The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-07-13
SENATOR BECK'S
STORY OF THE ADSASsIaAEuOn
And = hySlsrIOuS TOHag Man WhO
, KneW All AbOni II Ihs Night De.
EOFe-Ths Senator's Prompt
Arrival on the Scene
Of ths Shooting.

LousVnLE, KY, July 12,-HOu. jane
B. Beck arrived in the city this morning
and was speedily found by q Courier
Journal reporter 'f
"Mr. Beck" said the reporter, "you are
just from Washington, and people gSner
ally would like to hear from you directly
as to the attempt on the Pfesidsnts liis,"
II have been suffering during the fore
moor" said Mr.. Beck, yand ! am hardly
equal to an interview, but I viii tell you
briefly oil | know" -,
"Where were you on the morning Of
the assassinAtion2"
~ was about six hundred yards from the
spot where the shot was hrsd, was driv'
ing to the ticket Office to bring my family
home, and Was driving down Ninth street
Just past the Patent Office, when colored
man who knew me ran out and said,
"The President has been shot" made
some skeptical remark, when looking
down street cav mounted men flying in
every direction. ordered the driver 10
20 90 fast Rs possible 70 the depot, and we
arrived there while the President was yet
lying on the floor,
|, "The crowd was already immense, and
increasing every moment, and very much |
excited. Quite number gathered about
me, aud diSpositlon TO lynch the muir
derer seemed 70 be general, remons-
tratsd with this sentiment, saying II
would not be sufficient explation Of 80
monstrons Q crlme-A crime agAinst
whole Nation and civilization itself,
"a Young man came up 10 me and
said, Mr., Beck, knew this last night l
said, my God, can 1t be q conspiracyP'
He said, Il don't know, but / knew thiO
would happen last night, and dlsap.
peared. l am glad l did not recognise
that, young man. ! suppose he was OK.
cited and beside himself"
"When was the last time you saw the
President before he was wounded2"
"0n Thursday afternoon. We passed
quite little while together. He was
unusually klnd, buoyant and happy. His
desire was to do oil he could Tor some
constituents Of mine, In whose interest
called. He began TO talk Of hls wiie's III.
ness, and the happiness he expected to
haya during his holiday. His eyes filled
ss hstRlked, and when we parted he gave
me one Of bis left.handed blows on the
shoulder which, l told him, would carry
home a. love.lick."
Z. "Did you see him after the Bhootingp
mo, but called at the White House
and gave him n prescription which, I am
sure, was oil service. | told the cabinet
that In my belief II Mrs. Garfield should
break down on her arrival II would kill
him. His mind wsa solely engaged about
her, andI begged that Mrs. Blsine, who is
one Of the brayaat women In tho world,
and Q woman Of hrAins % well 10 nerve,
should meet her and prepare her. This
was done. Mrs. Garfield allowed herself
a woman Of courage, and all went well.
One amile from his wiis was worth more
to the haltdying PresidOnt than oil the
doctors"
"Do you think the President will 70.
cover2"
"Ethink he will. His only danger now
10 too speedy removal. II they will leave
him alone he will recover. Ifthey attempt
prematurelyto change his position, be
may have arelapge. Everything has been
In bis favor. He 10 boy In health and at
heart a good Christian man, who does
not fear TO die. He feels that he has run
q career wropging no man, and he "a now
ready to 90. But he don't want to 20, and ,
is full of cheer and hope. ! believe there.
fore, he will get vel" a.,
"What OF the Vice PfOAldentT'
"He ID not q bad man. He ia soft.
hearted and has suffered not little. The
reports have not been exaggerated. Heis
really kind, good man, and whom saw
him he was overwhelmed The laat thing :
he wanted was the Presidency"
"Do you think there was o conspiracy ?"
i"0i that sm entirely without Informs. /
tion." IqsFl
I"What about the failure Of the Demo.
nratg 10 elect President OF the seuate7n
'"They had no chance. The Vice Pr0Bl.
dent never vacated The chair.v gt 1rli
"But did be not offer 10 do so?"
"The facts are these; The Republicans
agreed to 70 into au election Il the
Democrats would elect Senator Harris, OF
Tennessee. The Democrats, who have Q
high regard for Senator Harris, were
willing 10 accetle 10 this proposition; but
Senator Harris, who. 70 an unseAsh
Democrat, refused to secept the Office
thus rendered. There was consequently
40 election that is alln