Leon Czolgosz, a Polish-American anarchist, gained notoriety for assassinating American President William McKinley. Despite a challenging upbringing in poverty and limited formal education, Czolgosz’s intelligence and avid reading shaped his beliefs. Losing his job during a depression further fueled his interest in socialism, leading him to reject the state machinery that perpetuated inequality. Eventually embracing anarchism, Czolgosz’s peculiar behavior distanced him from fellow anarchists. Motivated by his protest against the system, he fatally wounded President McKinley during the Pan American Exposition. Following a swift trial, Czolgosz was executed by electrocution at the age of twenty-eight, just 45 days after the President’s death.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Leon Frank Czolgosz
- Died At Age: 28
- Family:
- Father: P. Czolgosz
- Mother: Mary Nowak
- Died on: October 29, 1901
- Place of death: Auburn, New York, United States
Childhood & Early Years
It is generally believed that Leon Frank Czolgosz was born on May 5, 1873 in Alpena, Michigan. However, police documents mention Detroit as his birthplace. There is also confusion about the exact year of his birth.
His parents, Paul Czolgosz and Mary Nowak, were first generation Polish immigrants. They were Roman Catholic by faith and moved to the USA possibly in 1872, after the birth of their third son.
Leon was born fourth of his parents’ ten children, having three elder brothers called Waldek, Frank and Joseph. He also had four younger brothers named Walter, Jacob, John, Michael and two younger sisters called Celia and Victoria. Additionally, he had two half-siblings, Charles and Antoine, from his father’s second marriage.
It is not known what the Czolgoszs did while they were living in Poland. In the USA, Paul worked as a laborer in a factory, earning less than a dollar a day, moving from place to place in search of better prospect.
Possibly in 1878, when Leon was five years old, the family moved to Detroit. After around two years, sometime around 1880, they made another move, this time to Posen, a village in Presque Isle County in the state of Michigan. Here, his father acquired a farm.
Leon did not have much formal education, attending school only for five years. A shy, pious, neat and intelligent boy, he read avidly outside school and was considered an intellectual within the family.
Anarchist
The disparity between the rich and the poor greatly angered Leon Czolgosz and slowly he began to turn towards socialist ideals, joining Golden Eagle Society, a moderate social workers’ club. Subsequently, he left Golden Eagle to join more radical Sila Club, where he was introduced to anarchism.
Over a period of time, he came to conclusion that the rich were allowed to gather more wealth at the expense of the poor because of the governmental structure. He tried to join different anarchist groups, but because of his strange behavior, he was avoided by all of them.
By 1896, he had lost faith in the God and the Church. Alienated from the world, he suffered a nervous breakdown in 1898 and lost his job. By then, his father had bought a 55 acre farm in Warrensville, Ohio and Leon now began to live there.
At his father’s farm, he spent his time in reading radical works and never helped in the chores. He also visited Chicago and Detroit frequently, being drawn to big names in anarchic movement such as Emil Schilling of Liberty Club, Abraham Isaak, editor of radical newspaper Free Society and Emma Goldman.
He became more intent in his purpose, when King Umberto I of Italy was assassinated by an anarchist called Gaetano Bresci on July 29, 1900. Bresci had told the press that he shot the King for the sake of the common man and this impressed Czolgosz even more.
Assassination of President McKinley
On August 31, 1901, Leon Czolgosz returned to Buffalo, taking a room in John Nowak’s saloon at 1078 Broadway. Sometime soon after, it was announced that President William McKinley would visit the Pan American Exposition on September 5 and 6. It was at this point Czolgosz decided to kill him.
Possibly on September 2, 1901, he bought a 32 caliber Iver Johnson “Safety Automatic” revolver (serial #463344) for $4.50. Thereafter, he waited for his chance, targeting to complete the wok on September 5.
On September 5, 1901, the President gave a speech on tariffs and foreign trade at the exposition. Although Czolgosz had gone there with the revolver, he soon realized that he would never be able to get close enough to the President. Therefore, he decided to wait for the next day.
On September 6, 1901, the President was scheduled to meet general public for ten minutes at the Temple of Music, an auditorium at the exposition ground, at 4 pm. Seizing his chance, Czolgosz stood in the queue, carrying his revolver wrapped in a handkerchief, reaching the President at 4:07 pm.
As the President extended his hand Czolgosz slapped it away and shot him at the abdomen twice. The first bullet hit a coat button and ricocheted off. But the second hit his stomach, seriously wounding him. The President succumbed to his injury on 14 September 1901.
Trial & Death
As President McKinley slumped backward, the crowd attacked Czolgosz. Although the police had to struggle hard to keep off the crowd, they were finally able to take him into custody, initially keeping him in a cell at Buffalo’s 13th Precinct house at 346 Austin Street. Later he was moved to police headquarters.
He told his interrogators that he killed the President because he believed it to be his duty. He also said that he did not think it was right that one man should have so much services and another man would have none.
Initially, it was thought that he was part of a big conspiracy. Because he had said that he was inspired by Emma Goldman’s speech, she and other anarchists were briefly arrested. Later it was found that he had acted alone.
On September 16, 1901, he was brought to the Erie County Jail and the charges were read out to him at County Judge Emery. The actual trial began on 23 September 1901.
Although he was provided with defense lawyer he refused to cooperate with them. Neither did he say anything in his defense during the trial. His defense lawyers therefore claimed that he was insane.
The juries also conceded that no sane person would shoot the President in such a closed space. At the same time, he could not be legally defined an insane because he knew the consequence of his action.
On September 24, 1901, after deliberating for only an hour, the jury convicted him guilty, unanimously recommending death penalty on 26 September. All along, he remained quiet without showing any emotion.
On October 29, 1901, Czolgosz was electrocuted in Auburn Prison. He was given three jolts, each of 1800 volts. His last words were, “I am not sorry for my crime. I am sorry I could not see my father.”
Although his family members wanted to take his body for a proper burial, fearing mob violence, the prison authorities refused to hand it over. Instead, they buried him within the prison ground after covering his body with sulfuric acid for quick decomposition.