitent for his action. He says he was induced by his attention to Emma Goldman’s lectures and writings to decide that the present form of government in this country was all wrong, and he thought the best way to end it was by killing the president. He shows no sign of insanity, but is very reticent about much of his career. While acknowledging himself as an anarchist, he does not state to what branch of the organization he belongs.
     The would-be assassin is a Pole, 28 years old, stands 5 feet 9 inches high, weighs 160 pounds, has dark brown hair, blue eyes, smooth face, regular features with prominent nose. He speaks very good English, and has claimed to come from Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit, but has told so many stories that his home is still a matter of conjecture.
     At the home of John Nowaks, 810 Broadway, it was stated that Czolgosz came here last Saturday. He said he was from Toledo, and that he came to Buffalo to see the exposition. He was alone and had no visitors. His valise contained an empty revolver case and a few clothes.
     Detroit, Sept. 6.—Late tonight a newspaper reporter discovered that a man named Alfred Nieman had boarded at 178 Russell street up to two weeks ago, when he left for Buffalo. The description of Fred Nieman was read to Alfred Nieman’s former landlady, and she declared it fitted him, excepting as to the color of hair. Alfred Nieman was a wagon maker.
     Buffalo, Sept. 6.—The police have just learned that the real name of the would-be assassin is Leon Czolgocz. He was born in Detroit and came here from Cleveland.
     Chicago, Sept. 6.—Five anarchists were arrested here tonight on information from Buffalo. One of the five is Abraham Isekk.
     Chicago, Sept. 6.—Six men were placed under arrest in this city tonight on the charge of being implicated in the plot to assassinate President McKinley. The men were all found in one house at the corner of St. John’s Place and Carroll avenue, on the west side of the city. The arrests were made on information from the police of Buffalo, who said that the men were members of a society to which the assailant of the president belonged, and that they had knowledge of the plot. The police have not yet given out the names of the men taken into custody, but one of the men is known to be Abraham Isekk, president of an organization which bears the name of Free Society. He was formerly editor of a paper of anarchistic principles, which bore the name of the Firebrand. The information received by the local police from Buffalo is to the effect that the plot to kill the president was originated among the members of the Free Society, and that the Buffalo prisoner was chosen by lot to commit the crime.