Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-07-09

her to come to Washington imme-
diately." This dispatch was sent
and special train at once sent to
Long Branch for Mrs. Garfield.
BLAINE INTERVIEWED
Secretary Blaine was not going
with the party, but went down to
bid the President good bye. lie
said. 1.-THE President and | were
walking arm in arm towards the
train. / heard two shots and saw a
man run. / started after him, but
saw him grabbed just as he got out
of the room. | returned to the
President and found him lying on
the floor. The floor was covered
with the Presidents blood. A num-
Der Of people who were around short
ly afterwards have some of the blood
on their person. / think I'd know
the man. / think his name is Will
| TONI
THE ASSASSIN
| is about 5 feet inches in height, of
strong, though not stout build. The
weapon he used was arevolver, about
Z inches long. 1t had an ivory han
die. The calibre was very large.
1t is what is known as q California
pistol. 1t made a very loud report.
Parke says both shots were fired
while the assassin was behind the
President. When officers Scott and
Carney got hold of the assassin, and
were taking him to police headquar-
tiers, he said voluntarily to them: 81
did it and will go to jail for it. l
am Stalwart and Arthur will be
| President He had a letter in his
hand and wanted the officers to take
it to General Sherman, saying it
would be all right. The prisoner
| made no resistance, saying he had
contemplated the killing of the
President, and it was for the good
Of the country.
About 8 O'Clock the assassin went
to hack standing adjoining the de-
pot and engaged hack from Bar
ton, colored hackman. He said
he wanted to go to Glenwood Gene
terry in short time, and wanted the
hackman to drive very fast when he
should get IN the hack. He agreed
to pay two dollars for the hack on
condition that the hackman would
drive fast. When stopped the as
i sassin was going to the hack he had
I engaged, and he insisted that ii was
important for him to go and deliver
message to Gen. Sherman. When
the officers refused to let him go he
begged them to take letter he had
to General Sherman.
THE ASSASsIN'S LETTER TO GEN.
SHERMAN.
| The following is copy of the let
ter the assassin wanted delivered to
General Sherman:
July ., 1881.
TO the White House:
The Presidents tragic death was
a sad necessity, but it will mite the
Republican party and save the Re-
public. Life is a flimsy dream and
it matters little when one goes. a
human life is of small value. Dur
ing the war thousands Of brave boys
went down without tear. | pre-
sumo the President was a Christian
and that he will he happier in para
disc than here. 1t will be no worse
for Mrs. Garfield, dear soul, to part
with her husband in this way than
by natural death. He is liable to 90
at any time, any way. His death
was o political necessity. | am a
lawyer, u theologian and a politi-
clan. / am Stalwart Of Staiwarts.
| was with General Grant and the
rest of our men in New York dur
ing the canvass. have some pa
pers for the press, which l shall
leave with Byron Andrews and his
coiournalists, at 1920 New York av-
enue, where all the reporters can see
them. / am now going to jail
CHARLES GITTEAU.
AN EYE WITNESS GIVES A GRAPH
&c ACCOUNT OF THE ASSASSINATION
AS He SAW 1T.
A gentleman who was an eye wit
ness of the contemplated aSSasSina-
ton gives the following statement
Of the occurrences:
81 was coming down Pennsylva-
MIA avenue when l saw a carriage
coming up the avenue. The horses
were running SO fast that l thought
they were running away. Just as
the carriage arrived in front of me, "a
man put his head out Of the window
and said:
FASTER FASTER DAMN 1T !"
After hearing this remark / knew
there was something wrong, and ran
after the carriage. When it reac-
ed the depot, man jumped out and
entered the ladies' room. He had
not been there more than three min
utes when the President arrived and
stepped out Of his carriage and en-
tered the ladies' room. The Presi-
dent, after passing through the
door, was just turning the corner of
a seat when the assassin, who was
standing on the left of the door, fir
ed.
THE BALL STRUCK THE PRESIDENT
I'LL m A LII