Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-03

lie did not appreciate the sentiment and kind
ness Of those letters but threw himself into
Blaine's hands and allowed Blaine 10 use the
Presidency to destroy Conkling and Grant.
Q-Did you say yesterday you did not de-
sire the removal of Secretary Blaine
Al did not and you cannot find it in the
record. insist now upon your finding il in
the record want to fasten somt thing on
you. | am as good man as you are
o. know you think so.
A-(angrily)-Yes, and the public will
think sc too. ] never had the slightest idea
of removing Blaine. either officially or by
killing.
Q-Was your motive for demanding
Blaine's resignation because he had said TO
you on the Saturday preceding never to
speak to him again on the Paris consulship:
A-(Excitedly) / told you that had moth
ing to do with the Paris consulship want
to ram that into you and put it down deep.
daughter | am talking now about nation
al politics. not about miserable Office and
If you would try to get your brains to take
that in it would be better I am not a dis
appointed office seeker
Q-On the I'd of July you wrote a letter TO
the white House people" in which YOU
stated that the Presidents tragical death was
a sad necessity?
A-Certainly. a political necessity.
Q-Did the Deity tell you thai?
A-That did not require any telling
Q-You say. at will unite the republican
party" Who told you that:
Alt did not require any telling with ex-
citement, and that is exactly what it did do
Tha, shows that the inspiration was correct
Q-Who told you it would save the re-
publican party!
Any own judgment told me so, and it
proved to be correct
Q-You say that Mason fired at you while
under the protection of the law. Did you es-
TEEN that to be crime?
A-Of course that was a crime
Odd It occur TO you then in the Ian
guage of your letter to Mrs Garfield and the
White House people that Life is a fleeing
dream and it matters little when one goes?'
A-Those are my sentiments.
Q-Does it matter much to YOU when YOU
A-(Coolly) have got no great fear of
death. You are liable to die in FIVE min
utes.
In reply to question why it required
special inspiration to shoot Garfield he said
at required special directions from the
Deity to me. I suppose there were thous-
and men in the republican party who would
shot oSH. odiuclu IL they udu Tie
chance and had got the nerve and the brains
and the opportunity to do the work.
Odd it occur to you that there was a
commandment Thou shalt not kill?'
A-The Divine authority overcame written
law.
Q-Was there any higher Divine law than
that spoken in Sinai.
A-Indeed there was.
Q-When you pointed that pistol at Gen
eral Garfield aud sent that ball into his back
bone, you believed it was not you but God
that pulled the trigger?
A-that | was simply executing the Divine
will. He used me as agent in pulling the
trigger. | had no option in the matter.
would have done it if knew was to be shot
dead the next moment. The pressure was
so enormous could not resist it. Put that
down.
Odd yon walk back and forth in the de-
pot watching for him?
Yes, was working myself up for knew
the hour had come.
Q-WOrking yourself up. Was it neces
sary to do that to obey God?
Att was all could possibly do to do the
act anyway and had to work myself up to
1t. had to obey the God Almighty if died
the next second.
The prisoner was then questioned with re-
gard to the events which Immediately sue
ceeded the shooting and asked whether he
was afraid of personal violence. He replied
he was not. but admitted he did want protec-
ton until the people cooled off. In conclu-
sion he declared the Deity had protected him
from that day to this.
Q-How do you know that?
Al knew it was the Deity more than
knew | was alive.
T. 4 l. Ill, &t,a
believe you.
A-Exactly. What the jury is here to
pass upon is whether the Deity and Gid the
act or whether did it on nv personal ac-
count and tell you further expect there
will be an act of God to protect me if it is
necessary, from any kind of violence either
hanging or shooting.
Odd the Deity tell you that?
A-That is my impression.
U-Have you never had mistaken impress
sions?
A-Never in this kind of work. | always
tested the Deity by prayer l never act un-
der a misconception. I find out positively
that it is the Deity and then do the act.
Mr. Porter then asked if the prisoner had
written a letter stating that he would have
killed the President on June 18th if it had
not been that Mrs. Garfield was with him
leaning tenderly on his arm.
The prisoner stated that that was correct
and thought it spoke well for his heart. my
heart would not allow ME to remove him in
the presence of Mrs. Garfield
Q-What objection would she have?
A-Decided objections. She was sick
lady and the shock might have killed her
That was my reason for not doing it, only
had authority to remove the President.
Q-And did not intend to kill Mrs. Gar
field?
A-Decidedly not. l felt very sorry for
her, remarkably sorry for his children and
for everybody. l was grieved that it was
necessary to save the republic from another
war. and it has saved the country from another
war.
Q-There would have been war now but
for you?
Al do not pretent that war was immedl-
ate. but do say emphatically (and here he
began to declaim in dramatic manner and
in the style of stump-speaker) paragraph
from the speech that he wanted to make two
weeks ago.
He continued resuming his natural tone
and apparently well satisfied with his efforts.
1t comes in very pertinent here and am
glad had a chance to deliver it.
Adjourned
A. Thousands DO Testify.