Huntsville gazette., 1881-07-23

Kill the President.
WASHINGTON, July 16.- United
States District Attorney Corkhill
furnishes the following for publica-
ton:
The interest felt by the public in
the details of the assassination, and
the many stories published, justify
me in stating that the following is a
correct and accurate statement con-
cerning the points to which refer
ence is made:
The assassin, Charles Guiteau,
came to Washington City Saturday
evening, March 6, 1881, and stopped
at the Ebbitt House, remained only
one day. He then secured room In
another part of the city, and has
boarded and roomed at various places
full details of which | have. We'd
nesday, 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 0 Meara's store, corner of
Fifteenth and f streets, this city ,and
examined some pistols, asking for
the largest caliber He was shown
two similar IN caliber and only differ
ing in price. Wednesday June s.
he purchased the pistol which he
used, for which he paid $40, he hav-
ing in the meantime borrowed SIS
of gentleman in this city OF the
plea that he wanted to pay his board
b H. On the same evening about Z
o'clock he took the pistol and went
to the foot OF Seventeenth street ,and
practiced firing at board. firing ten
shots. He then returned to his
boarding place, and wiped the pistol
dry and wrapped it in his coat and
waited his opportunity. Sunday June
II, he was sitting in L aFayette Park
and saw the president leaving for
the Christian Church, on Vermont
avenue, and he at once returned to
his room, obtained his pistol, put it
in his hip pocket and followed the
President to church. He entered
the church bat founp he could not
kill him there without danger Of
killing some one else. He noticed
that the President sat near window
and after church he made an exam
ination Of the window and found he
could reach itwithout any trouble, and
from this point he could shoot the
President in the head without killing
any one else. The following We'd
nesday be went to the church, exam
ined the location and window, aud
came satisfied he could accomplish
his purpose, and he determined,
therefore, to make the attempt at
the church the following Sunday.
He learned from the papers that
the President would leave the city
on Saturday. the 18th of June, with
Mrs. Garfield, for Long Branch, and
he therefore determined to meet
him at the depot. He left his
boarding house about o'clock Sat
urday evening. June Is, and went
down to the river at the foot of Sew
enteenth street and fired five shots
to practice his aim and be certain
that his pistol was in good order.
He then went to the depot and. was
III the ladies' room of the depot with
his pistol ready when the Presiden-
tial party entered. He saw Mrs.
Garfield look so weak and frail that
he had not the heart to shoot the
President in her presence, and as he
knew he would have another oppor-
tunity, he left the depot. He had
previously engaged carriage to
take him to the Jail.
Wednesday evening the President
and his son. aud, think United
States Marshal Henry. vent out fot
a ride. The assassin took his pistol
and followed them, and watched
them for some time, in hopes the
carriage would stop, but no opportu-
nifty was given. Friday evening,
July l, he 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 Fifteenth street
and then kept on the opposite side
of the street up Fifteenth until the
President entered the residence Of
Secre ary Blaine. He waited near
| Mr.. Morton's late residence, cor
nor Fifteenth and II. for some time,
and then as he was afraid he would
attract attention, he went into the
alley in the rear of Morton's house,
examined his pistol and waited.
The President and Secretary Blaine
came out together, and he followed
them over to the gate of the White
House, but could not get an oppor-
tunity to use his pistol.
On the morning of Saturday, July
he breakfasted at the Riggs House,
about r He then walkel nm anJ in