Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-02

I~.s "A innocenf rs = baby. / do not
know that I had any special fear, but kept
the point away from me pretty veil.
| O-When DID you practice the hrst une-
i Al think bought the revolver IN the
middle Of the week and went down lIth 81
Saturday evening about o'clock. Inc nrss
time / fred it of il nearly k0ocked me over
and scared me.
| Odd you hit the sapling.
| Al hit it the first time and not any other
| tine.
Odd the sapiing go very nearly Is 0ar-
| field went?
| Al don't know.
| O-Have YOU ever had occasion to speak 1t
that he went down as that sapling:
| Al never used that expression IN the
world
| Q-when did you try it again!
Al went down a week or two aiter tnat
and fred it again. When had nnisneu !
put the pistol in my pocket and went back
to my room and wiped it and laid 1t in my
drawer. and there it remained couple OF
weeks.
Odd YOU have it with you the day yon
intended TO kill President Garfield, the 10th
of June?
Alt was the 18th.
Odd you have the pistol with you!
| Ayes.
O-During all this time were you on the
| lookout for Garfeld's movements!
Al was looking out for him somewhat.
Odd you go the White House!
Al never was in that neighborhood.
Q-When did he go to Long Branch!
About the third week in June.
O-Among those scraps which you pre-
served were there any saying when he would
90 TO and return from Long Branch!
Al think that was mentioned.
Q-You kept that for the purpose Of keep
ing an eye on his movements!
Al was watching his movements.
Q-When did you begin watching the
Presidents movements!
About the time he and Mrs Garfield
went to Long Branch.
Odd YOU not go to the White House
grounds to see when he went out!
Al did not go near the White House
grounds or if did it was IN the latter part
of June. used to sit in the park opposite
the White House.
Q-For the purposing OF observing him
and atching your chance?
Al wanted to execute the Divine will
and to obviate all this loose talk, will state
that would have removed the President any
time from the middle of June until shot
him, if had an opportunity.
o. thought your mind was clear from the
first of June!
Alt was, but was not actually ready to
do the act until the middle of June.
Q-And had not practiced any with your
pistol?
A-That is not the point. What do YOU
want to put that in for? l had good deal
to do until the middle of June. l Invent to
work to revise my book (''Truth'O. knew
there would be some demand for that. did
also several other matters, personal matters.
As matter of fact at any time after the
middle of June l should have shot him if
had the opportunity. Any time l should
have executed the Divine will. So that dis
poses of all that loose talk about the out
ward act, The entire responsibility of this
thing is on the Deity; it his act and he can
take care of it, He has taken care of it thus
far and He will continue to take care of it.
Q-Then what was the necessity that you
should appear as a witness!
A-The Deity uses certain men to serve
him. He is using this honorable court and
jury, and these policemen, and these troops
to serve him and protect me. don't want
any more talk on this subject.
After some further questioning Judge
Porter asked
If Gen. Garfield had sent in your name to
the Senate for the Paris consulship, you
would have laid in wait and murdered him?
Al would not have accepted the office.
Odd you have any malice?
Al repudiate you for making that allu-
sion. You know as we'll as do that never
had any malice. He was my personal and
| political friend.
| Witness then explained that his personal
| friendship with President Garfield consisted
| in speaking with him once and his political
| friendship in belonging to the same political
party. He did not consider it necessary to
be mans bedfellow to be his friend.
Q-And you had no i'll will?
! Al had no i'll will against him.
Q-And no i'll will against your sister when
you raised an axe against her?
Al never raised an axe against her.
Q-You had no i'll will against your
brother when you struck him9
Al never struck him.
Perter-You think Gen. Garfield was to
blame in appointing Mr. Blaine Secretary of
State?
| Al think most decidedly that it was a
very unwise thing. say it was an open in
suit to Grant and Conkling for Garfield to
appoint their worst enemy. think that that
caused all the harm with bang on the rail-
ing). 1t made it so bitter for Grant and
Conkling and Arthur, that they would not
go to the White House. l say that with
more banging of his fist on the railing) to the
American people, to the jury and to the
court.
Q-Is this what you said in your note to
Mr.. Blaine: II am very glad, personally,
that the President selected you for his pre-
mier.'
Al said that.
Q-Was that true?
Alt was true at that time.
i Q-You were glad?
Al was glad. cater pause) that needs
a modification.
Q-What modification does it need.
A-The modification is that at that time
Gen. Garfield had not insulted Grant and
Conkling by Robertson's appointment and
Merrtt's withdrawal.
Q-Then you were Blaine man until that
time?
l A-Under the circumstances l was.
thought Blaine good fellow and was glad
to see him promoted. thought and so did
other stalwarts that Garfield was disposed to
do the fair thing by the stalwyrts bat after he
appointed Blaine and got under Blaine's in
hueuce he studied wickedly to slaughter
Grant and Conkliny and to pave the way for
Garfeld's nomination in "a.
| O-You saw in the same note 81 have got