Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-18
euITnAU's "cHnEsHR."
The Prisoner In Possession Of Knife
Lively Tussle Between Guard and the
Assassin for rs Possession.

The Prisoner In Possession Of Knife
Lively Tussle Between Guard and the
Assassin for rs Possession.
WASHINGTON, August 1.-THE news
of the Presidents critical condition gave
rise to q number of rumors at the jail,
which were increased by the fact that
early last evening the guard was doubled
and a military drill was held 10 the To-
tunda, the noise of which awoke Gui-
teau to a state OF feverish excitement.
He paced his cell and inquired anxious
" for news from the President. A ru
NOR reached the Jail late in the evening
that the President was dying, and 1t is
supposed that Guiteau heard 1T. He
was observed to climb up to
the window in his cell and in other ways
show excitement w. c. McGill, who
has charge OF the Jail on alternate
nights, visited the cell several times,
and coming to the conclusion that
Guiteau had heard from some OF the
prisoners the alarming rumors, he
watched him with unusual care. Several
times Mr.. McGill observed Guiteau
Clinging to the Iron Bars Of His Window,
and the idea, that the prisoner might be
attempting TO hang himself prompted
the guard to visit the cell at about half
past four this morning. Mr.. McGill,
upon opening the cell, found that
Guiteau was eoncealing something IN
his hands, and determined that i. was a
knife. He said: "What are you doing
with that knife?"
He looked up excitedly and said: $50
held me God, l have no knife" Mr..
McGill insisted that he had and stepped
toward the prisoner, when Guiteau
sprang up and
Rushed at Him Furiously
and made a savage cut at his throat.
McSill drew back and the knife passed
through his coat collar, cutting off the
upper button and making clean out on
to the left shoulder. The guard drew
his revolver without cooking it, but
finding himself unable to disarm his
assailant, he finally cooked the revolver,
when Guiteau dropped the knife and
grasped more formida6ly the weipon,
crying for help and calling that he was
being shot.
The pistol was acciden ally discharged
and several guards rushed to the cell,
when Guiteau was disarmed. The as
sassin stated to the guards that
he Was Acting in Self Defense,
and that McGill had attempted to shoot
him. The question how Guiteau obtained
the knife is generally explained by the
fact that Babe Bedford once occupied
the cell and that several similar instru-
ments had been concealed by that crimi-
nal. The knife is what is generally
known by prisoners as "cheeser," and
is a criminal substitute for jack knife,
carving knife, razor or dagger. 1t was
made out OF
A Piece OF Steel
found in the sole OF boot, which can
be sharpened on a stone or window sill
till it becomes exceedingly keen. The
blade is generally about two or three
inches long and half an inch broad, and
an inch or more is left unsharpened and
wrapped in rags or paper for handle.
These instruments are used by prison.
ers for various purposes. They are con-
fiscated by jailOrs whenever found. 1t
is also considered possible that some
other prisoner has in some way left the
knife where Guiteau could get It. The
assassin
Considers His Escape Very Fortunate.
and when the guard said in his presence
that he thought the pistol had settled
the dog, he replied: "Mv dear SIR, that
is too important u subject for joking;
a lie ia valuable" The startling episode
| created intense excitement at the Jail.
McCiili, the guard, told Critic reporter
| this morning that he supposed Gulteau
thought the President was dead and
| took this means of proving his insanity
| most conclusively. The guard who was
| attacked is heavy built man, Of kind,
| pleasant manners, and against whom
\ personally Guiteau could hsve had no
bitter feelings. The success OF the plan
to kill the guard would not have gwen
Guiteau any chance to escape, so that
motive could not have prompted the
| deed
The Guards at the Jail are Reticent,
and refuse TO say anything on the sub
iect of Guiteau's attack on the jsiler. AS
soon as the facts were made known, q re-
rNrter made his way to the Jail and saw
A sistant Warden Russ and an army
.licer who are doing duty there. They
all refused to talk and said they had
been instructed rot to communicate
ANYTHING to the public about the
assassin. The theory advanced by
some is that the knife was given to him
| by a prisoner. A thorough investiga
ton will be ordered by Gen. Crocker al
once. and all the facts brought out. The
guard of soldiers at the Jail has been
| Goubled and now consists oitwenty men
and three commissioned officers. The
most vigilant watch is kept over the
| prisoner.
| The Story Of the Trouble With the Pris
oner Denied.
WASHING ON, August l7.-Warder
I Crocker, oi the Jail, says there is nc
truth whatever in the story OF Guiteau's
having a kniie or having assaulted 8
guard. Crocker says all there is in the
! s;crv is that Guiteau was climbing up
the blrs OF his cell, evidently to over
hear the talk about the President; that
the guard ordered him down and he re-
| fused To ob V. The guard then seized
| Guiteau al there was q scuiile, IN which
the guards gun was accidentally diE'
charged.
| CROCKER INTERVIEWER