Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-07-07
GITTEAU!
The Assassin of President Gar
field.

WASHINGTON,July S.-UltIedu was IOr-
merly student at Ann Arbor, Mich, but
he was so eccentric, egotistical and will.
full that he severed his connection with
the college, and threatened an exposure
of the institution, fifteen years ago. he
then went to Chicago, where he studied
law with his brother-in-law, George Sco
vile, and was admitted to the bar.
Gitteau has no visible means of sup
port. He came to Washington shortly
after the Inauguration, and has been al
the White House almost daily, waiting
for an audience with the President, hop.
ing to get a consulship in France. He
was pronounced "Half-Breed, and
wrote President letter in which he said
the President was right in his fight with
Conkling. 1t is thought that failing to
get an Office hebecame desperate.
WASHINGTON, July 2.-Gitteau, when
in Jail, said to a detective: "You stick
to me and have me put in the third story
front at the jail. General Sherman is
coming down to take charge. Arthur
and all those men are my friends, and I'll
have you made Chief of Police. When
you go back to the depot you will find
that left two bundles of papers in the
News Stand, which will explain all. u
The detective asked him: is there any.
body else in with you in this matter, and
: he answered not a living soul. have
con emplated this thing for the last SD
weeks, and would have shot him when
he went away with Mrs. Garfield, but
looked at her and she looked 50 poorly
that changed my mind. The warden
, of the Jail said the prisoner was through
! the jail last week. He said that he went
! there to see what quarters he would have,
after he had shot Garfield.
BosT9N, July 2.-1n an interview with
john William Gitteau, a prominent in
surance man of Boston, a brother of the
assassin, he said: 4 have for the last
few years feared Julius would come to
grief. God knows no effort has been
spared by the family to place him in a
proper path, but yon see the result. He
is "a literary tramp and a scamp and
crazy" He was born at Freeport, Hi.
nois, September Sth, 1S41. My sister,
Mrs. Scoville, my brother and myself
were all born there. Our father, L. w.
Gitteau, was Cashier of the Second Ma.
tional Bank"
WASHINGTON, July 5.--Stringent orders
have been given against allowing any
one to see the prisoner, but representa-
tive of the Enquirer was enabled this af-
ternoon to secure short talk with Git
teau.
When the reporter reached his cell the
prisoner arose from his cot, and, peering
through the bars of the door, anxiously
inquired: "How is the PRESIDENT"
Being told that he was suffering great
pain, Gitteau replied:
II am very sorry to hear it; wish l
had put another ball into him, for that
would have ended his suffering
Correspondent-What was your motive
for this act?
Gitteau-I had been contemplating this
thing for six weeks, and what l did, was
forced to do by an inspiration from God.
did it for political purposes, and through
patriotic motives. I went to the depot
to commit the deed two weeks ago, when
che President went to Long Branch, but
he came in hand in hand with Mrs. Gar
field, who looked so delicate that hadn't
the heart to do it.
Correspondent--Wasany one connected
with you in the affair?
Gitteau-No sir. l conceived it my
self and executed it myself. l alone am
responsible for it. No soul on earth knew
of it but myself. considered it polit-
ical necessity to retire Garfield, and thus
save the Republican party. 1 had no
murder in my heart, for I had nothing
against the President personally; helped
TO elect him.
Correspondent-Had you no fears of
the consequences of the act; no fears of
future punishment?
Gitteau-Not at all. What l did was
for the benefit Of the Republican party
and the people. have no fears but that
will be liberated. ain a Stalwart of
the Stalwarts. know Vice-President
Arthur and General Grant very well.
Replying to question as to his sanity,
Gitteau said
81 had two cousins who were incarcer-
ated in an insane asylum once. My only
other relatives are sister in Chicago and
a brother in Boston,"
Correspondent-Did you think YOUR
act would make martyr of you?
Gitteau--l had no such thought. I
knew that it was necessary for some one
to retire Garfield, and made up my mind
to do it and leave the results to the coun-
try and the party. lam truly sorry that
my act has caused the President so much
pain, but knew of no easier way to rid
che Republican party of him than by the
bullet, My only motive was to have a
Stalwart President.
In reply to a question as to how he had
rested Gitteau said:
''This is tho first rest have had in six
weeks. This thing has been on my mind,
and l could. not, sleep. Now that it is
5ver my only wish is that the President
may not recover and make my act fruit
less. My mind would be perfectly at rest
ifhe died, and do not fear the consequent
ces." "e-
Among the letters which it is alleged
were found on the assassin's person was
one in which he claimed the right that,
inasmuch as he could make q President
by assassination, his suggestions for the
formation of new Cabinet should be
considered. He named Roscoe Conkling
for Secretary of State; L. r. Morton,
Secretary of the Treasury; Emory Storrs.
Attorney General; John A. Logan, Secre-
tary Of War. The navy he says not being
Of much account or political consequence,
HOld Hunt" had better be left remain
where he is. James, he says, is doing
we'll, and he had better be retained, and
as there ia no danger in "Old Kirkwood,"
"a sryo,,Id ho c,ood nn1icv IN rokn;y, h;yr