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Detegtive [sic] Ireland
M’KINLEY’S BODYGUARD TELLS OF THE SHOOTING OF THE
PRESIDENT
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BANDAGE HID THE WEAPON
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Shots Were Fired as Mr. McKinley Extended His Hand to Greet the
Murderous Anarchist.
BUFFALO, Sept. 7.—In an interview Secret
Service Detective Ireland, who, with Officers Foster and Gallagher
were near the president when the shots were fired, said:
“It is incorrect, as has been stated,
that the least fear of an assault was entertained by the presidential
party. Since the Spanish war the president hos [sic] traveled all
over the country and has met people everywhere. In Canton he walks
to church and down town [sic] without a sign of secret service men
of any kind as his escort. In Washington he walks about the White
House grounds, drives out freely, and has enjoyed much [freedom?]
from the presence of detectives.
“It has been my custom to stand back
of the president and just to his left so that I could see the right
hand of every person approaching, but yesterday I was requested to
stand opposite the president so that Mr. Milburn could stand to the
left and introduce the people who approached. In that way I was unable
to get a good look at everyone’s right hand.
“A few moments before Czogolzs approached
a man came along with three fingers of his right hand tied up in a
bandage and he had shaken hands with his left. When Czologsz came
up I noticed he was a boyish-looking fellow with an innocent face,
perfectly calm, and I also noticed that his right hand was wrapped
in what appeared to be a bandage. I watched him closely, but was interrupted
by the man in front of him, who held on to the president’s hand an
unusually long time. The man appeared to be an Italian, and wore a
short, heavy black mustache. He was persistent, and it was necessary
for me to push him along so that the others could reach the president.
Just as he released the president’s hand and as the president was
reaching for the hand of the assassin there were two quick shots.
Startled for a moment, I looked and saw the president draw his right
hand up under his coat, straighten up, and, pressing his lips together,
gave Czolgsz the most scornful and contemptuous look possible to imagine.
“At the same time I reached for the
young man, caught his left arm. The big negro standing just back of
him and who would have been next to take the president’s hand, struck
the young man in the neck with one hand, and with the other reached
for the revolver, which had been discharged through the handkerchief,
and the shots from which had set fire to the linen.
“Immediately a dozen men fell upon the
assassin and bore him to the floor. While on the floor Czologsz again
tried to discharge the revolver, but before he could point it at the
president it was knocked from his hand by the negro. It flew across
the floor and one of the artillerymen picked it up and put it in his
pocket.
“On the way down to the station Czologsz
would not say a word, but seemed greatly agitated.” |
