South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-07-08
attempted ASSaSSin0ti0n o.
PRESIDENT GARFIELD!
The Assassin's Arrest {,
An Atrocious Act that has arous-
ed the whole country.
WAsnINeroN. July 2, 1ss

history OF The country. This morn
ing witnessed the attempt-and prob
ably notwithstanding Of Pres
ident Garfield. AS the President
was about to step upon platform of
the 1O:4O limited express, II man stand
ing near him drew II pistol and fired
two shots in rapid succession, both
balls of which found Judgment in the
body OF the President, one passing
through the arm and lodging i'll the
left side, causing wound which in
all probability will prove fatal. The
assassins name is Charles Guiteau and
halls from Chicago. He is now in Jail
strongly guarded. lie gives for his
excuse for the deed that he did il 10
save the Republican party. At 10
O'Clock the President was removed to
the Executive Mansion. The assas-
sin after the firing started TO leave the
depot, and as he ran out, threw let.
ter behind him addressed to Gen.
Sherman saying: Il deem il polit-
ical necessity lie made desperate
effort to escape, but was finally cap.
tured and taken to police Head quar-
tiers. The authorities anticipating
such demonstration took the man
from head quarters TO what was
deemed q more secure place, but en-
tertaining fears that the maddcned
populace would get him there, he
was taken to Jail. DR.. Lincoln who
was present, had an ambulance sent
for, and the wounded President was
taken to the White House. As the
cortege left, the Dr. remarked that
the wound might prove fatal in two
hours, but il all depended on the a.
mount OF internal hemorrhage that
took place from the lower wound.
The man when caught by officer
kearney, exclaimed: | have shot
President Garfield, Arthur is Pres
ident now, and | am Stalwart.
He IS Il Chicago lawyer and was
formerly Consul to Marseilles. a
squad OF troops from the barracks ar
rived about II o'clock and have form
ed 4 Gordon at the White House.
The prisoner is pale, cmaciated,
small man with the appearance of an
insane person. lie gave his name as
stated above and said he was. from
Chicago, and that he was lawyer.
thcologian, and politician. lie OK
pressed great anxiety to be taken to
jail, where he stated he would meet
Generals Arthur, Sherman and Sec
rotary Merritt.
There are grave rumors ahoat as to
a political sequel of this affair of start
ling consequences. Some have gone
so tar-probably under the intense
cXcitement-as to say it was a plot of
the Chiefs of the Stalwarts, and by
no means n freak OF insanity. The
city is i'll wild state of excitement.
the Departments being almost empty,
the employees having turned out to
relieve their curiosity and hang the
assassin. MEMO.
The shooting, it seems, occurred in
the ladies' waiting room in the depot, in
the presence Of some fifty or sixty la,lies.
The ball from the first shot entered the
right sleeve Of the Presidents coat, pass.
ing up the same and out at the shonl-
der. This ball did no injury, except
scratch the flesh of the arm, though il
was thought at first that it had entered
the shoulder. The second shot, the ball
entered the back, lodging, supposed. in
the groin just over the kidney. This
staggered the President and he fell to
the foor.l
When the President reached the
White house his pulse was 80 degrees.
and he appeared to be almost uncon-
scious. His pulse at Ills 4. VI. had
increased to 80, and the patient las
rallied after one attempt to extract
the ball.
The Presidents first action on re-
covering consciousness was to dictate
q telegram to his wife, as follows:
Mr5. Garfield, Elheron Long Branch
"The President wishes me IN sav to
Won from him that lie has been serious.
ly hunt.
"Io~ seriously he cannot say. lie IS
himself and hopes you will come TO him
soon. He sends lis love 10 you.
Signed A. f. ROCKWELL"
i is wonderful, how tie ncws of
assassination got abroad, and in n
few minutes after tie Shooting took
place several hundred had gathered
about the depot Five minutes after,
wards the namheg had qrpdruplcd,
and 10y the time tie ambulance stFrtcd
to the White House several thousaad
had collected about the depot. a
platoon Of mounted police kent the
larger part of tlc crowd from follow
ing, but rs they ncarcd the White
House they found Just as many con.
grcgatcd about the gates thcre.-
Iborc was much excitement I'm Tie
crowd, and many threats at lyncline
were heard loud and violent curses
LIrrI#r I,rf...l ,,-..... Il 40