Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-08-18

| to the Executive mansion, in relation to Gui
teau's attempt to assassinate the guard, said
that the guard was standing Immediately out
side the door of the cell, when he noticed the
| prisoner was acting in a'strance and unusual
manner, and as he, the guard, thought, was
| trying to hang himself. The guard opened
the door, and upon entering the cell Guiteau
seized him, and struggle ensued, during
which the guard drew his pistol in self
defense, and it was accidentally dis
charged. Hearing the report of the
pistol other of the guards rushed to the scene
and separated them. There was no damage
done by the discharge of the weapon. Guiteau
has volunteered no explanation OF the mat
ter SO far. 1t was also thought he was at
tempting to escape, but Warden CrOcker states
been made His theory is that Gulteau, who
has been in an extremely nervous and excited
condition for some time, became so much ex-
l.cited and enraged at the sudden entrance of
the guard that he was led into this
EXHIBITION OF VIOLENCE. II.
News of the Presidents condition gave rise
| to number of rumOrs at the Jail yesterday,
which we're increased by the fact that early
and a military drill was held in the rotuada,
news of which awoke Guteau to a state of
feverish excitement. He paced his cell and
jumped anXlOusly for news from the Pres-
dent. rumor rt tached the Jail late in the
evening that the President was dying and it
was supposed that Guiteau heard it, He was
observed to climb up to the window in the cell
and in other ways show great excitement
w. G. McGill, who has charge of
ha iail ta mir yicito ha oa11
several times and coming to the conclusion
that Guiteau had heard from some of the
prisoners the alarming rumors, he watched
him with unusual care. Several times McGill
observed him climbing to the iron bars of his
window, and the idea that the prisoner might
be
ATTEMPTING TO HANG HIMSELF,
prompted the guard to visit tie cell about
4:20 this afternoon. McGill upon opening
the cell found that Guiteau was concealing
something in his hands and determined that
it was knife. He said, "what are you doing
with that?''
Guiteau looked up excitedlv and cried: $50
help me God, have no knife"
McGill insisted tuat he had and slipped to-
ward him. when Guiteau sprang up and
rushed at him furiously and made a
SAVAGE CUT
at his throat. McGill drew back and the knife
passed through his coat collar, cutting off
button and making clean cut on the left
shoulder. The guard drew his revolver with
out cooking, but finding himself unable to
disarm his assailant he finally cooked his re-
volver, when Guiteau dropped his knife and
grasped the more formidable weapon, crying
for help and calling that he was being
shot. The pistol was accidently discharged
and several guards rushed to the cell, when
Cuiteau was disarmed.
THE ASSASSIN
stated to the guards that he was acting in self
defense. and that McGill had attempted to
shoot him. The question as to how Guiteau
obtained the knife is generally explained by
the fact that Abe Beford once occupied the
cell, and that several similar instruments had
been concealed by the criminal The knife is
what is known by prisoners as cheeser, and
is criminals substitute for jack knife,
carving knife, razor, and dagger. 1t is made
of piece of steel found in the sole of boot,
which can be sharpened on stone or window
sill until it becomes
EXCEEDINGLY KEEN.
The blade is generally two or three inches
more is left unsharpened and wrapped in rags
or paper for a handle. The instruments are
used by prisoners for various purposes. They
are confscated by the prisoners whenever they
are found. It is also considered possible that
some of the other prisoners have in some way
left knife where Gulteau could get it. The
assassin considers his escape very fortunate,
and when guard said in his presence that he
had thought that pistol shot had settled the
day, he replied, "My dear sir, that is too i'm
portant subject, for taking life is valuable"
That
STARTLING EPISODE
created intense excitement at the Jail. Nc
Gill, the guard, told the Critic reporter this
morning that he supposed Guiteau thought
the President was dead, and took this means
of proving his insanity most conclusively.
The guard who was attacked is heavy built
man of the kindest manners, and against
whom personally he could have had no bitter
feeling. Success of the plan to kill the guard
would not have given Guiteau any chance to
escape, and that motive could not have
prompted the deed.