The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-07-20
GUT Au
All About the Nj an who At
tempted TO Murder the
President.

WAsuINGToN, July l4th.-Unitcd
States District Attorney Corkhill fur
nishcs the following for publications.
"Thc interest felt by the public in
the details Of the assassination, and the
many stories published, Justify me in
stating that the following is Il correct
and accurate statement concerning the
points to which reference is made: The
assassin, Chus. j. Guiteau, came to
Washington Sunday evening, March &,
1881, stopped at the Ebbit House, re-
naming only one day lie then secured
Il room in another part Of the city, and
has boarded and roomed at various
places, full details Of which | have.
Wednesday, May Is, 1881, the assassin
determined to murder the President
He had neither money nor pistol at the
time. About the last Of May he went
into Omare's store, corner Fifteenth and
+. streets, this city, and examined some
pistols, asking for the largest calibre.
lie was shown two similar in calibrc and
only different in prices. Wednesday,
June s, purchased the pistol which he
used, for which he paid SO, he having
in the meantime borrowed $l5
Of gentleman in this city on the plea
that he wanted to pay his beard bill.
On the same evening, about 7 o'clock,
he took the pistol and went to the foot
Of 18th street, and practiccd firing at a
board, firing ten shots. lie then re-
turned to his boalding place and wiped
the pistol dry and wrapped it in his
coat, and waited his opportunity. Sun
day morning, June II, he was sitting in
Lafayette Park, and saw the President
leave for the Christian Church ON Yer
mont Avenue, and he at once returned
to his room, obtained his pistol, put it
in his hip pocket and followed the Presi-
dent to the church. He entered the
church, but found he could not kill him
there without danger Of killing some
one else. lie noticed the President sat
near window After church he made
an examination Of the window, and
found he could reach it without any
trouble, and that from this point he
could shoot the President through the
head without killing any one else. The
following Wednesday he went to the
church and examined the location ofthe
window, and became satisfied he could
accomplish his purpose, and he deter
mined therefore to make the attempt at
church ON the following Sunday. He
learned from the papers that the Presl-
dent would leave the city Saturday,
June Is, with Mrs Garfield, for Long
Branch. He, therefore, determined to
meet him at the depot. He left his
boarding house at > o'clock Saturday
June Is, and went down to
the river at the foot Of FIRST street and
fired five shots to practice his aim and
be certain his pistol was in good order
He then went to the depot and was IN
the ladies waiting room Of the depot,
with his pistol ready, when the Prcsl-
dental party entered He saw Mrs.
Garfield looked so weak and trail that
he did not have the heart to shoot the
President in her presence, and, as he
knew he would have another opportunl-
ty, he left the depot. He had previous
" engaged Il carriage to take him to
the Jail. Wednesday evening the Prcsl-
dent and his son, and | think United
States Marshal Henry, went out for a
ride. The assassin took his pistol and
followed them and watched them for
some time, in hopes the carriage would
stop, but no opportunity was given.
Friday evening, July /, he was sitting
ON Il seat in the park opposite the White
House, when he saw the President come
out alone. He followed him down the
avenue to Fifteenth street, and then
kept on the opposite side of the street
M Fifteenth until the President entered
the residence of Secretary blame. lie
waited at the corner of Mr.. Morton's
late residence, corner Of Fifteenth and
# for some time, and then, for fear
he would attract attention. he went INTO