The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-07
MURDER OF Thu PRESIDENT /
ARREST OF THE ASSASSIN i!
A Graphic Account Of the Shooting
A Sketch of the would-be Murderer
THE PRESIDENT STILL ALIVE.
HIS CONDITION RAPIDLY IMPROVING

HIS CONDITION RAPIDLY IMPROVING
James A. Garfield, President Of the United
States, was shot and dangerously wounded on
Saturday morning last, at the Baltimore u
Potomac Depot, Washington. The would-be
assassin is named Charles Guiteau, generally
worthless creature, who is said to be insane.
For three days President Garfeld's life hung
in the balance, and it was thought that
he could not possibly live. Indeed
the. report was more than once sent
abroad that the wound had proved fatal,
but fortunately for the whole nation, the re-
port proved untrue. A strong and vigorous
constitution, sustained by an indomitable
ill and the most heroic courage, have at last,
it is believed. snatched the great chieftain
from the jaws of death, to restore him, in q
little while, to the rulership of the people
whose hearts have gone out to him in bis
affliction with unanimity without parallel
in the history of the world. From all sections
of the Union and from all countries of Chris
tendon kilograms of coincidence and sympa-
thy have poured into the Executive Mansion,
and ifwords OF tenderest solictude and cheer
could confer life, the President would be
immortal
The Presidents condition has gradually i'm
proved since Sunday night, and now the
strongest hopes are INDUCED ofhis restoration.
AT $50 O'Clock last night the following de-
spatch was issued from the Executive Man
SION
"The Presidents condition remains favor
able. He has passed a very comfortable day,
taking more nourishment than yesterday
Pulse. 104; temperature, 100 6-10 respiration,
49, No further bulletin will be issued to-
night unless the condition becomes unfavor-
able. D. w. BLISS,
j. f. BARNES,
J. ]. WOODWARD.
Up to II o'clock last night, no change had
been reported. We may therefore safely con-
graduate our readers on the cheering pros
poets of the Presidents recovery
Details of the tragedy are given below.
THE TRAGIC NARRATIVE.
The story of the shooting, though tlra-
matte enough in some OF its details. can BE-
toldi in few words 1t was announced
several days since that the President would
start this morning on all Eastern tour. to
assist in several college commandments.
| He arrived at the B street entrance of the
Baltimore and Potomac Road about 9: 80
O'Clock. the others of his party having ar
rived shortly before him. They consisted
of Secretary and Mrs. Hunt. Secretary
| Window and Mrs. Window. Postmaster
General James and others. all OF whom had
taken seats in the cars. The President was
accompanied by Secretary Blaine. They
came in the same carriage, the President
entering the depot in the lead. AS he
stepped out OF his carriage he asked police
officer Kearney. the depot officer, IL he had
any time to spare. Mr.. Kearney answered.
Eyes, few minutes" The officer then
turned his back and in an instant the re-
ports of two pistol shots, the one following
close upon the other were heard. Charles
Guiteau, the assassin. had been seen to en-
ter the depot few minutes before the Pres.
ident arrived, though his actions were not
OF a character to attract the attention Of
those who were in the depot. He stood in
about the centre of the hall leading from
the B-street entrance or ladies' room, and
advanced towards the President as lie en-
tered. Without giving any notice whatever
of his intentions, he fired, the ball from the
| first shot entering the shoulder. The Pres
| ident at this juncture turned, when Guiteau
fired the second time, the ball entering the
back, lodging in the kidneys. This stag
gered the President and he fell to the floor.
Mrs. White. the janitress Of the ladies'
room at the depot, first ran to the Presl-
dent. Secretary Blaine was SO shocked by
the occurrence that he first ran after the as
sassin, and AFTER finding that he was in the
| one to6u 1T officer rQtnrnQA RI 70
side of the President, who was taken up
stairs to the Superintendent's room, where
| in few moments several surgeons were in
| attendance upon him. They expressed
the gravest doubts the moment they saw
what direction the ball had taken. The
wound bled freely, though the homorrhage
was at no time very prOfuse. The Presi.
dent vomited slightly and tainted, but in
short time recovered consciousness and
talked freely to those around him. In an
hour it was thought better to remove him
to the White House, which was done by
means of the police ambulance, Drs. Bliss,
Wales and Surgeons General Barnes riding
| with him. Col. Corbin sitting with the driver,
and Col. Rockwell, the superintendent of
public buildings and grounds. standing on
the rear step. DR.. Lincoln and couple OF
the other physicians followed in the wagon
of the chief Of the fire department., which
happened to be near the depot at the time.
There was much excitement in the crowd,
and many threats of lynching were heard,
loud and violent curses being heaped upon
the act of the assassin. Anticipating that
there was a possibility of this excitement
taking shape in some form, the chief OF po-
lice ordered Guiteap to be taken Immediate
ly to jail, which was done. From the mo-
ment Of his arrest, he displayed but little
excitement, saying upon his arrival at po-
lice headquarters that he had nothing to
say IN regard to the matter, which he had
fully explained in number of letters which
he handed to Lieut.. Eckloff. They were
tied up in package, on the outside OF
which was a letter addressed to the public,
as follows
July 2, 1881.
"To the White House.-The Presidents
tragic death vas sad necessity, but it will
unite the Republican party and save the
Republic. Life is fiimsy dream, and it
matters little when one goes. A human
life is Of small value During the war thou
sands of brave boys went down without a
tear. presume that the President was a
Christian, and that he will be happier in
Paradise than here. 1t will be no worse
for Mrs. Garfield, dear soul, to part with
her husband this way than by natural death;
he is liable to 90 at any time anyway.
had no ill-will toward the President.
His death was political necessity. I
am lawyer, a theologian and a politician.
| am stalwart of the stalwarts. was with
General Grant and the rest OF our men in
New York during the canvass. ] have
some papers for the press, which | shall
leave with BYRON Andrews and his cO-iOur-