Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-07-21
AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTING


District Attorney Corkhill has furnished
and authorized the publication of statement
of the circumstances attending the attempted
assassination, as derived from Guiteau him
self and from other authentic sources as fol-
lows:
"The interest felt by the public in the de-
tails of the assassination and the many stories
published, Justify me in stating that the follow.
ing is correct and accurate statement con.
cerning the points to which reference is made !:
The assassin, Charles Guiteau, came to Wash
ington city on Sunday evening, March 6, 1881,
and stopped at the Ebbitt House, remain
ing only one day. He then secured room
in another part of the city, and has boarded
and roomed in various places, the full details
of which have On Wednesday, May, Is,
1881, the assassin determined to murder the
President He had neither money or pistol
at the time. About the last of May he went
into O'Meara's store, corner of Fifteenth and
F streets, in this city, and examined some
pistols, asking for the largest calibre. He was
shown two similar in calibre and only differ
ent in price On Wednesday, June 8, he
purchased the pistol which he used, for
which he paid $40, he having in the mean
time borrowed Sl5 from a gentleman in this
city, on the plea that he wanted to pay his
board bill. On the same evening, about sew.
en- o'clock, he took the pistol and went to the
foot of Seventeenth street, and practiced, fir
ing at board, firing ten shots. He then re-
turned to his boarding place, and wrapped it in
his coat and waited his opportunity. On
Sunday morning, June IL, he was sitting
in Lafayette Park, and saw the President
leave 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, but found he could not
kill him there without danger of killing some
one else He noticed that the President sat
near window; after church he made an
examination Of the window and found he
could reach it without any trouble, and that
from this point he could shoot the President
through the head without killing any one
else. The following Wednesday he went to
the church, examined the location and the
window, and became satisfied he could &C.
complish his purpose, and he determined,
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; he there
fore determined to meet him at the depot.
He left his boarding place about o'clock
Saturday morning, June Is, and went down
to the river, at the foot of Seventeenth street,
and fred FIVE shots to practice his aim and
be certain his pistol was in good order. He
then went to the depot, and was in the ladies
waiting.room of the depot, with his pistol
ready when the presidential party entered.
He says Mrs Garfield looked 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 opportunity, he left
the depot. He had previously engaged
carriage to take him to the Jail. On We'd
nesday evening the President and his son,
and think United States Marshal Henry,
went out for ride. The assassin took his
pistol and followed them, and watched them
for some time, in hopes the carriage would
stop, but no opportunity was given. On
Friday evening, July l, he was sitting on
the seat in the park opposite the White House,
when he saw the President come out alone i;
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 Secretary Blaine.
He waited at the corner of Mr. Mortsn's late
residence, corner Fifteenth and H, for some
time, and then, as he was afraid he would
attract attention. he went into the alley in
the rear of Mr.. Morton's residence, 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 get no opportunity to use
his weapon. On the morning of Saturday,
July 2, he breaktasted at the Riggs House
about seven o'clock. lie then walked up into
the park and sat there for an hour. He
then took one horse avenue car and rode to
Sixth street, got out and went into the de.
pot and loitered around there, had his shoes
blacked, engaged hackman for 50 to take
him to the Jail, went into the water. closet and
took his pistol out of his hip-pocket and
unwrapped the paper from around it, which
he had put there for the purpose Of prevent
ing the perspiration from the body dampen-
ing the powder, examined his pistol, carefully
tried the trigger and then returned and took
a seat in the ladies' waiting. room, and as soon
as the President entered advanced behind
him and fired two shots. These facts,
think, can be relied upon as accurate, and l
give them to the public to contradict certain
false rumors in connection with this most
atrocious of atrocious crimes"
Col. Corkhill says that the paper is by no
means "Guiteau's confession" but merely a
narrative of ascertained facts, derived some
times from Guiteau and corroborated some
times from other parties and corroborated.
1t is in few words what the district attorney
considers to be complete report of such of
Guiteau' movements as have relation to his
attempt to assassinate the President. Gui-
teau's own statement is still in possession Of