Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1881-07-14

A New and Important witness In
the Presidential Assassination
Case Where the First Bullet
Went 10.
WASHINGTON, July IA. The Sar
prints q communication from Nicholas
Jackson Of Annapolis. who Witnessed
the shooting Of Garfield. and who claims
thu. he was struck by the ball which
penetrated the Presidents coat sleeve
Following Is the communication:
AsSApoLIs. July 10. 1881.
Editor Star:-As I Vas an eyewitness
Of the shooting Of President Garfield
and being able to explain which shot en-,
tered the Chief Magistrates body. and
the course and present whereabouts OF
the ball that missed him, I deem IL
proper to impsrt to you the Information
/ possess Of the tragedy, a. 1t will clear
away the mystery OF the lost ouiist
which the newspaper men are Trying 10
solve. In the Baltimore Sun on Friday
I noticed q few lines that spoke oil the
differences OF opinion ~ to whether u
was the first or second shot that struck
President Garfield, and the mystery that
surrounded the bullet that entered his
cost sleeve. % no trace OF It could %
found, though the most diliRsnt search
was made for It. They may search till
doomsday, bat without success. for the
bullet that entered the Presidents sleevs
q second after passed into my possession,
and IL still retained by me a. q relic, not
alone because OF It's connection with the
President, but principally because It
very narrowly escaped entering my body,
which 1t would have done had its pro-
Qress not been checked BY q large silver
medal, which I wore suspended from
my neck, and which was presented 10
me by Rev. Father Zieitsg. formerly
pastor OF St. Mary's Church 10 this city.
On the morning OF the I'd Of July. DO.
Ing In the vicinity Of the Baltimore and
Potomac depot, and hearing that the
President and Cabinet would soon be ct
tho depot, I and my friend. samuel
Frazer, concluded to stop and see the
great man OF whom We had heard 30
much but had never before seen. We
had not long to wait. for o o the Prssi.
dent and q gentleman whom ! was told
wss Secretary Blaine entered the depot.
accompanied by Q number OF ladies.
Two gentlemen walked to and fro en-.
gagged In conversation. while my friend
and I sat on o bench and watched them.
Soon the sharp crack OF Q pistol burst
upon the air. which was followed almost
instantly by Q second. On the instant
that the report Of the frst shot was
borne to my ears I felt . stipsing senss.
ton on my chest. left the place In .
hurry, believing that I bad been fatally
shot. As soon as I could I stripped my
chest bare and found that my life had
been saved by the medal that ! have
worn for twelve years. The spot whore
the medal had rested felt sore and was
very red. The bullet I found 10 my shirt
bosom.
left Washington With my friend Of
noon and arrived at Annapolis at 2
o'clock p. n. I spjoined striot secrecy
upon my friend, for I knew what trouble
would follow II I was detained - Q wit
ness. The loss Of my situation would
surely follow II I was kept from my
work. ss my employer would have allied
my place With soms one else II I was
detained In Washington. one day. l will
surrender the bullet II I am assured 1t
will be returned to me II the District
Attorney shall have NO further use for
II. Please have this shown to Corkhill.
Any further information you may desire.
which I can give. I shall be happy to
furnish you with.
NICHOLAS JACKSON,
No. 20 Cornhill street, Annapolis. Nd.