The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-07-09
4 HORRIBLE CRIME.
PRESIDENT GARFIELD SHOT BY A
CRAZY FANATIC.


CRAZY FANATIC.
The Would be Assassin Arrested Great
Excitement-The Country in Sorrow,
The Assassin History and His
Reasons for Committing
the Awful Deed.
Since the news of the assassination of
wires sixteen years ago. the country has
received no such terrible shock as was
felt here, and in fact throughout the civil
lied world. as that of last Saturday morn
ing, when the frightful news of the shoot
ing. in cold blood. of President Garfield
was reported from Washington. The
news reached Elkton about 10 o'clock 4.
NJ. At first it was discredited, no one
being able to assign a probable motive
for the dastardlv act. 1t was not long,
however. before the unwelcome intelli-
gcnce received ample confirmation in the
rapidity with which successive kilograms
confirmed the truth of the startling re-
port. The story of the tragedy can be
briefly told. and which we repeat for the
benefit of such of our readers as have
not access to the daily newspapers.
THE SHOOTING.
On Saturday morning. the President
accompanied by Secretary Blaine. left the
White House few minutes after nine
clock in the carriage of the former
driven by the same faithful colored coach
man who has continuously had charge of
the President $ carriage since the inau-
guration of President Grant. Secretaries
Lincoln. Window and Hunt. and Post
master General James accompanied by
their wives. had preceded the President
to the depot. and had taken seats in the
special car that was to take the party on
their Journey to New York aud the East
/ The President reached the Sixth street
entrance to the depot at about $50.
When the carriage stopped. the Pres-
dent said to Officer kearney who stepped
, forward to open the carriage door: How
much time have we. otficer?' To which
kearney replied: About ten minutes,
sir Tie President fingered in the car
rage for Il few minutes, as if to finish Il
conversation with Secretary Blaine, when
he alighted. and. followed by the Secre-
tary, proceeded to the ladies' entrance.
the two gentlemen passing leisurely
through the ladies' waiting room arm-in-
arm. the President being on the left of
Mr.. Blaine.
They had proceeded only a few feet
into the general passenger room, when
two pistol shots were fired in rapid sue
cession from the rear and to the right of
Secretary Blaine. The first shot passed
through the right coat sleeve of the Presi-
dent, inhict ne little injury. the second
shot entered his body above the third rib.
When the President was struck he turned
sharply to the right, but before he could
take Il step or make another motion, he
sank heavily to the foor, the
BLOOD Squirting PHoFUsE1N
from Jagged wound caused by ball of
, the size known as calibre AZ. Secretary
! Blaine turned toward the assassin. but
discovering that he was in the custody
of an officer. his attention was immedi-
! ately given to the PROSTATE President.
who was carried to Il room in the second
story of the depot building where are
situated the offices of the railroad COM
pany.
Secretaries Hunt and Lincoln and Post
/ master-General James. as also Secretary
I Blaine. were all within few feet of the
President when he was shot. Col. f. A.
Rockwell. who had been out into the
general waiting room. returned just in
time to see him fall, The latter, fearing
that the shock of the terrible news would
, ;lrore toe much Coz MIS-. Garfield's con-
/ stitutiou, autographed at once to friends
at Long Branch TO keep the news from
her. This was only to delay matters
urtil the result of the Presidents nin-
: ries could be ascertained. 1t appears
/ that none Of the Secretaries had noticed
the shooting except Secretary Blaine, and
when they heard of it they We're greatly
shocked.
STATEMENTS OF EYE-wITNEssEs.
! Mrs. Sarah V. Z. White, the lady in
charge Of the waiting room at the Balti-
move ard Potomac Depot. Was the per-
/ son who first reached the President after
! H.; vas shot. In reply t" questions asked.
she said: - saw the whole thing The
/ man came i'll from this door, she said.
/ pointing to the door at the east, center
!
| room, Just as the President entered the
! middle dnor from b street. When he
! approached within five feet of the Presi-
dent he fired. aiming, Thought. 1T the
! President heart, and missed him. The
! President did not seem to notice him.
/ but walked right on past the man He
/ fred again and the President fell. lie
fell Just at the turn of the second row
I nf I hn r., ,aaah hin,
and lifted up his head, The jantor
him until some men came and lifted him
/ up. He did not speak to me or to any
/ one, until 2 Young man, who think was
/ his son. came. After he had vanited. |
! think he said something 10 him. When
, he was lifted upon the mattress he spoke
~ groaned. Did The man who shot
him SAY any thing - No words at all
passed between them. The nan walked
somebody headed him OIL He turned
| and, started back the way he came. and
vas seized at the door By the police.
/ have seen the man once Or twice before
One time, in particular. noticed him, !,
/ few days ago, He promenaded Up and
/ down, inst as he did to-day. wiping his
b
! he was waiting for some friends. This
| time lie waited here half an hour walk
! ing up and down. There were few peo-
! pie in the room when the shot was fired.
I All the passengers had gone ont.
The President was laid on the floor till
! Il mattress was procured, and AT ouce WAS
REMOVED 70 i R0uN
! in the second story of the depot The
/ President son was with him at the time
and when his father fell he burst into a
| parnxysm of tears. When the shot WAS
/ fired, Nj. !. ". Wheeler of Hampton
| Virginia. was seated with lady so close
| to the President that he heard the whiz-
! Zing Of the ball uncomfortably near him.
| lie states that at the time Of the first
| shot the assassin was not oyer seven to
eight feet from him, There were about
sixty ladies in the waiting room at the
time. and several Of them were overcome
| by the shock.
| Mr.. Smith TownShend was the first
! physician to arrive on the scene. lie
| says he found the President had Just
! vomited and was in tanting condition.
| lie could not feel any pulse at the wrist i;
had his head lowered, which had been
held UP by his friends, and administered
aromatic spirits of ammonia and brandy
to revive him. This had the desired
effect, and upon his regaining conscious
ness, asked him where he felt most pain,
to which he replied in the right leg and
foot. Then examined the wound, intro
ducing his finger, which caused Il slight