The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-07-15
THE ASSASSINATION.

WASHINGTON, July 10. - United states
District Attorney Corkhill furnishes the
following for publication: The interest
felt by the public in the details of the assas-
sination for the many stories published
justifies me in stating that the following is
a correct statement concerning points to
which reference is made. The assassin,
Charles J. Guiteau. came to Washington
Sunday evening, March 6, and stopped at
the Ebbitt House, remaining only one day.
He then secured room in another part of
the city and has boarded and roomed at
various places, the full details of which |
have On Wednesday, May 18, the
assassin determined that he would
murder the President. He had
neither money or pistol. About
the last of May he went to OMeara's
store, corner of Fifteenth and F streets,
this city, and examined sene pistols, ask
ing for the largest calibre. He was shown
two similar in calibre, the only difference
being in price On Wednesday, June s,
he purchased the pistol which he used, for
| which he paid SO. He having in the
meantime borrowed S15 of a gentleman in
| this city on the plea that he wanted to pay
board bill. On the same evening, about
| 7 o'clock he took the pistol and went to
| the foot of seventeenth street and practieed
| firing at a 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 OPP
| portunity. On Tuesday 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 re-
turned to his room, obtained his pistol put
it in his hip pocket, and following the pres
ident to the church, he entered the church,
but found he could not kill him there with
out danger of killing some one else. tie
noticed that the president sat near q win
dow. After church he made an examina
ton of the window and found he could
reach it without any trouble and that from
the point he could shoot the president
through the head without killing anyone
else On the following Wednesday he
| went to the church, examined the location
of the window and became satisfied that he
could accomplish his purpose and deter
mined therefore to make the attempt at
the church The following Sunday he
| learned from the papers that the President
would leave the city on Saturday June Is.
with Mrs. Garfield for Long Branch. He
therefore determined to meet him at the
depot. He left his boarding place about
a. M, Saturday June Is, and went down
to the river, foot of Seventeenth street,
and fired shots to practice his aim and be
certain that his pistol was in good order.
He then went to the depot with his pistol
ready when the President and party enter
ed. He saw Mrs. Garfield, who looked so
weak and frail that he had not the heart
to shoot her husband in her presence and
as he knew he would have another op-
portunity he left the depot. He
had previously engaged carriage to
take him to jail, On "Wednesday even
ing the president and his son, and | think
United States Marshal Henry, went out Tor
ride The assassin took his pistol and
followed and watched for some time In
hopes the carriage would stop, but no OPP
portunity was given, On Friday evening,
July 1, he was sitting in a seat in the park
opposite the White House, when he saw
the president come out alone. lie followed
him as far as Fifteenth street and then
kept on the opposite side until the presi-
dent entered the residence OF Secretary
Blaine. He waited at the corner of MIR.
| Martins late residence, Fifteenth and III,
| for some time, and then as he was afraid
| he would attract attention he went in the
alley in the rear of the Martin residence,
examined his pistol and waited. The pres
dent and Secretary Blaine came
out together and he followed
them over to the gate of the
White House but could get no opportunity
to ,,se his weapon. On the morning OF
saturday, July 2, he breakfasted at the
pioos House about 2. He then walked up
to fhe park and sat there for an hour. He
fbert took horse ear and rode to Sixteenth
street. rot Gut and went to the depot and
1oitarei n arostsd there; had his shoes black
a,,od. engaged a hackinan for % to take
him to the iail; went into a water-closet
and took his pistol out of his hip pocket
and and unwrapped the paper from around it:
preventing perspiration from his body
aampening the powder; examined the pis
tol carefully. tried the trigger and then re
turned and took seat in the ladies wait
;ne, room and as soon as the President en-
tered advanced on him and fred two shots.
These facts, think, can be relied upon as
accurate and / give them to the punlic 10
contradict certain false rumors IN conneC
4ion with this most atrocious crime
MIsREPRESENTED.