San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-07-14
Is HE INsANEi

WAsHMoroN, July 4.-The general
opinion regarding the would.be assas
sin, Gitteau, among those who have
known him, ia that he is not insane
Secretary Blaine recognised the man
as soon as he saw him after the shots
were fred. He at first abstained
from giving his name to the crowd in
the depot, but Immediately informed
the police that the mans name
was Charles Gmtteau, Of Illinois
Private Secretary Brown says he
knows Guitteau well, having met him
at the department several times. He
scouts the idea Of his insanity. Guit'
teau, MIR. Brown says, after fling hii
application for the Austrian mission
and the consul generalship at Paris
and failing toreceive either, conceive
violent spite against the president
and secretary of state. He regarded
the latter as the prime cause Of hii
failure to receive o foreign appoint
ment. And some Of the circumstan
ces attending the shooting justify
the belief that one ball was intended
for Blaine. The latter does not re
member whether he had locked armi
with the president or not They
were walking very close together o,
any rate, and tho ball which strucl
Garfeld's arm passed within ter
inches of Blaine. Blaine feels very
thankful for his escape.
Chief Brooks Of the secret service
and Special Attorneys Gibson and
Cook are engaged in obtaining evi
dencein the case against the prisoner
I am informed by member Of the
cabinet that last week information
was received indicating that personal
violence might be offered the presi
dent. The fact that Gitteau, who
had not money enough to pay biz
board and washing bill, was enabled
to pay $11 for pistol and ~ to
hackman, naturally suggests an in
quiry as to the source from which the
money came.
It is said that the officers OF the
government have evidence to show
that Guitteau was accompanied to
the depot by another person. Who
that person was cannot be ascertained.
Whether the man was insane OF
not, there can be no doubt that the
crime was cody planned and delibe.
rately executed. Guittear,, over two
weeks ago, visited the district Jail to
make an examination of it, and was
denied admittance by the warden,
He saw that it was safe enough to
defend him from the hands Of an in
furiated mob. Immediately after the
shooting he expressed a great anxiety
to be taken to jail Immediately to es-
cape the fury of the crowd. The
letter he sent to Gen. Sherman re-
quested that officer to send troops to
the jail at once, evidently for no other
purpose than to defendh him.
A prominent lawyer Of the city said
to-day: "Insanity does not contem
plate the risk and coolly lay q plan to
avoid it. Insanity is not capable OF
such accurate calculations Of danger,
for the danger Of being mobbed for
such m act is the chief one, and Of
so systematically planning to escape
it. No, sir; that man is as sane as
you or I, and he is legally RESPONSE
BILE for his act. I tell you the law
should be swift in this case. Should
the president die, Guitteau should be
indicted tomorrow, tried on Tuesday
and executed on Wednesday, but be-
fore his execution he should be forced
to divulge the names Of his confede'
rates in this conspiracy"