The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-08-18
TELEGRAPHIC
Is UIC gEAU.
He Gets & Knife and Makes It
Interesting for & Guard.


Washington, II This morning. at
4 oO, while Mr.. G. McGin, one of the
guards at the jail was passing through
Inc corridor, something in the appearance
OF Guitteau's cell attracted his attention.
nuterlng the cell he found the assassin
In possession Of a knife. How he OBJ
tanned II Is a mystery. When he de-
manded the knife Guitteau refused to
surrender it. Nh. McGill drew q pistol.
and then an exciting tussel ensued.
Gultteau making every effort TO gst the
pistol from the guard. He succeeded af-
ter a struggle, but McGill, after most
strenuous exertion, regained possession of
It. In the struggle that followed. the
weapon was discharged, and the report
brought other guards to the assistance and
Guitteau was finally disarmed. he had
succeeded, however, in cutting McGills'
Clothing pretty badly, and come yery
near intiicting q dangerous wound.
Gultteau pretended 10 be crazy, and
complained that his pistol had been
taken from him. All the facts indicate
that Guitteau was probably meditstine
escape, and he had formed some desper-
ale plan. His assumption Of insanity
deceived no one, as he has acted as If
perfectly sane ell along.
Msjor Brock, of the METROPOLITAN no.
lice force, who has just came to the Elk
ecutlve Mansion, was summoned to the
telephone and informed by policeman
whom he dispatched to the Jail to Ascer-
tain what truth there was in the rumor
concerning Guitteau's attempt 20 asssssi-
nate guard. GuitteAu has volunteered
no explanation. It is thought he was
trying to escape. The warden saws his
theory is that Guitteau, who has been in
an extremely nervous and irritated con-
dltion for some time, became so much
excited and enraged at the sudden en-
trance of the guard that he was led into
this exhibition of violence.
McGill thinks Guitteau supposed the
President was dead, and was trying thus
to prove his insanity. Guitteau could
have had nothing against McGill, who
is most pleasant man. He had no pos
sible chance Of escape Nobody about
the Jail will talk at present It will be
thoroughly investigated how Guitteau
got the knife Twenty men guard the
jail and three commissioned officer.
The prisoner is vigilantIy watched.
SMALL SENSATION.
The warden and deputy warden at the
jail deny the story of Guitteau's outbreak,
and say it was only little case of insub-
ordination.
The news in the Jail OF the Presidents
critical ondition, and the strengthening
IF the Jail guard, yesterday, excited |
Guitseau, causing him to pace his cell |
and ask snxiously for the President. The |
story reached the Jail that the President |
Uss dying, and Guitteau climbed up the |
window and otherwise seemed excited. |
McGill watched him closely, fearing be
would attempt suicide. He opened the |
ell and seeing something in his hands,
md fearing it was knife. said, What |
Ire you doing with that knife?' Quit
eau looked up excitedly and said: $50 |
lelp me God, have no knife" McGill
insisted that he had, when Guitteau
uriously sprang at his throat. McGill
rev back and the knife entered his coat
ollsr, cut off the upper button, and
asde clear stroke to the left shoulder.
he guard cooked his revolver, when
iuitteau dropped the knife and grasped
ne pistol, crying for help and saying he
Vas being shot. The pistol was acct
Cntally discharged, and the guards en-
ering disarmed Guitteau, who says he
vas acting IN self-defense.
Babe Bedford, who formerly occupied
ne cell, had probably concealed the
;nife there. which Guitteau found. 1t is
cheese or criminal substitute for a lack
nife, razor or dagger. The blade is two
r three inches long and half sn inch
road. When the guard remarked that
e thought the pistol shot bad settled the
og, Gultteau, who was we'll pleased at
le escape, said: "My dear sir, that's too
important subject for joking. A life is
sluable."