The Republican journal., 1881-08-25
The Assassin Guiteau



HE ASSAULTS ONE OF HIS GUARDS BUT is ovEB-
POWERED.
On Wednt lay Aug Eth, Guiteau attempted to
kill one of the guards at the Jail The Washington
Evening Critic IN an extra gave tho following de
tails of the assault
This morning at 30, while W Z. Mc(ill. one OF
the guards at the JAIL was passing through the cor
rdor, something III the appearance Of Guiteau 5
cell attracted his attention. Entering the cell he
found the assassin In possession OF knife How he
obtained it is a mystery. When he demanded the
knife, Guteau refused to surrender it McGlll
drew his pistol and then exciting tussle ensucd,
Guiteau making every eXertion to get the pistol
from the guard He succeeded after a struggle.
but afterwards McGil after the most strenuous
exertion, reganed it, In the scu1e that followed
the weapon discharged and the report brought
the other guards to the assistance OF McGill and
Gmteau was finally dsarmed He succeeded.
however, in cutting McGills clothing pretty bad
ly and came very near ictlng dangerous woEDds
Guiteau pretended to be crazy and complained
that his pistol had been taken from him
ANOTHER ACCOUNT
Major Brock OF the metropolitan Police force.
who just came to the Executive Mansion. was
summoned to the telephone a moment ago. and in
formed by policeman. whom he dispatched To the
Jail to ascertain what truth there is in the rumOr
concerning Gulteaus attempt to assaSsinate a
guard, that the guard was standing outside Of the
door Of the cell when he noticed that the prisoner
as he tthe guard) thought was trying to hang
himself The guard opened the door and upon en-
terng the cell Guteau seized him and scuilie en-
sued, during which the guard drew hls pistol in
self defense and il accidentally discharged.
Hearing the report of the pistol, another OF the
guard rushed to the scene and separated the men.
There was no damage done by the discharge of the
weapon.
Guiteau has volunteered no explanation of the
matter so far 1t was thought he was attempting
to escape, but arden CrOcker states that III his
belief no attempt at escape has been made. His
theory is that Guiteau has been in an extremely
nervous and irritable condition for some time and
entrance Of the guard that he led INTO this at
tack
LATER.
The guard Mctii states that about 80 he won't
to Guiteaus cell and noticed that he was apparent
ly pairing his nails McGill thinking he might
have made some preparations to hang himself
went in and asked what he had been doing Guit-
eau replied nothing Noticing the knife he asked
what he doing with it and he replied 80 help
NE God have none" He then said ''drop it, +" in
a commanding tone, when Guiteau jumped up and
made cut, but fortunately Mctill threw his head
back and the knife cut the lapel of his coat.
Guiteau was nimbe as a cat Mc(ill pulled his
revolver out but did not cock 1t, and Guteau then
tussled for its possession eXclaming Don't shoot
me" McGi cooked the pistol, and he (tiuiteau)
said, Give me my pistol and finally got hold Of
it, but not till It went off The guards, Dalton and
Jones, by this time appeared and Guiteau Sc
cured
something under his foot picked it up 1t was
what is technically known in jail parance a
''cheeser" made of the steel shank OF a shoe, five
or six inches long and ground down to good edge,
with paper and twiue wrapped around the end as
handle