Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-16
WHERE eUITEAU LIVED.
What a Member of the Oneida Com
munity Says Of the Assassin.
A Girl al Crazed.
Philadelphia Times Lottor.l


speech, which he prepared to deliver
in court, but which was published in
the newspapers, denounces the Oneida
Community and John Humphreys
in unmeasured terms.
The other day a member OF the Com
which Guiteau was so bitter
against was met on a train Of the New
J ersey Midland railroad which runs
TO Oneida, and, having been shown
what the assassin said, was asked what
he thought of it.
why, said he, "Guiteau was one
of the meanest fellows we ever had to
deal with. Our people have been very
lenient with him so far as his history
is connected with ours. He can't drag
us down with himself"
THE statement that members ofthe
are not in half as much
hot water as the papers have reported
is true. We older men and women
who associated with Mr.. Noyes are, as
a natural consequence, in full sympa-
thy with the doctrines he taught while
he was building up the Community,
and the younger members who have
been married during the past two
years are opposed to US. That is all
there was Of this reported war among
the members. These newspaper re-
porters come around, and fthey geta
dozen words they will make as many
columns out Of them. We would
rather see the devil himself get off the
train than see one of those reporters.
We make it a rule never to impart the
slightest information to newspaper
writer's"
"The clergy went for you pretty
strong not long ago, didn't they2'
dueried the reporter, whom the mem
Der evidently mistook for a CONNER.
oial traveller.
"Yes," he replied, but we did not
care for that. 1t was the press of the
country that gave us so much trouble.
A gentleman whose farm adjoins the
Community property was interviewed.
Said he: "These folks are excellent
neighbors, for they keep their fences
all repaired; but | would as quick
think of taking my wife and family
into the vilest slums Of New York
City as to let them go into that Com
munity,"
"0n a farm adjoining mine lives a
woman, about thirty or thirty.fve
years old-a most agreeable lady. She
was born in the Community, and
paints the inmates in the blacklist col.
ors. She says that when she was a
pretty young girl of about sixteen She
was confined in an underground cell Of
the most loathsome character, and
fed on bread and water, because she
would not conform to Mr.. Noyes'
teachings and submit herself to him.
Why, sir, they misused hat young
woman SO that she was on the verge Of
insanity, when her brother took her
in hand and made her leave the place
forever. He afterward commenced a
suit against the Community to compel
them to return to the young woman
the property belonging to her. She
was paid $1,000 cash to settle the mat
ter, and the case was never brought
for trial. Guiteau's head is certainly
pretty level when he says that "Noye;
has broken up more reputsbleiamilies
debauehed more young women aud
caused more misery by his fanaticism
and RIGHTEOUSNESS than any man Of
the present century"
II was slightly acquainted with
Guiteau," continued the old gentle
man." and | had forgotten him en-
tirely until he turned up so promi
nently last July. He was once thu
driver Of the Community stage, ant
invited me to ride with him.
accepted the invitation aud he said u
me: This is pretty low business for
man Of my education. | might a
well be President of the United State
as to be here. ! think, however, it i
dangerous business to be President
/ don't you? Abe Lincoln, you know
was shot; Andrew jackson was shot at
and by the way, l believe the MAJ
Lawrence who shot at him was insane
and if Booth hadn't been shot, | thinl
the courts would have decided h
was insane, too
you see,'' said the old gentleman
who gave this peculiarly interestin
"reminiscences, IF Guiteau hadn't she
President Garfield, l would nevo
have thought of this conversation
had with him. 1t is a strange fac
that Guiteau's actions since he ha
been on trial are almost similar t
those Of the assassin Lawrence, wit
the facts of whose trial he seems to b
perfectly c%onversant."
Mr.. William Cairns, Of Rocklan
county, New York, to wnom this cor
v%ersation was directed, has been sub
p@naed, it is said. as a witness q
Washington by District Attorne
Corkhill.
Guiteau evidently hated Noyes wit
about as much intensity as his sstani
majesty is supposed to hate holy water
In the published speech" prepare.
by Guiteau, he says: "EIad Noyes ha
his dues, he would have been hun
thirty years ago Tor crimes committe
with his own flesh and hood, and
would have been a godsend to a goo
many decent people il he had been.