The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-15
THE ASS ASSN.

Complete History OF Guiteau's Crime.
United States District Attorney Cockhill has
furnished the following statement for publica-
ton in order to correct certain erroneous as
Guiteau:
The interest felt by the public in the details
OF the assassination and the many stories pub
lished justify me in stating that the following
is correct and accurate statement concerning
the points TO which reference IS made:
The assassin, Charles Guiteau, came to
Washington city on Sunday evening, March
6, 1881, and stopped at the Ebbett House, re-
naming only one day.. He then secured a
room in another part of the city and has board
ed and roomed at various places, full details
of which have. On Wednesday, May IS,
1881, the assassin determined to murder the
President. He had neither money nor pistol
at the time. About the last OF May he went
into Omearas store, corner OF 10Th and + streets
in this city, and examined some pistols, asking
for a largest calibre. He was shown two SINH
lar in calibre and only different in price. On
Wednesday, June 8, he purchased the pistol
which he used, for which he paid $40, he hav-
ing in the meantime borrowed S15 OF a gentle
pay his board bill. On the same evening
at O'Clock he took the pistosand went to the
foot OF 18th street and practiced firing at
board, firing ten shots. He then returned to
his boarding place and wiped the pistol dry
and wrapped 1T in his coat and waited his OPP
portunity. On Sunday 0morning, June
18th, he was sitting in Lafayette
Park and saw the President leave for the
Christian church ON Vermont avenue and he
at once returned to his room, obtained his
pistol, put it in his pocket and followed the
President to church.
He entered the church, but found he could
not kill him there without danger of killing
some one else. He noticed that the President
sat near a window. After church he made an
examination of the window and found ne
could reach it without any trouble and that
from this point he could shoot the President
through the head without killing any one
else The following Wednesday he went to
the church, examined the location and win
dow, and became satisfied that he could &C.
complish his purpose. He determined to
make the attempt at church the following
Sunday.
Learning from the papers that the President
would leave the city on Saturday, the 18th of
Jun,, with Mrs Garfield, for Long Branch
he therefore determined to meet him at the
depot. He left his boarding house about 5
O'Clock Saturday morning and went down to
the river at the foot of 18th street and fred
five shots to practice his aim and be certain
his pistol Was in good order. He then went to
the depot and was in the ladies' waiting room
OF the depot with his pistol ready when the
Presidential party entered. He says Mrs.
Garfield looked so weak and frail that he had
not the heart to shoot the President in her
presence, and as he knew he he would have
had previously engaged a carriage to take him
to the Jail.
On Wednesday evening the President and
his son and, I think, United States Marshal
| Henry went out for ride. The assassin took
his pistol and followed them for some
time in hopes that the carriage
would start but no opportunity was given.
| On Friday evening, July 1, he was sitting on
seat in the park, opposite the White House,
| when he saw the President come out alone.
| He followed him down the avenue to 10Th
| street, and then kept on the opposite side of
| the street, upon 18th, until the President en-
| tered the residence of Secretary Blaine. He
| waited at the corner of Mr.. Morton's late resi-
| dence, corner of 18th and H streets, for some
| time, and then, as he was afraid he would at
| tract attention, he went into the alley, in the
rear of Mr.. Mortons residence, examined his
| pistol and waited. The President and Secre-
tary Blaine came out together and he followed
over to the gate of the White House, bnt
| could get no opportunity to use his weapon.
On the morning of Saturday, July I'd, he
| breakfasted at the Riggs House about seven
! O'Clock. He then walked up into the park and
| sat for an hour. He then took one-horse av-
| enue Car, and rode to 9th street; got out and
| went into the depot and loitered around there;
had his shoes BACKED; engaged hack for So,
| to take him to the JAIL went into a water clos
ct and took his pistol out of his hip pocket, and
unwrapped the paper from around it, which
| he had put there for the purpose of prevent
ing perspiration from the body dampeaing the
pow der, examined his pistol carefully. tried
| the trigger and then returned and took seat
in the ladies waiting room, and as soon as the
President entered advanced behind him and
fired two shots. These facts, think, can be
relied upon as accurate, and give them to the
public to contradict certain Use rumors in
connection with this most atrocous of afro
ciOuS crimes