The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-07-19
Senator Beck's Story of the Assas.
StnatiOn.
And Mysterious Young Man Who
Knew all About 1t the Night Be-
tOre--The Senator's Prompt
Arrival on the Scene of
the Shooting.

LOUISVILLE Ky ,Jul, l2.-Hon James
b Beck arrived in the city this morning
and was speedily found by Courier
Journal reporter.
"Mr. Beck" said The reporter, "you
are just from Washington, and people
generally would like 10 bear from you
directly as 10 the attempt on the Presi.
dents li'e."
81 have been suffering during the fore
nonn," said Mr. Beck, "and an hardly |
equal to an interview, but will tell you
briefly all l know"
Where we're you on the morning of
the assassination p %
II was about six hundred Yards from
the spot where the shot was fired. Was
driving to the ticket Office to bring nv
family home, and was driving down
Ninth street just past the Patent Office,
when a colored man who knew me ran |
out and said, tue Pre,dant has been
shot" | made some skepticsl remark, !
when looking down street saw mounted |
men fving in every direction ordered
he driver 10 90 as fast as possible TO the
depot, and we arrived there while the
President was vet lying on the e 'or.
The crowd was already immense and
increasing every moment. and verv much !
excited Qlite number gathered about
me, and disposition TO lynch the mur-
derer seemed general. remonslrated
with this sentiment, saying it would no,
be sufficient expiatlpn OF g, monstrous
crine--a crime agains. Whole Nation
and civilization itself.
ga young man come up to me and
said, Mr. Beck, knew this last nigh'.'
said, NV CO. !, can it be conspiracy r
He said, i don t know, but knew this
would happen last night and disappear
ed. l am glad did mol recogniz, that
young man. suppose be was excited
and beside himself"
"When was the last time you saw The
President before be was wounded ?"
'On Thursday afternoon. We passed
quite little while together. He was
unusually kind, buoyant and happy. His
desire was to do all be could for some
constituents of mine, in whose interest
called He began to talk of his wife g
illness, aud the happiness be expected to
have during his holiday. His eyes filed
as he talked, and when we ar,ed he
gave me one of his left handed blows on
r the shoulder, which told him, ! would
carry home as love-lick.
"Did you see him after the shooting /"
= sNo, but called at the White House
e and gave him prescription which, /
am sure, was of service told the
e cabinet that in my belief if Mrs. Gar
field should break down on her arrival
it would kill him His mind was solely
engaged about her, and | begged that
Mrs Blaine, who is one of the braves'
women in the world, and q woman OF
brains as we'll as nerve, should meet her
and prepare her This was done. Mrs
>, Garfield showed herself woman OF
. courage, and all went we'll. One smile
from his wife was worth more to the
half DIVING President than oil The doc
tors"
. DO you think the President will re-
cover?"
: II think he will. His only danger
: now is too speedy removal. II they
" will leave him alone he will recover. Il
y they attempt prematurely to change hi:
:. position, he may have a relapse Ever
. thing has been in his favor. He is {
boy in health aud at heart good Chris
. tan man, who does not fesr TO die. He
feels that he has run career wrungine
= no man. and he is now ready to go =
But he don't want togo, and is ful o.
: cheer and hope. believe, therefore, h'
will get WE'LL"
= "What of the Vice President?'
! "He is not bad man. He is soft.
~ hearted and has suffered not little
, The reports have not been exaggerated
: He is really kind, good man, and wher
saw him he was overwhelmed. The
- last thing he wanted was the Presiden
= ey."
u "Do you think there was conspira
cy ?"
"Of that am entirely without infor
nation"
What about the failure of the Demo
ID Gratis to elect a President OF the Sen
: ate?"
"They had no chance The Vice
President never vacated the chair"
= "But did he not offer to do so ?"
~ "The facts are these: The Republ
y !, cans agreed to 60 into an election if th
z Democrats would elect Senator Harri
~ Of Tennessee. The Democrats. VIII
=. - have high regard for Senator Harris
=, :" we're willing to aecede to this propos
V ton; but Senator Harris, who is an ur
e : selfish Democrat, refused to accept til
p Office rendered. There was consequent
NC nc ly no election, that is ALL"