Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-07-08
ASSASSINATION!
DARING ATTEMPT TO MURDER
PRESIDENT GARFIELD.
Arrest of the Assassin, Charles j. Gui'
teau, of Illinois.

4 dastardly attempt upon the life Of the
President was made on Saturday morning
last, at the Baltimore and Potomac Depot,
in Washington. Below will be found an
account of the tragedy by a former resident
of this county, now in the employ of the
railroad company:
WASHINGTON, ID. G. July 4th, 1881.
Editor Montgomery County Sentinel:
take this opportunity to withdraw from
the whirl and hustle of excitement pervad
ing this unfortunate locality to convey TO
your readers as true statement as possible
of the tragic scene enacted here on last Sat
urday--namely the assassination ofthe Pres
ident of the United States.
| was loading the Limited Express for
New York, and at the time of the first pistol
report was standing near the centre of the
main room of the Depot calling the train
Hardly three seconds had elapsed before an
other shot was fired; the loud nature of the
report convinced me that it was from PTS
tol, and that tragedy was being enacted ;
that probably some outraged husband or
father was being avenged. Consequently |
kept aloof for a moment, but Immediately L
heard the exclamation: "The President is
shotw then hurried TO the door leading
into the Ladies' Room, and there laid the
President prone upon the floor. In the
meantime Mrs. L. V. White, the estimable
lady in charge Of that room, had hurried to
the Presidents side and at the time / saw
him she had raised his head in her lap and
was gently smoothing his forehead. lie
looked very pale, but was very quiet; not
groan or word passed his lips frcsx fhe
! time he fell until they were preparing 10
| him cfo xuharf thew ron Id more
readily investigate the nature of his wound.
Attached TO the Limited Express train,
which was TO leave at $50 A. NJ, was spe
cial car to convey the President and Cabinet
| to Long Branch. Secretaries James, Hunt,
| Kirkwood, Window and Lincoln, with the
members of their families, were already In
| the car and the time for departure was APP
preaching when some solicitude was ex-
pressed as 10 whether the President would
| be in time for the train Within about eight
minutes of the time TO "ring OUT the Presl-
dents carriage arrived at the B street en-
trance TO the Depot. Secretary Blaine pre-
coded the President in entering the door
probably three or four steps.
The assassin, Guiteau, in the meantime
had posted himself to the left of and near
the door on the inside, and as the President
passed in he fired, the ball passing through
Vic SlCtNt llShb ohOuiNN'' NN
President for moment hesitated and then
proceeded on hurredly, when Guiteau adj
vanced two or three steps and fired again.
the ball entering the Presidents back about
four inches to the right of the spine and
above the waist He fell on his side, then
turned on his back straight out on the floor
and remained so until Mrs. White raised his
head In her lap.
The assassin, when he saw his victim fall
considered his helish work finished and pro-
ceeded to go out OF the b street door, when
officer Kearney intercepted him. He then
turned hurriedly to make for the main room
of the Depot when Mr.. r. A. Parke, our
ticket agent, rushed out of his office and
caught the man by the arm and shoulder
and forced him into the main room where
our special officer, John II. Scott, went to
his assistance. Both these gentlemen were
| struggling with him when officer Kearney
rushed through the Ladies' Room and also
caught hold Of the man, relieving Mr. Parke
As the two officers proceeded with him out at
the 9th street door Guiteau exclaimed "Take
me to Jail; did it; / am stalwart; Arthur
| is President noww He was then taken to
the station house and secured.
The widest excitement soon prevailed, the
Depot was rapidly filling with people, and
by the time the President was conveyed up
stairs TO one of the rooms in the second
story the room below was densey thronged
A guard of police was stationed at the stairs
to prevent the rush of people in that direc-
ton.
| shall never forget the picture as 1t pre-
| sontod itsolf to mo entering the room
where the President was laid, He was y-
ing on a mattrass spread upon the floor in
the centre of the room, his pants, shoes and
hose were removed and his back was bare,
exposing the wound, a large ugly hole,
made by a A-calibre bullet. His son Harry
was at his head bathing his forehead with a
sponge and ice-water, and at his left side
knelt his faithful body servant holding his
left hand, his right hand laid upon his left
breast, at his back or right side knelt the
| physicians who were ministering to his com
fort. He seemed calm, talked in low tone
of voice to his son, drank water that was
put to his lips, and seemed to give himself
up entirely to the physicians.
About ten o'clock II was thought best to
remove him to his home, as the depot was
becoming so densely crowded that it was
! feared the people would rush into the room
in their eager solicitude concerning his con-
dition. Accordingly he was conveyed down
the stairs by careful hands and placed in
an ambulance and driven rapidly to the
White House
Such are the facts as they occurred here
undertheeye ofyour correspondent. lhave
made no effort to elaborate but have simply
stated the truth, which | am sure you will
appreciate as so many statements have been
made contrary to facts.
Yours respectfully, X