The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-07-08
ASSASSINATION.
PRESIDENT GARFIELD SHOT
nY A CRAZY OFFICE
SEEKER
Who Wasat Once Arrested ana
now Awaits the GaIIOws.

-
reached Cleveland that the Pres
ident had been shot and MORALLY
wounded. Various rumors were
in circulation, but nothing au-
thentic until the following tele-
gram was received at this office:
WASHINGTON, July 2nd, 1881.
w. S. TIPToY:
President Garfield was shot
this morning at the depot OF the
Baltimore d Ohio X. r. by Chas.
Guitaeu, an Italian eX-consul to
Marsallcs, who was al once arres
ted. DIR. Bliss says the wounds
arc not necessarily fatal but may
prove so. l. l. GAUT.
. Reports then began to circu-
late later in the day that he was
dead. The next news from the
Chronicle S special of Sunday
morning was as follows: About
$3.50 o'clock this morning the ter
rible rumor fed over the city like
an electric shock that the Presi-
dent had been shot at the Balti.
and Potomac depot, while
waiting for the train that was to
bear himself and Cabinet on their
New England tour. AS if by
magic it seemed the entire pOpr
lation of Washington emptied it
self on the streets, all hnrrying
towards Pennsylvania Avenue,
and anxious to d~isproye the truth
of the rumor. When the neigh
borhOod of the depot was reached
the blanched and grief striker
faces of those there, and the furi-
ous rush of mounted police and
other officers told that the report
was, alas. too true.
The terrible affair occurred just
inside the door Of the ladies' re
ception room. The President and
Secretary Blaine had just align
ted from their carriage, and were
walking arm in arm towards the
Presidential coach when, sudden
ly, and as quick as lightning a
medium sized man with a death
ly pale face sprang in front of
them, and drawing a revolver
from his pocket, fired two shots
in quick succession. The first
one struck the President in the
arm, and he fell forward. While
falling the second shot was fired,
which struck Inn in the back,
ranging in about midway be
tween the kidneys and liver The
assassin then turned and iled,pur-
sued by Mr.. Blaine. He was cap
tured before he could escape
from the building and taken to
the police station. There he gave
his name as Charles Geitau, Of
Chicago, a lawyer. The impress
prevails that he is either a
maniac or an actor wor-
of a better fate. When ar
rested he cried: II killed him;
take me to .jasl. | ANA stalwart'
Arthur is President now!"
When the Presidential he was
quickly raised and carried into a
room. and the best surgeons in
the city dressed his wounds. AT
forwards he was taken to the
White House and a Gordon Of Ma
were stationed about the
gates. In the meantime the saw
age crowd wa surging back and
untering furious cries Of
him." ''lynch him." AS a
consequence the prisoner was i'm
mediatcly removed to a safer
place.
The sad occurrence has thrown
a pail over the whole city, and
business is practically suspended.
The people are gathered in
everywhere discussing the
and It's political Conse-
and the deepest sympa.
thy is expressed for the wounded
President, regardless Of party or
faction. At present it is impos-
sible to tell the nature of the
Presidents wounds, other than
that they are very dangerous.
The first bulletins issued by his
surgeons were very favorable,
and a speedy recovery was pre-
Later, however, the sym
became very unfavorable,
and at present he is in a very
critical condition. 1t is feared the
bullet pierced the abdominal
cavity, in which case, his recove-
ry is hopeless.
The following telegram was
sent to Mrs. Garfield, at Elberton,
Branch, N. j.:
"The President wishes me to
say to you from him that he has
been seriously hurt. How seri-
ouslyhe cannot yet say, He is
himself, and hopes you will come
to him soon. He sends love to
you.
[Signed "A, +. ROCKWELL"
Thr man who did the shooting
is Charles Guiteau, attorney.at-
Jaw. Chicago. He is a foreigner
by birth, and been a very persis.
tant applicant for a consulate,
which was refused by the Presi-
He has haunted the Exec
utive Mansion for two or three
weeks, and his not getting what
he wanted is believed resulted in
n temnOrarv alteration of the