The Attempted Assassination of ex-President Theodore Roosevelt Part 25

A. How near? It was on the other side of the street.

Q. Is that the nearest you got to him?

A. Yes.

Mr. Zabel:

Did you carry your revolver at that time in your pocket?

A. No.

Q. You had one that you----

A. In here (indicating hip pocket).

Q. Where did you go--to the Coliseum---- Why did you go to the Coliseum if you didn't intend to shoot him in Chicago?

A. Indeed I did intend to. I am just telling you I didn't intend to do it that morning when he was being received there. I thought I would get a better chance.

Q. So it was a matter of chance or was it a matter of your wanting to kill him in front of the hotel?

A. When he was being received?

Q. Do you mean by that that you didn't want to kill him in front of the La Salle but that you were perfectly willing to kill him when he was away?

[Ill.u.s.tration: F. C. Studley, D. W. Harrington, Richard Dewey, Chairman, W. F. Becker, William F. Wegge--Members of Sanity Commission.]

A. I was willing to kill him, that is all, but I was I just wasn't willing to kill him at the reception. I told you that three times I didn't want the city of Chicago to feel sore that a stranger comes along at the beginning----

Q. Just a matter of the time?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Now that he had---- That was Sat.u.r.day morning?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Now when you went---- Did you go to the Coliseum?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Where did you stand---- How near were you to him?

A. Well, as near as I could get in the crowd. As near as the crowd let me get there, mostly in the middle of the street.

Q. Well, how near were you to the automobile?

A. I could not see the automobile coming. They came in a different way.

I was in the main entrance and they came on the side way.

Q. You were standing at the main entrance?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Where did you have the gun--here?

A. Here. In here.

Q. In your vest pocket?

A. Yes, sir. Here is the hole (indicating exhibiting a hole in the lower left hand vest pocket).

Q. Right through here?

A. And down in the trousers.

Q. And you were waiting at the main entrance?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. What time did you get to that main entrance?

A. I could not tell you now, sir.

Q. Well, approximately.

A. Well, perhaps half an hour before he came.

Q. You were right by the portal or door?

A. No, sir; I was in the middle of the street.

Q. You intended to shoot him right from the street?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Now then, when you found he came into the other entrance what did you do then?

A. I went up. I could not do nothing. I had to wait until he comes out.

Q. Did you wait until he came out?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Where did you wait?

A. At the main entrance again.