For Anarchy's Sake

September 6, 1901 – Leon Czolgosz shot President William McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Czolgosz was heavily influenced by the anarchist movement, and it is believed he modeled his crime after the assassination of King Umberto I of Italy by anarchist Gaetano Bresci one year earlier. The assassination took place inside the Temple of Music, where President McKinley was greeting guests in a receiving line. At approximately 4:07 p.m. Czolgosz reached the front of the line. When the President extended his hand, Czolgosz slapped it away and fired two shots into the President’s abdomen at point blank range. President McKinley survived for eight days before succumbing to the wounds. Czolgosz was immediately seized by the crowd before members of the National Guard and the police intervened and beat him so severely it was thought he might not survive. Czolgosz’s trial began 17 days after the shooting on September 23. However, Czolgosz refused to speak to his court appointed attorneys and remained silent throughout the trial. Because of his lack of cooperation Czolgosz’s attorneys were unable to offer a defense, and instead hoped the jury would accept an insanity plea. In the end Czolgosz was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. He was executed on October 29, 1901, less than two months after committing his crime.