Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-07-09
.nt as he nassed throngh to the platform


dent rs he passed through to the platform
where the train was waiting. The assassin
was not standing over two PAGES from the
President when he fired, and, as before
stated. took deliberate aim. The President
was picked up and taken into an office on
the floor above.
THE SAD NEWS TOLD TO THE PRESIDENT
MOTHER.
CLEVELAND, July 3.-The news of the
shooting of the President was broken to
his mother this forenoon at Scion. She
had been so much overcome by the fatal
accident, which resulted in the death OF
Thos Garfield that the family had Kept
from her the intelligence of the attempted
assassination. But this morning she felt
better. and was Informed by Mrs. Larabee
OF what had happened. She bore up under
the intelligence with much fortitude. Mrs.
Garfield does not contemplate going 10
Washington unless sent fer, thinking She
will be telegraphcd for if necessary TO go
on. 1t being remarked TO her that the
news continued to grow favorable, she
said: Il am glad TO hear it, but am afraid
we are hoping against fate. 1t seems ter
rible." This afternoon she dictated the
following dispatch to her grandson,
y
Washington: ''The news was broken TO
me this morning and shocked me very
much. Since receiving your telegram l
feel much more hopeful. Tell James that
| hear he is cheerful, and that ! am glad
of it. Tell him to keep in good spirits and
accept the love anG sympathy Of a mother,
sisters and friends.
ELIZA GARFIELD"
GUITEAU's STATEMENT.
District Attorney Corkhill paid visit
to the jail Monday afternoon with Geo.
Scoyillc, of Buffalo, brother-in-law of
Guitcau, and had another conversation
with the assassin. Guiteau assured them
that the full statement was true. Col.
Corkhill says that he is satisfied that the
statements made to him by Guitcau are
true and complete account of the matter.
AS soon rs he received il he at once put
detective service in operation, and all the
reports which he has received since con-
firm its details. He declines that it i'm
plicates any one other than Guiteau, and
will not allow it to be made public until
all the ends of justice that may be sub
served by keeping it secret are attained.
Guiteau is reported TO have said to
MeSSrs. Brooks and Rathhone, of the rO-
lice force, that he wished he haG put an
other ball into the President and saved
him from the suffering which he had ell
lured. lie further said that he had con-
tcmplated the assassination for six weeks,
and was driven to il by an impulse which
he could no; resist. 1t was for political
purposes, but ne living soul had insuga-
ted the deed or knew of his intention. lie
supposed that he would be pardoned, as he
knew Gen. Grant and Vice President Ar
thur.
HOW GEN. HANCOCK THINKS.
Commenting Oh the assault on the Pres
ident TO New York Tribune reporter
Gen. Hancock said:
sit was aSsrwcdly the act of lunatic, or
Of Il man driven into Il crazcd condition by
politics. The latter is probably the true
description of his condition. 1t Is the
natural result Of strong political feeling
in other words, of political faction; 1t IS
the outcome OF the state OF affairs winch
has been developing in the country thrO
factiOnal animosity. There are minds so
constituted and naturally eXcitable which,
when worked upon by passion and intense
feeling, are driven into this condition.
This man is evidently Of that class. 1t
would be absurd to suppose that he was at
all connected with ANY one e!Se-In other
WORDS, Illdl llcIc as any 't' :
The man acted on his own responsibility.
His mind was unbalanced and the result
was natural. In the case of the asSaSsna-
ton of Lincoln excitement had been run
ming high upon the issues Of the war, and
the Southern people were embittered; yet
Booth acted upon his own responsibility,
although his act WAS an outgrOwth of the
excitement of the time"
500 YOU think this act is possibly Il
phase OF nhilism?"
81 know nothing shout it. | have paid
no attention to the question. | do not sup
pose it is anything Of the kind, although
have no opinion to express upon the mat
ter. Nihilism rises from peculiar condi-
tons, and there can hardly be amy COM
parisou in the matter. 1t is simply an UNI
Fortunate fact that the President of the
United States has been shot down i'll open
day"
sin case of the Presidents death, do
YOU think it will have any bearing with
reference to the southern people,
81 cannot say. do not wish TO discuss
it. The Southern people have nothing TO
do with this matter more than the North.
The prciudices Of the war are dying out,
and there is no further occasion for bring
ing forward the subject. In case OF the
death of Gen. Garfield | have no idea ri
what Gen. Arthur would do. There Is no
need for speculation. 1t is merely waste
of time"
THE COURSE OF THE LAW.
In case of the death of the President it
can be announced that the policy OF the
law officers of the District will be 10 bring
promptly before the grand jury the case
of Guitcau. His indictment for murder,
it can he reasonably anticipated, would
follow within twenty-four hours after the
death of the President. But after the
preliminary proceedings the further prog
rrcSS OF the case would he involved in con-
siderable doubt. Naturally enough the
expressions of opinion as 10 the horrible
crime have been universal in this cOmmu-
nifty, and great difficulty may reasonably
b. anticipated in the formation of Il petit
Jury 10 try the offender. Then i'll such u
celebrated cause there would most likely
be quite an array Of counsel for the de-
fense-voluntary, of course, rs Gul,eau
has no money, but anxious TO make all
tie reputation which tie opportunity al
fortIcd. Ii. as cannot be doubted, the in
sanity plea is brought in, the arguments,
the testimony and the opinions OF experts
would consume much time, III all proDa-
bilitv weeks, although ultimately the con-
viction and execution of the murderer
would be certain. In case of the remote
contingency of the survival of the Prcsi-
dent the oiienSe of Guiteau would under
the law he 10 more than an assault with
intent to kill, the maximum penalty for
which is eight years in the pcnitcRtiary.
An assault on the President is no more in
the eye OF the law than an assault on the
humblest citizen, although after what has
happened it would seem eminently proper
that an assault on the person of the Presi-
dent, whether resulting fatally or not,
should be made n capital oifense. \ dis