Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-21

TO be inspired. once in connection with ha en-
teI1nG the Oneida Community once preceding
MS attempt To establish the TheocrGf: once In
connection with the writing of his lecture, and
ms book the Truth: and that subsequent to tire
attempt to procure Office aud sometime after
the shooting of the President. while in contine-
ment in Jail and awaiting trial. he said that he
was INSPIRED by the Deity to- do that act. and
SAID that tie idea came to him one night. about
the 18TH OF Nay. which was about five days after
the interview with Secretary Blaine about the
Parls c0nsulship. in which he was told by Sccrc-
tary Blaine never to speak to him about the
Paris consulShip again. and after again visiting
the White House. and being refused admission,
he struggled against the idea but that he finally
worked himself up to it and neryed himself to do
the shooting
Assume that for years previous to the shoot
ING he procured "a pTecariOus living. often leay
Ing his board bills unpaid, borrowing money.
and going from place to place on railroads
eyading, when he could. the payment Of the
usual railroad fare. That on two or three Occa
sionS he was arrested. once for not paying his
board bills That he was arrested and placed
in the TOOTnbs in New York city. and was once
confined in Jail in the city of Chicago for retain
ing money collected by him which did not be-
long to him
Assume that under cath as witness in his
own behalf, on trial tor murder. he said he teit
concerned, ard regretted the necessity for the
act, but said he claimed that his duty to the
l4Ord and TO the American people Overcamc his
personal feelings and personal regret as to the
act.
Suppose that. in addition to the foregoing, it
Is SHOWN that this man went from place to place,
leaving unpaid board bills behind him; that he
borrowed money on false representations. using
the names of prominent men as references with
out their knowledge or consent. to secure the
money that he abandoned his practice of the
profession OF the law. as he said it did not pay,
and Went to lecturing on theological subjects. in
imitation of prominent eyan@elists. whom, he
said. had made money; that while he was
protesting religion and church member.
he Was guilty Of deception and lasciyiOus-
ness; that in the Character OF Chris
tian gentleman he travelled through the
country borrowing money and contracting
Indebtedness for his personal support, which
he seldom if ever. paid though prOfuse in
promises. evasiOns and Misrepresentation; that
he published "a book called TRUTH" large
part OF which was stolen from book published
many years before called the ..Berean;' that he
represented and sold this book Truth" IA his
own literary production and Ideas that falling
In this he returned to the practice of law, and
collected money for clients, which he retained;
that he associated himself with the YOun" Mems
Christian Association. had his letters addressed
In their care and used his relations with them as
passport to secure confidence, which he grossly
abused; that he IraudGlently obtained money by
furnishing an OrOide watch, which he passed off
for gold. ard bOasted of it, that he declared that
he would secure nOtOriety by good or evil. even
If he had to kill some prominent man and imi-
tate Wilkes Booth: that as far back as 1872 he
took part in the Greeley campaign declaring
that he expected by SO doing to secure the
CHILEAN mission; that in order to procure di-
vorce from his wife, who had labOred for him,
and sent money to him for his sup
port. although he was at the time a
lawyer. aud as such an Officer of the court.
yet he deliberately. in accordance with his own
statement, committed adultery with prosti-
tute, and appeared a. witness against himself
In the divorce proceedings by which decree of
divorce was granted against him. That during
his married life, while a member of the church
and protesting reig ion and engaging in the
public exercises OF the church with which he
was connected. got his wife to borrow money
of the pastor and afterwards being accused Of
immoral conduct and vicious and dishonest
practices. and. in addition, having a lOathsOme
disease, he admitted the truth of the accusation.
That he went again into politics. because
neither the law nor theology would pay; that
he used each and all the schemes he undertook
which have been presented as evidences of his
insanity for the purpose of dishonesty obtaining
money; that during the political campaign of
1850. he wrote speech which was delivered but
once
That on this speech and his so-called services
in the campaign he claimed and asked for an i'm
pOrtant foreign appointment. and for that pur-
pose came to Washington; that immedi ately
before coming to Washington he was getting a
precarOus subsistence in New York by soliciting
life Insurance; that in order to get to Washing
ton, he borrowed ten dollars, and arrived in
Washington without funds; that he stop
ped at the Ebbitt House one day, and left with
out paying his bill; that he went
from one boarding house to another in
Washington leaving the board bills up
paid in each and falsely representing that
that he borrowed SIS from a friend. stating that
he wanted money to pay a board bill, but
really used it to purchase pistol with which to
shoot the President of the United States; that
he boarded at u respectable house in the city of
Washington for more than five weeks leaving it
only two days before the shooting, and only
then because the landady demanded payment
for board, which he promised to pay in few
days but which was never paid.
That during this time he was on friendly rela-
lions with his fellow bOarders. conversing with
them daily at the table upon religious and gen
eral topics. attending church, reporting and dis
cussing sermons with the pastor as well az the
revision of the New Testament, and the situation
as represented by the senatorial contest at Alba
ny-and exhibiting nothing unusual in his man
ners, conduct or conversation; and while stop
ping mt his house he followed the President ON,
at least two occasions, for the purpose of shoot
ing him watching him from Lafayette
Park. hut seeing him ride out with several
friends des,sted from shooting him: once he fol
lowed hin; to the depot. but seeing his sick wife
leaning his arm refrained from shooting him
on that occasions; and during all this time he
never mentioned the subject OF inspiration or
that he had any extraordinary relation with the
Deity, or had any Divine commission to per-
form: that he went to the Riggs House the day
before the shooting. and left that board bill un-
paid: that failing to secure the offices he sought
and disappointed in the expectations which he
had frequently said he confidently entertained.
he followed the President from place to place
seeking the opportunity to shoot him, and finally
learning That the President was to go to Long
Branch on certain day. he went to the railway
station to waylay him. and there stealthily ap-
preaching him from behind, treacherOusly muir
dered him by shooting him in the back.
That. arrested and charged with this crime he
justified it as patriotic act, and claimed that it
was q political necessity. and that the President
was guilty of the blacklist ingratitude by going
back on the men who made him; that i'm remOy-
Ing the President he took but the life of one
man and thereby cemented the republican party,
and prevented another war. which might have
cost thousands Of lives. our last war did;
that he said the prominent men connect
ed with The republican party, whom he sup
posed would be benefited by his crime.
would protect him from the consequences of
his act; that when he learned that these men
had expressed their adherence Of his crime he
appeared to be ''struck dumb" and In great
mpnt Il a'rouy-" and after cnli.ptjpoy no