The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-07-09

Blaine, what motive do YOU think that man
could have had in trying to assassinate me?"
10 which Mr.. Blaine replied: 81 do not
know, Mr.. President. He says he had no mo-
| tive. He must be insane.' To this the Presi-
| dent smilingly answered. 81 suppose he
thought it would be glorious thing TO emulate
the pirate chief" At another time, when one
of his sons was sobbing at his bedside the
President said "Don't be alarmed, Jimmy,
the upper story is all right, it is only the hull
that is a little damaged" When Colonel Rock
well announced to him that Mrs Garfield had
started on a special train from Long Branch
he said, with evident feeling; 'God bless the
little woman; hope the shock won't break her
down"
ARREST OF THE ASSASSIN.
Immediately upon hearing the pistol shot,
| Officer Kearney, who remained at his post of
duty, near the B street entrance, after the
President entered the building, ran into the
large reception room, and was in time to see
the assassin running toward the east door,
which opens on Sixth street. Before reaching
this door the assassin turned back to make his
way out of the north door, where he was met
and arrested by Officer Kearney The officer
met the prisoner on the steps and said to him ::
81 must arrest YOU Gan right" said the
assassin, 81 did it and will go to Jail for it.
am Stalwart, and Arthur will be President -
Officer Kearney took his prisoner into the large
waiting-room, where he was joined by one of
the railroad officers and escorted to police
headquarters. On the way he gave Kearney q
card on which was written: 'Charles Guiteau
Of Illinois," that being the prisoners name.
Guiteau is described on the books at police
headquarters as follows "Charles Guiteau ar
rested at 9:25, July 2, 1881, for shooting Presi-
dent Garfield; age 36; white; born in the
United States and a lawyer by profession:
weight 100 pounds; has dark brown, thin whis-
kers and sallow complexion; dressed in dark
suit with black SLOUGH hat"
aUIrEAU's STORY AND HABITS.
The excitement and indignation became so
great among the crowds that were rapidly as
sembling in all parts of the city that the atl-
thortles grew apprehenslYe for the safety Of
the prisoner, and in order that any attempt at
lynching might be frustrated it was determined
10 remove him to the district jail, and General
Sherman was applied to for the assistance Of
the military in case OF an emergency. General
Sherman, after consulting Secretary Lincoln,
ordered out three companies Of United States
artillery from the arsenal, one company being
mounted as cavalry and two serving as infantry.
One mounted and one foot company were sta
toned about the White House and grounds
and one was stationed at the jail. The district
militia were also ordered to hold themselves in
readiness, and remained under arms at their
armories all day. Guiteau was taken to jail in
a carriage by Lieutenants Austin and Eckkloff
and Detective McElfresh of the district police
The pistol used by the prisoner is a bulldog, A
cahber, tive-shooter, and there are three loads
remaining in it. Guiteau did not throw ii
away, but had it in his hands when arrested.
At police headquarters letter was taken
from the prisoners pocket declaring that the
writer was d" a LAWYER theologian and poll
tician," and that "the Presidents death was
sad necessity, but it will unite the Republican
party" Another letter written by Gulteau
Il Il
III the street soon after his arrest 1t was I'M
sealed and addressed ''to Gt neral Sherman or
mis- first assistant in charge of the war depart
ment." In this letter the assassin declares
that the Presidents death twas a political
necessity" and requests General Sherman to
g order out the troops and take possession OF
the jail at once" On receiving this letter.
General Sherman returned it to the Washing
ton chief of police with the Endorsement that
ne General Sherman) was unacquainted with
tie writer and never heard of or saw him to his
knowledge. In addition to those letters
above referred to there is a letter addressed to
Vce-President Arthur in which GGiteau in
forms him of the assassination of President
Garfield, and that he arthur was by this act
made President Of the United States Guiteau
then proceeded to advise the Vice-President as
to the selection of his cabinet.
Concerning Guiteau's doings in Washington
a dispatch from that city says: Charles GUiteau
came here with other office seekers at the time
of the Inauguration of General Garfield, and at
once began to importune the President for Office
with unusual persistency. His effrontery knew
no bounds He approached the Presidents
friends right and left for Endorsements, -
whether they knew him or not, and was espe-
cally persistent in his efforts to get Colonel
Ingersolls influence, though the Colonel did
not know him even by sight. He, in fact, made
himself a nuisance generally, and about three
weeks ago was excluded from the executive
Office for violation Of the rules i'll pushing
past the doorkeeper and entering the Presidents
room without permission. He had not pre-
scented himself for admission since his exclu-
sion, nor had he openly sought the Presidents
presence. but continued to haunt the vicinity of
the White House, sitting on the benches in
Lafayette square, directly opposite the main
entrance, and occasionally calling at the door
and asking if the President was in
No longer ago than last night (the night pre-
ceding the shooting) he called, as he had fire.
quently done before, and asked If the President
was in, and being answered in the affirmative
he went away apparently satisfied He has
lived most, and probably all, of the time since
he has been here by swindling boarding houses.
About six weeks ago he called at a fashionable
boarding house III Fourteenth street, kept by
Mrs William L. Grant, and by giving Presi-
dent Garfield's and Secretary's Blaines names
as references obtained rooms and board. At
the end of the first month, in lieu Of paying his
bill, he resorted to the swindler's usual excuse
the non-arrival of expected funds. Guiteau
surreptitiously got his baggage and sneaked
away from the honse. On the day of the
shooting, when Mrs. Grant called at the office
of morning paper, to insert this little adver-
tisement she heard for the first time that her
late boarder and the assassin were one and the
same:
WANTED Charles Guiteau of Illinois who gives
w the President and Secretary Blaine reference
to call at 1924 14th ST. and pay his board bill.
THE AssAssIN'S HISTORY.
A Chicago dispatch says: Charles Jules Gui-
teau is native of Illinois, about forty years of
age. He is son of L. W. Guiteau who for
many years, and up to the time of his death,
which occurred about two years ago. resided at
Freeport, Ill. About twenty five years ago the
father, accompanied by his son, Charles Jules,
then about sixteen years old, left Freeport and
joined the Oneida community, in New York
State. The father remained with the commu-
nifty but a short time, and then returned to
Freeport. The son remained in the community
several years, and next turned up in Chicago as
lawyer. When boy, and up to the time
of his arrival in Chicago, he was known
as Charles Jules Guiteau, but in Chi
cago he dropped the Jules. He
visited Washington about two years
ago and lectured in Lincoln hall on Second
Adyentism in which at that time, he pro-