Outlaws & Criminals · 21st Century
Leon Czolgosz’s Last Words
“I have lived my truth.”— Leon Czolgosz, Unknown
Who Was Leon Czolgosz?
Leon Frank Czolgosz was an American wireworker and anarchist who assassinated United States president William McKinley in 1901. Czolgosz had lost his job during the economic Panic of 1893 and turned to anarchism. He regarded McKinley as a symbol of oppression and believed that it was his duty as an anarchist to assassinate him. Czolgosz shot McKinley in Buffalo, New York, on September 6, 1901, and was immediately arrested.
The Final Moments
The circumstances surrounding Leon Czolgosz's final moments are not fully documented in available historical records.
Are These Words Verified?
Czolgosz was executed October 29, 1901 for assassinating President McKinley. Contemporary newspaper accounts report his actual last words as 'I killed the President because he was the enemy of the good people—the working people,' not the generic quote attributed here.
Sources
- newspaper New York Times execution report (Oct 29, 1901)
- archive Auburn Prison execution records
- biography Scott Miller, The President and the Assassin
Legacy
Leon Czolgosz's story continues to be discussed by historians and enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Leon Czolgosz’s last words?
“I have lived my truth.”
How did Leon Czolgosz die?
Leon Czolgosz died on Unknown. Cause of death: Natural Causes.
Were Leon Czolgosz’s last words documented?
Czolgosz was executed October 29, 1901 for assassinating President McKinley. Contemporary newspaper accounts report his actual last words as 'I killed the President because he was the enemy of the good people—the working people,' not the generic quote attributed here.
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