Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-07-21
THE ASSASSIN NARRATES HIS
MURDEROUS DESIGN.
The President Hounded for Weeks.
His Narrow Escape While at
Church.

| WASHINGTON, July 14.-United Dis
trict Attorney Corkhill furnishes the
following for publication; The interest
felt by the public in the details of the
assassination, and the many stories pub
lished justify me in stating that the fol-
lowing is a correct and accurate state
ment concerning the points to which
reference is made:
The assassin. Charles Guiteau, came
to Washington City Sunday evening,
March 9th, tSS1, and stopped at the Eb-
bet House, remaining only one day. He
| then secured room in another part of
the city, and has boarded and rOomed at
various places, full details of which l
| have. Wednesday, May IS, 1881, the as
sassin determined to murder the Presi-
dent. He had neither money nor pistol
at the time. About the last of May he
went to Omeara's store, corner Fifteenth
and + streets, this city, and examined
some pistols, asking for the largest cali
bre. He was shown two of similar cali
bre and only different In price. We'd
Wednesday, June Sth, he purchased the
pistol which he used, for which he paid
$40, he having in the meantime borrow
ed Sl5 of gentleman in this city on a
plea that he wanted to pay his board
bill. On the same evening about Z
o'clock he took the pistol and went to
the foot of Seventh street and practiced
firing at board, firing ten shots. He
then returned to his boarding place and
wiped the pistol dry, and wrapped it in
his coat, and waited his opportunity.
Sunday morning, June II, he was sit
| ting in Lafayette Park and saw the
| President leave for the Christian church
ON Vermont Avenue, and he at once re-
turned to his room and obtained the pis-
tol, putt in his hip pocket and followed
the President to the church. He entered
the church, but found he could not kill
him there without danger of killing
some one else. He noticed the President
sat near a 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 and examined the location of the
window and became satisfied that he
could accomplish his purpose, and he
determined, therefore, to make the
attempt at church the following Sunday.
He learned from papers that the
President would leave the city Saturday,
June 18th, with Mrs. Garfield for Long
Branch. He therefore determined to
meet him at the depot. He left his
boarding place about 5lO'clOck Saturday
morning, june 18th, 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 said
Mrs. Garfield looked so weak and frail
he had not the heart to shoot the Presi-
dent in her presence, and as he knew he
would have another opportunity, he left
the depot. He had previously engaged
q carriage to take him to jail Wednes-
day evening the President and his son,
and think, United States Marshal Hen
ry, went out for ride. The assassin
took his pistol and followed them and
watched them for sometime in hopes
the carriage would stop, but no opportu-
ulby was klNCn CNCAiAuSs july ~
he was sitting on seat in the park op-
posite the White House, when he saw
the President come out alones He fol-
lowed him down the avenue 70 Fifteenth
street until the President entered the
residence of Secretary Blaine He wait
ed at the corner of Mr.. Morton's late res
idence, corner Fifteenth and II streets,
for some time and then he was afraid he
would attract attention he went into
the alley in the rear of MortOn's resi-
dence, 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 the
weapon. On the morning of Saturday,
July 2; he brsakfasted at the Riggs
House about o'clock. He then walked
up into the park and sat there for an
hour, and then took aone-horse avenue
car and rode to Sixth street; got out and
went into the depot and loitered around
there; had his shoes blacked and engaged
q hackman for two dollars to take him to
the depot; went into the water closet