The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-09
Attempt to Assassinate the President.

ltNAN.
Attempt to Assassinate the President
President Garfield was shot twice in the
Baltimore & Potomac Depot IN Washington,
on Saturday morning last, about twenty mln-
utes after . o clock The President, togeth
er with others, intended going 10 Long
Branch. where Mrs. Garfield was TO join
them, and they were then TO proceed on tour
through part Of New York and the New ing
land States, occupying about two weeks
Gen. Garfield arrived at the street en-
trance Of the Baltimore aud Potomac Road
about 9. 20 clock, the others Of his party
having arrived shortly before him. They con.
sisted Of Secretary and Mrs. liant, Secretary
Window aud Mrs. Window, Postmaster Gen
eral James aud others, all Of whom had taken
seats in the cars. The President was accom-
panied by Secretary Blaine. They came N
the same carriage, the Presideni entering the
depot in the lead. As be stepped out OF his
Garage he asked police officer hearney, the
DEPOT officer, il be bad any time TO spare.
Mr. Kearney answered, "Gcs, a few mia
ates." The officer then turned his back and
in an instant the reports of two pistol shots,
the oHe followiag elese upon the other. were
heard. Chas. Guiieau, the assassin, had
been seen to enter the depot lev minutes
before the President arrived, though bis &C
tons were NOT Of character 10 attract the
attentioa Of those who we're IN the depot he
stood IN about the cenire OF the hall leading
from the b street entrance or ladies' room,
aad advanced towards the President As he
catered Without giving any notice whatever
Of bis intentions be fred, the ball fr0u the
FIRST shot eatering the right sleeve u the
Presidents coat, passing up tie same and
oat AZ the shoulder. THIS ball did 10 injury,
except scratch. the flesh of The arm, ,housh Il
vas lhoushi al irst that Il had entered the
shoulder The Pccsidcnt AZ this JaactETe
turned, xhea Gaiiesa sred the second tinie.
the ball catering The back, lodging 10 the ki3
news. This staggered the President and be
fel! 70 the Door. Mrs. White, thc iAaitsess Of
the ladies roam Of the depot, hrst ran 70 the
President Secretary Blame uas % shocked
by the occurrence that he hrsI ran after tbs
assassin, aud tiading thai be Eas Ia the easio-
dy of officer krarRey, retained 30 the gde Of
che President, Who Was taken up Stairs 20 the
superiateadent's rsom, where "a fes mo
meRts several Surgeons serc IN ATTENDANCE
apon him They expressed the EEavssi doubts
she moment they saw What difectsoH the bali
had takea The uosRd blci freely, thossh
the hemorrhase vas a. no tine very prnfuss.
The President vomiicd slightly sad tainted,
bat ia s short time recovered consciousness
and talked freely 10 those AruaHd atm. Ia an
boar il was thaaEht better 10 'yuas0rc him 10
the White Hoase, which vas dohe By means
Of she police Ambulance, nrs- Bliss, Wakes
and Sargron General BArnes riding wuh hiin,
Col CuFaia sitting ~llh the dnver. aua Cob
Rockwell. the superintendent Of pab.5c bald
iass and grounds, standing ou ths rear sep.
Dr.. IiaeolB AHd coaplc Of the oiher phJsl
clans followed ia the uaEou of ghc chef Of the
IRE department, Which happened 20 be lear
the depot Al ihe time.
The assassin had arranged for d. hl, hasisx
engaged hack 10 drive him aEAy rapidly
after be shoald have committed the deed
The Rews Of the shooting spread rapidly,
aud large erosds gathered Immediately az the
dep0s and al the White Hpass. There sas
much excitement Ia the cv0Ha, and maay
threats a. lyachlux werc heard, loud aud via
T leat curses beiug heaped upon the &C. Of The
assassin. Anticipating that there was = pos
E sib.lHy Of this excitement takiag shape IN
some fgra. the chief OF police ordered Cal
teau 20 be takea Immediately 10 jail, Which
VAS doae, and a company OF Calied States
soldiers placed on guard. From The mogseas
{ cfhis arrest be displayed bat i'tIls excitement,
saying upGa his arrival AZ police headquarters
/ tia, be had nothing 10 say 10 regard 70 The
matter which be had fully explained ~ .
number Of letters Nhieh be handed % lieai
EekloH They =rre tied up ia package, on
the outside ct which Was a letter addressed 10
JrlY =, 1881.
40 fAs EkHs Honss. The President
tragic death vas a sad necessity, bat il sill
unite the republican party aud save the Fepah
lie Life Is q fimsy dream, and il matters
lltle when one goes. \ human iiie Is 81 small
value. During the war thousands OF brave
boys vent down without a tear. ! presume
that the President was Christian, and that
be will be happier in Paradise than here. Il
will be no worse for Mrs. Garfield, dear soul
to part With her husband this way than by
natural death; be is liable TO 20 at any Iimc
auyway. bad no jllSjll toward the presi
aoal
"His death was political necessity. I an
a lawyer, theological and politician. an
a ssalwart Of the s,alwarts | was with Gen
erai Grant and the rest OF our men in New
York during the canvass. ! have some papers
for the press, which shall leave with Byron
Address and bis e0jOarnalists, al 1920 New
York avenue, where all the reporters can see
them. am going TO the Jail.
enables GvirEU."
The following letter was found on the street
shortly after Guiteau' arrest, envelope an
sealed, aud addressed, PLEASE deliver at once
to General Sherman, Tor his FIRST assistant in
charge OF the War Department
'.lo General Sherman: ! have last shot
the President. shot him several tunes, as
wished him to go as easily as possible. HIS
death was a political necessity. lam alawysr,
theologiaA and politician. | am a stalwart OF
the stalwarts | was with Gen. Graut aud
the rest of our men in New York daring the
canvass am going 10 the Jail. Please or
der out your troops 10 take possession of the
Jail at once. Very respectfully.
"CHARLEs GUITEAU.'
On receiving the above, Gen. Sherman gave
the following Endorsement;
.'HeadquarterS Of the IFHy, Washington,
d. C., July ?, 1881, .3j A. M.-fhis letter
= = e was handed me this minute by Major
Wm. J. Twinipg, United States engineer com
missioner OF the District Of Columbia, and
Major Wm. q. Brock, chief of police.
don't know the writer, never heard of or saw
him to my knowledge, and hereby return it
to the keeping of the above-named parties as
testimony IN the case.
NV. /. SHERMAN, General
Another letter was addressed to Byron
Andrews, the Washington correspondent of
the Chicago Inter Ocean, requ esting him to
see that the letters in the package were deliv
cred as addressed. The letter 10 the public
was taken from the package. and copied be-
fore the District attorney arrived. Col Cork
hill took the other letters, and declined to al
low them to be pgblished, for the present at
least The letter to Mr.. Andrews says lie
does not know him personally, hp; has suai
oient confidence in his honor to leave the let.
tiers in his charge. One of the letters, the
largest probably, is addressed to "The Ameri-
can Press, and an outside note on the envel-
ope says it is for publication. Guiteau, on
arriving at the Jail, reminded the warden that
he had attempted to inspect the Jail several
days since, and the warden telling him that
he remembered the occurrence, Guiteau said:
III was then 90 the lookout for the quarters
that would be givea ms, fer ! knew [ would
come here. You told me / could go through
the jail if called on Monday, but you see !
oogtd not wait till then and am here row.
Again he said: 81 have had this on my mind
for some time, and knew | would come here
sooner or later.H
There are several versions given in regard
to what Gqiteau said when he was arrested.