The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-07-13


the man had gained sufficient strength /
and composure an effort might be made
to find the ball. Directions we're given
that the President should SEQ as few
persons as possible and that he should
be kept from conversation or making
any particular effort whatever After
consultation it was determined by the
surgeons that at 3 o'clock, if the condi-
tion of the President would permit,
they would probe for the ball. When
the hour arrived it was found that the
President was not in condition to under
go the operation, and from this time he
began to show symptoms that were re-
garded as very Observation-Disclosures
hemorrhage having been distinctly lyrecog-
nized
During the afternoon, although suffer
ing intensely from his wound, the Pres
ident several times gaye exhibition Of
his well-known good nature and genial
disposition. At one time, while Secre-
tary Blaine was sitting at his bedside,
the President, turning his head, said
" Blaine, what motive do you think that.
man could have had in trying to assas-
sinate me?" 81 do not know, Mr..
President; he says he had no motive
be must be insane" To this the Presi-
dent smilingly answered "I suppose
he thought it would be a glorious thing
to emulate the pirate chief" At an
| other time, when one of his sons was
sobbing at his bedside the President
said: "Don't be alarmed, Jimmy, the
upper story is all right, it is only the
hull that is q little damaged" When
! Colonel Rockwell announced to him
that Mrs. Garfield had started on a
special train from Long Branch, he said
with evident feeling: "God bless the
little woman; hope the shock won't
break her down."
ARREST OF TIRE ASSASSIN.
Immediately upon hearing the pistol
shot Officer Kearney, who remained at
his post of duty near the b street en-
trance after the President entered the
building, ran into the large reception
room, and was in time to see the as
sassin running toward the east deor,
which opens on Sixth street. Before
reaching this door the assassin turned
back to make his way out of the north
door, where he was met and arrested by
Officer Kearney. The officer met the
prisoner on the steps and said to him:
81 must arrest you" "All right" said
the assassin, "I did it and will go to
Jail for it. 1 am q stalwart, and Arthur
will be President" Officer Kearney
took his prisoner into the large waiting
room, where he was joined by one of
the railroad officers and escorted to
police headquarters. On the way he
gave Kearney card on which was writ
ten: "Charles Guiteau, of Illinois,"
that being the prisoners name. Guiteau
is described ON the books at police
headquarters as follows: "Charles
Guiteau, arrested at 9:25, July 2, 1881,
for shooting President Garfield; aged
thirty-six; white; born in the United
States and lawyer by profession;
weight, 1870 pounds; has dark brown,
thin whiskers and sallow complexion;
dressed in a dark suit with black
slouch hat"
Mrs. Sarah V. E. White, the lady in
charge of the waiting-room at the depot,
was the person who first reached the
President after he was shot. She thus
describes the shooting and arrest of
Guiteau: :" saw the whole thing. The
man came in from the door, emf ring
the ladies' room from the main waiting
! ! l.
die door from B street Wien he had
approached within five feet of the
President he fred, aiming, / thought, at
the Presidents heart, and missed him.
The President did not seem to nOtice
him, but walked right on past the man.
He fred again and the President fell.
He fell right at the turn of the second
row of seats. was the first to reach
him and lifted up his head. The jan
itor rushed in and called the police. /
held him until some men came and
lifted him up. He did not speak to me
or to any one until young man, who. ]
think, was his son, came. After he had
vomited 1 think he said something TO
him. When he was lifted upon the
mattress he spoke or groaned. The
man who shot him said nothing; no
words at all passed between them. The
man walked deliberately out of the
, center door, where somebody headed
him of. He turned and started back
the way he came, and was seized at the
) door by the police. l have seen the
, man once or twice before. One time in
! particular L noticed him, few days ago.
, He promenaded up and down Just as he
did to. day, wiping his face and appar.
emily excited I thouPht he was wait
ing Tor some trends. This morning ne
! waited here half an hour walking up and
: down. There were few people in the
! ! room when the shot was fred. All the
passengers had gone out. think there
I was gentleman near the door,"
.. The following letter was taken from
the prisoners pocket at police head
quarters, showing conclusively his in
tention to kill the President
july 2, 1881.
To he While House:
The Presidents tragic death was q
sad necessity, but it will unite the Re
publican party and save the republic.