The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-28
How the Intention to Commit Crime
Operated on Guiteau.


How the Intention to Commit Crime
Operated on Guiteau.
United States District Attorney
Corkhill has authorized the publica-
ton of the following, in order to
correct false statements:
"The interest felt by the public in
the details of the assassination and
the many stories published justify
me in stating that the following is a
correct and accurate statement con-
corning the points to which refer
ence is made The assassin, Charles
Guiteau, came to Washington City
on Sunday evening, March 6, 1881,
and stopped at the Ebbitt House,
remaining only one day. lie then
secured room in another part of
the city, and has boarded and
roomed at various places, the full de-
tails Of which l have. On Wednes-
day, May Is, 1881, the assassin
determined to murder the pres
ident. He had neither money nor
pistol at the time. About the last of
May he went into O'Meara's stor
corner Fifteenth and i. streets, in
this city, and examined some pistols,
asking for the largest calibre, and
only different in the price. On We'd
nesday, June Sth, he purchased the
pistol which he used, for which he
paid SO, he having in the meantime
borrowed $15 ofa gentleman in this
city, on the plea that he wanted to
pay his board bill. On the same
evening about z o'clock he took the
pistol and went to the foot of
Seventeenth street and practiced
firing at a board, firing ten shots.
He then returned to his boarding
place and wiped the pistol dry and
wrapped 1t in his coat, and waited
his opportunity. On Sunday morn
ing, June IL, he was sitting IN
Lafayette park and saw the presi-
dent leave for the Christian church,
on Vermont Avenue, and he at
once returned to his room, OBJ
tanned his pistol, put it in his hip
pocket and followed the president
to church he entered the church,
but found he could not kill him there
without danger of killing some one
else. He noticed that the president
sat near window after church he
made an examination of the win
dow and found he could reach IL
without any trouble, and that from
this point he could shoot the presi-
dent through the head without kill
ing any one else. The following
Wednesday he went TO the church,
examined the location and the win
dow and became satisfied he could
accomplish his purpose, and he de-
termined, therefore, to make the at
tempt at the church the following
Sunday. He learned from the pa
pers that the president would leave
the city on Saturday, the 18th Of
June, with Mrs. Garfield for Long
Branch he therefore determined TO
boarding place about o'clock Satur-
day morning, June 18, and went
down to the river, at the foot of
Seventeenth street, and fired five
shots to practice his aim and be GER
tain his pistol was in good order.
He then went to the depot, with his
pistol ready when the presidential
party entered. He says Mrs. Gar
field looked SO weak and frail that
he had not the heart to shoot the
president in her presence, and as he
knew he would have another oppor-
tunity he left the depot. He had
previously engaged carriage to
take him TO the Jail. On Wednesday
evening the president and his son,
and / think United States Marshal
Henry, went out for a ride. The
assassin took his pistol and followed
fhav,a aud rrvofoLA1 4Inv.a fO.s
time in hopes the carriage would
stop, but no opportunity was given.
On Friday evening, July 1, he was
sitting on the seat in the
park opposite the White House,
when he saw the president
come out alone, he followed him
down the Avenue to 18th street, and
then kept ON the opposite side of
the street up 18th, until the presi-
dent entered the residence of Secre-
tary Blaine. He waited at the cor
ner of Mr.. Morton's late resi-
dence, corner 10Th and II, for some
time, and then, as he was afraid he
would attract attention, he went
into the alley in the rear of Mr.. Nor
toms residence, examined his pistol
and waited. The president and
Secretary Blaine came out together
and he followed them over TO the
gate of the white house but could
get no opportunity TO use his
weapon. On the morning of Satur-
day, July 2, he breakfasted at the
Riggs House about o'clock. He
then walked up into the park and
sat there for an hour. lie then took
q one-horse Avenue car and rode
to 9th street, got out and
went into the depot and loitered
around there, had his shoes blacked,
engaged a hackman for So to take
him to the Jail, went into the water
closet and took his pistol out of his
hip pocket and unwrapped the
paper from around IL, which he had
put there for the purpose of pre-
venting the perspiration from the
body dampening the powder, ex-
amined his pistol, carefully tried the
trigger, and then returned and took
q seat in the ladies' waiting room,
and, as soon as the president en-
tered, advanced behind him and
fired two shots. These facts, think,
can be relied upon as accurate, and
[ give them to the public to contra
dict certain false rumors in connec-
lion with this most atrocious Of
itrocious Crimes"
~