Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-07-21
CUlTTEAU'S ANTECEDENTs.

. .
There is a well-known merchant re-
siding in Oakland, who is we'll acquain-
ted with Charles J. Guitteau and his
family and antecedents- The gentle.
men does not wish his n me published
in this connection, but it can be given
If necessary. A CALL representative
visited him yesterday afternoon, and
asked him il 1t was true that be had
known Guitteau.
EYES," he replied, II knew him and
his father and mother, intimately. l
resided in the same town with them
(Freeport, Illinois) in l847 o: 48, was
it, Well. about that time when this
Charles J. Guit,eau was born. He has
IN elder brother, now practising law
in Clinton, Iowa, think-a most es.
Unable young man, altogether differ
ont from his younger brother. When
I kew them first, his father and mother
were strictly religious people, and the
mother always continued such until
her death some three or four years af-
Ter the birth of Charles. About the
time Of the mothers death the father
came under the influence of Martin P.
Sweet, at that time prominent poll.
tician Of the Northwest, and an ex.
IRENE follower of the free.love doctrines
ct the notorious Oneidl Community.
Under the influence Of this man. old
Guitteau went into politics, and en-.
tirely abandoned his former religious
beliefs. He became Perfectionist Of
the worst aud most extreme type"
IN THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY.
ibid this affect the son in any man.
ner 7"
Eyes for after tho death Of his mother,
Charles was subject to no other inAu-
ence but that Of bis father and the
Perfectionists by whom he was sur
rounded. When Charles Guittoau
was about eleven or twelve years old
"a most susceptible age-his father
took him to the Oneida Community,
where he passed either three or four
years. The father was entirely lject
to tho influences of these people. He
refused to allow any minister Of the
Gospel to offciate at the funeral OF his
wife, saying that God had made him
priest of the household. He was a
perverted religious enthusiast, aid his
son Charles was exactly Of his own
type"
"How did Charles Guitteau impress.
you as to his mental qualities7'
"He was man of the very small
est mental calibre, but wilful, head
strong and impulsive. Tell him to dc
anything, and he would 60 and do just
the opposite out of sheer perversi.y-
not because he wanted to do it par.
ticularly. He is a very small man,
mentally speaking. He studied law
wit George Scoville, in Chicago for a
time, and l remember the latter say
ing to me once about him. as happen
ed in accidently. i can never do any
thing with him; he is so iupracticable
better let him 90 At once In fact, hs
did not remain long with Scoville."
HIS OWN ACT.
DO you believe, from what you
know of the man, that this shooting
Of the President was altogether hi,
own actl'
"Undoubtedly. know this man sc
we'll, and his peculiar mental qualities
that l can see thu, it 10 his own single
unprompted act. You could not leat
him or drive him anywhere, and at b.
same time ho was just as impulsiv,
and ohstinately unreasoning as mule
He inherits it from his father, who
was equally unsound in mind and i'm
practicable. Why l can almost Sc.
Charles Guit'eau going, of his own mo.
ton, to shoot the President. TIL.
moment l saw the first accounts in thu
paper, and read the name of the as,ss
in, incorrectly spelled as it was, and
Christian name or any other guide Il
his identity, l said to my wife, THAI
10 Gu Hes J. Guitteau, as sure a.
youxs born The event proves that
wAffisht about him."
"Of what nationality is GuitteauT
His father and mother were Frencl
Canadians who came to Freeport Iii