Daily Republican., 1881-08-18
A GAGGED FURY.
Ga1tesa AsgUenptses R1ll ene sfshe
GuaRAs NJ the yall In W.ahins.
tOn-RuDl Details.

ton-RuIl Desails.
A brief despatch To the RErUBLICA
yesterday, stated that Guitsau, the q
sassin, had made q desperate attemy
to kill his jailor. A special correspond
ent, after saying that yesterday was
lday OF decided sensation in Washington
isays of the affair:
The following account Of the fracas a
the Jail is given by Mr.. William Nj
lGill, Jr., the son of the assaul ted jaileI
This morning, about 4.30 A. M. Gui
teau, tie assassin Of tho President, ai
tempted to assassinate the officer VIII
has charge Of him, W. G. McGili. Wort
reached the Jail about that time tha
the President was dying. BY som
means unknown this information va
conveyed to Guitoau.
| "A few minutes later q sentry VIII,
had been placed on duty at the end o
dow looks noticei him acting in a pacu
liar manner. He Immediately y reporte'
to McGill, and that officer upon goinl
to the cell found Guiteau upon the bed
in a partly rscumbent position, resting
on his left elbow.
"Suspecting tina. Gulteau had at
tempted to commit suicide, he entered
the cell, and by tho dim light of the ga'
in the opposite corridor, saw a knit
ciutched in the assassin's hand. Draw
ing his revolver, he loveled 1t at Gui
teau and demanded tn kuife. The re
volver was not cooked, and WAS drawn
merely 10 intimidate him. Wnen the
knife was first demanded, the prisoner
replied, -, haven't no knife, and
upon reiteration Of his command, the
guard approached nearer the right OF
the prisoner.
"rhere was q space Of about two feet
between them when Guiteau sprang to
his feet, aud making d spring forward
made downward sweep with the knife
cutting the outtr cio' h ~ of tle guard,
Seeing that h,- attempt WAS nusu, cess
ful, he matoa rapit retrogr'.ie move.
ment and nlahaseI to sacure the guard 3
arms.
"rberenpon a struggle took place
.bat Will. it lasted, was fast and furious
Tor about five minutes. The rect of the
officers heing in the rotunda were not
aware that the struggle was going on
inside. Finally both tell upon the bed,
and while still struggling the pistol was
dropped unon the mattress.
"As soon AZ this was done, Guiteau,
whose evident intention was to secure
tue pistol, loosed his grasp and made a
savage dive for the weapon, but the
guard was too quick tor him and secured
IL.
'He cooked It, but before he could
use it Gniteau was upon him. Mr..
McGill warned him to release him
or he would fire, but Guiteau did not
heed him, and made frantic endcavors
TO secure the revolver.
"By an almost superhuman effort the
guard mauagei to tree his right hand
and placed the pistol over his right
shoulder with his finger on the trigger.
Guiteau graspd his arm and discon
certing his aim caused the pistol 10 60
off towards the ceiling. The report
brought the puard, Mr.. Jones, and the
sergeant of the soldiers who are sta
toned at the Jail, to the cell. When
they came Guiteau released his hold
and dropped on his bed, crying -
They are trying to kill me. Give me
my pistol; it belongs TO me- He was
secured and locked up, and the knife
taken from the cell, which was searched
for other weapons. Mr.. McGill is a
short, thick-set man, weighing about
-OO, and while being stout, Is not mus
cular. Guteau is more active and
supple, and thus is enabled to move
more rapidly, and use himself to better
advantage in a hand. to hand encounter
with heavier person."
The knife which the assassin used
Was what is known as the 'cheeser" ut
he Jail.
1t il the shank in the soes Of shoes
md is very often removed By prisoners
can sharpen it on the Sandstone
window ledge To almost razor sharpness
1t is used by them for shaving, and is
he best OF steel. 1t is about five inches
n Length and d quarter of an inch in
width About thlee inches of this
Weapon were sharpened, and the rest
vas wrapped in paper and tied with
wine, so AZ to form substantial ham
lie, and is altogether a nasty weapon
n the hands OF Il desperate criminal
who has nhown no more regard for life
han "a log. The pistol which figured
II the atfray is u small, latest pattern,
Smith & Wessou revolver,
even shambers, and SO calibre
THE GUARDS NARROW ESCAPE.
here is no doub. but had Guiteau OBJ
aimed it he would have killed the guard. |
v hat his motive was cannot be imag-
ned, unless it Was in revenge for the |
ommand to yield up his knife. He is
n extremely sensitive man, and prob
bly, the rather Larsh command, drop
hat Cheeser," perhaps angered him,
,r he made no demonstration when his
ell was first opened.
r WAS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE,
u that would have been impossible, as
ne rest of the guards We're in the rotun-
a, and an armed sentry was posted at
le head Of the corridor, ana within
lsy calling distance of the guard had
g chosen TO call him.
He was confident that he could over
ONE the assassin and he did not cal
ut fought it our alone. Had it not
zen for the accidental she otiug Of the
i,tol the country might lave been
reed from trying the double-dyed
ramp. After the atflay Guiteau
oke Of it as a prearranged plan to Kill
i'm, forgetting the fact that he made
le first hostile assault.
He appear d perlcctly cooi and col
'cted when he was dlsarmed, but the
am of his eye bodied no good to any
no were concerned in it, should he
ave the opportunity of doing harm.
'uring the tussle he made no cry; and
is whols object was TO take the life
t the one who had him in custody,
Mould he attribute all his suiirrings
, those in whose charge he is. He oh
lined informal on as to the dying con-
ition of the President when the priso-
ers emptied their tubs at 6 O'clock at
light. About nine he questioned one
the officers az TO President Galtield's
)ndition, but could not elicit any in
,rmation. When it was found out
lat tue President was dying he WAS
uestioned and asked whether he teit