The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-08-24
GUITEAU ATTACKS A GUARD.
DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE
LATTERS LIFE.
The Prisoner Makes ~ Fntiic Effort TO
Escape Struggle for a Re-
yoIver-A Knife Fonnd In the
Possession OF the Would be
Assassin Pris-
on Officers
Account.

THIS morning Dy report tnat uus'
teau. the assassin, had made n des-
perate effort to escape from the jail,
attempting to kill one of the
guards.
ENDEAyoRfyG TO SUPPRESS THE Az
FAIR.
The deputy warden of the jail de
MED the story of Guiteau's assault
upon a guard. General Croker,
the warden, was absent last night.
This denial is not altogether credit
ell here. 1t is claimed that the oc-
currence really took place, but the
deputy warden, realizing that it was
carelcss management to let Guiteau
get mold OF knife in the absence of
the warden, is trying to protect
himself by denying that the thing
happened.
DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR.
The Critic, which first published
the story, says: News of tie Presi-
dents critical condition gave rise TO
a number of rumors at the Jail yes
terday. which were increased by the
fact that early last evening the guard
was doubled and the military drill
was held in the rotunda. the noise
of which awoke Guiteau to state
of feverish excitement. He paced
his cell and inquired anxiously for
news from the President. A rumor
reached the Jail early in the evening
that the President was dying, and it
was supposed that Guiteau heard it.
He was observed to climb up to a
window in his cell and in other
ways showed great excitement. Mr..
W. c. McGill, who has charge Of the
jail on alternate nights, visited the
prisoners cell several times, and
coming to the conclusion that Gui-
teau had heard from some of the
prisoners alarmingrumors, he watch
ed him with unusual care. Several
times Mr.. McGill observed Guiteau
clinging to the iron bars of his win
dow, and an idea that the prisoner
might be attempting TO hang him
self prompted the guard TO visit the
cell at 4;30 o'clock this morning.
Mr.. McGill, upon opening the cell
found that Guiteau was concealing
something in his hands. and deter
mining that it was a knife, he said
"What are you doing with that
knife ?" Guiteau then looked up ex
citedly and cried go help me God
| have no knife" Mr.. McGill in
sisted that he had, and stepped to-
ward the prisoner. when Guiteau
sprang up and rushed at him furi-
ously and made a savage cut at his
throat. McGill drew back and the
knife passed through his coat collar,
cutting off an upper button and
making clean cut on the left
shoulder. The guard drew his re-
volver without cooking it, but find
ing himself unable to disarm his
assailant he finally cooked the re-
yolver, when Guiteau dropped his
knife and grasped the more formid
able weapon, crying for help and
calling that be was being shot. The
pistol was accidentally discharged,
and several guards rushed to the
cell, when Guiteau was disarmed.
The assassin stated to the guards
that he was acting in self defence,
and that McGill had attempted to
shoot him.
WHAT THE WARDEN SAYS.
Warden Crocker, of the Jail, says
that there is no truth in the story
of Guiteaus having a knife or hav-
ing assaulted a guard. Croker says
all there is in the story is that Gui-
teau was climbing up the bars of his
cell evidently to hear the talk about
the President. The guard ordered
him down and he refused to obey.
The guard entered the cell. and Gut
teau still refused to get down from
the position he had climbed to. The
guard seized Guiteau and there was
a scuifle in which the guards gun
was accidentally discharged. This
version does not gain general cred
ence.
HOW THE KNIFE WAS OBTAINED.
The question how Guiteau abtain-
ed the knife is generally explained
by the fact that "Baben Bedford
once occupied the cell and that sever
al similar instruments had been
concealed by that criminal. The
knife is what is generally known by
prisoners as a ''Cheeser," and is a
substitute for jack.knife.
knife, razor or dagger. 1t is
made out of the piece of steel found
in the sole of boot which can be
sharpened on a stone or window
sill until it becomes exceedingly
keen. The blade is generally about
two or three inches long and half
an inch broad and an inch or more
left unsharpened, and wrapped in
rags or paper for 4 handle. These /
are used by prisoners
for various purposes. They are con- I
fiscated by iailors whenever thev [
are found. 1t is also considered 1
possible that one of the other priso-
ners had in some way left the knife |
where Guiteau could get it. The
assassin considers his escape very
and when guard said ,
in his presence that he had thought /
the pistol shot 'had settled the dog
he replied : My dear sir. that is too !
subject for joking. A
life is valuable.
WHAT MCGIII. SAYS.
The startling episode created IN
tense excitement at the Jail. Mr.. /
tie uard, told reporter
this morning. that he supposed Gui- I
teau thought the President was dead, I
and took this means Of proving his
most conclusiyelv. The
guard who was attacked is heavy
built man, of kind, pleasant man
ners, and against whom, personally, (
Guiteau could have no bitter feeling
The success of the plan to kill the
guard would not have given Gui-
leau any chance to escape, and so
hat motive could not have prompt
I'd the deed. The guards ut the I
all are reticent and refuse positively