The Case Against Czolgosz

Grand Jury of Erie County Will Be Asked to Indict—Suspect Will Sue for Damages.

Special to The New York Times.

     BUFFALO, Sept. 10.—There is much in the nature of wild speculation being published concerning the progress made by the local and Federal police and prosecuting officers in establishing a conspiracy among Anarchists which resulted in the shooting of the President by Czolgosz. Nothing has developed in the situation here to justify any direct statements along this line. The situation can be summed up very briefly as follows:
     The Erie County Grand Jury will convene next week. Czolgosz will be indicted for assault in the first degree on one or more counts. The Grand Jury will at the same time be ready to consider any evidence which District Attorney Penney may have to submit to it implicating others in the attempt upon the President’s life or in a plot which may have resulted in the attempt.
     It can be stated positively, however, that up to this time the local authorities have no evidence to submit to the Grand Jury implicating anybody with Czolgosz, except possibly Emma Goldman, who is under arrest in Chicago. In her case it is admitted that there is nothing resting against her except her known anarchist ideas and the fact that Czolgosz has stated that he knows her and that her teachings had inspired him to attempt to take the life of the President.
     Vice President Roosevelt, in discussing the case before leaving to-night, said:
     “I see no need for the call of an extraordinary Grand Jury. The Grand Jury will be composed of American citizens, and will undoubtedly take care of the would-be assassin, and the authorities of Erie County will, for county, State, and National pride, make a vigorous prosecution. Unless Gov. Odell is asked to interfere, I see no need of his calling an extra term or deputizing an Assistant Attorney General to prosecute.”
     When asked as to the enacting of legislation against Anarchists, he said:
     “I have not thought much on the matter. What has disturbed me has been to find a reason for even Anarchists to attack a man like President McKinley. Here is the one country where they are allowed perfect freedom of speech. Here the ruler is a man, descended from farmer stock, self-made. Here is a man who has no fortune or no means other than that which he may manage to save out of his salary as President. Probably many a workingman in the United States to-day has as large an amount of real estate as Mr. McKinley.
     “In addition, he is a kindly disposed Christian gentleman, and in every great emergency in which he could act he has been a friend of the common people. Why should he be shot at, then, even by Anarchists?”
     Alfonso Stutz, the German officer held in custody for three days on suspicion of complicity in the attempt on the life of President McKinley, was released to-day. He says he will demand damages for false imprisonment. He asked first for the German Consul and then for a German lawyer, and said that he would sue the authorities for $100,000. He said that he told the truth and produced his credentials when first arrested, but the police refused to believe him. He said that he saw Czolgosz at Nowak’s Hotel, but never talked with him.