Morris tribune., 1881-07-21
pleasurecan hardly last long when its OBJ
ject is, IN SO many respects, Of such
ex- -ceptionable worth.
STORY OF THE CRIME.


WASHINGTON, July 14.-Col Corkhill said |
he gave statement to the Associated Press to-
day which he said he did not wish to be under
stood as confession by Guiteau. He has the
assassin's story, which is very different |
thing, embracing much more than the an
nouucemelt he makes to the press. He gave
as his reasons for making the publication as
follows
MANY # olish and sensational reports sent OUT
which my Investigation for the last ten days have
shown to be without foundation. On such points
as had aimed at the truth, and about which knew
there were erroneous theories current, decided to
give al authoritative statement l have also dis
covered ons two things not in the statement. on
which have taken further testimony since 1t was
given to tie press" he said to your correspondent
this evening For instance, find beyond a doubt
that
IT WAS THE FIRST BULLET
that struck the president This is the statement Of
Guiteau and others who SAW the shooting. The
second ball went In the direction of the baggage
room. Again, find that the dramatic Story about
the assassin's exclamation, I am a stalwart OF the
stalwarts, Arthur is president now, was pure fc-
tion His only words ut the commission of the deed
were, Don't let them hurt me. Take me to the
Jail quick I think I have told you this
before, and you will find various facts among those
recounted in what gave the press that have told
you at various times; but thought best to put it
out all at once in consecutive manner. Now there
will be no more ground for any one credting the
sensational rumors. All the statements make are
of such character that any person may take them
up and verify them for himself if he chooses They
will all be found accurate v
What newspapers are those clippings from that
he left with his papers?" was asked
Il cannot give that out" replied the colonel.
''They were all New York. Philadelphia, Brooklyn
and Boston papers. None of the Western press
have contributed to his collection"
Does Guiteau know the presidents condition."
mo except that he knows that he did not die,'
A WITNESS NARRATIVE.
Special Telegram to the Pioneer Press.
WASHINGTON, July 14-Senor Comman-
cho, minister of Venezuela, resident
here, went before the district attorney
to- day and gave his version of the shooting Of
the president. He said:
II was standing within few feet of the president
the moment the shooting occurred l saw Guiteau
| first before the first shot was fred He stood di-
recty behind President Garfield, and close to him.
The pistol pointed squarely at his back and the
| muzzle was but few inches away, it could not
possibly miss him. looked at Guteau's face. His
teeth were clinched and his mouth closed firmly.
His eye was steady and his face presented the ap-
pearance of a brave man who was determined upon
| desperate deed, and meant to do it calmly and
| vel. When he fired the president was struck and
quivered all His eyes closed partially and his
| joints relaxed. He began to fall forward and was
| half down when Guiteau fired again. 1 don't think
| it was over two seconds The expression Gui-
teau's face had now changed His calmness had now
disappeared and he had the nervous expression OF
| a man anxious lest he had failed and wanted to
| make sure that he had not. He fired wildly t his
vious deiberation. 1t the first shot that took
effect the second passing over him as he was fall
| ing. Then some one cried Lynch him! Now
the man was coward All his determination de-
serted him. His face blanched like that of corpse
| and he looked wildly about in terror to make his
escape. His eyes rolled from side to side as if he
was hunted man and knew not which way to turn.
| In moment he was seized by several persons, and
| came away
THE STATEMENT AFORESAID.
WASHINGTON, July 14.-United States Dis
trict Attorney Corkhill furnishes the following
| for publications:
The interest felt by the public in the details of
Il ssinaon andimany stories published, justify
me in stating that the following is correct and ac-
curate statement concerning the points to which
reference is made: The assassin, c. j. Guiteau,
to Washington SUNDAY III, eEsI1s Ebh
house, remaining only one day., He then secured 9
room in another part of the city and has boarded
and roomed at various PLACES full details Of which
termined to murder the president He had neither
money nor pistol at the time. About the last OF
Nay he went into rost ear t store
some pistols, asking for the largest caibre.
He was shown two similar in callbre and only
t 6c 1G Ne he he
$40, he having in the meantime borrowed S15 of q
gentleman in this city on the plea that he wanted
10 pay his board bill. On the same evening about
o'clock he took the pistol and went to the foot Of
Seventeenth street and practiced firing at board
firing ten shots He then returned ,te
ry and put Pai1 1 his cOa nS waited h
opportunity. On Sunday. June IL, he was sitting
in Lafayette park and saw the president leave fol
the Christian church on Vermont avenuS. and he
at once returned to his room, obtained his pistol
| putt in his pocket and followed the president tc
church. He entered the church but found that he
| COULD NOT KILL HIM THERE,
| without danger of killing some one else. He no
| ticed that the president sat near window. After
church he made an examination of the window ant
| found he could reach it without any trouble From
this point he could shoot the president through thu
! head without killing any one else The followin'
Wednesday he went to the church, examined tn!
that he could accomplish his purpose
and determined, therefore, to make tn
attempt at church the VIII snndsy
leave the city Saturday, June Is. with Mrs. Gar
field, for Long Branch. He, therefore, determined
, to meet him at the depot. He left his boarding
. place about Saturday morning. June 1s, and wen
down to the river at the foot of Seventeenth stree
and ID five shots to practice his aim and be Ger
oraer hat H thas ns Msns TO was the in dspo
J with his pistol ready. When the president and par
ty entered he saw Mrs. Garfield looked so weak ant
fra that he had not the heart to shoot the presden
in her presence and he knew he would have anoth
er opportunity. He left the depot: He had prsvi
ously engaged a carriage to take him TO the Jail
Wednesday evening the president and his son, ant
believe United States Marshal Henry went Oh
! for a ride The assassin took his revolve
and followed them and watched them for SOM
| time. in hope the carriage would stop, but op
, portunity was given. Friday evening, July l, h
was sitting seat in the park opposite the Whit
House. when he saw the president come out alone
followed him down the n Fifteent
, street and then kept on the opposite street III
Fifteenth until the president entered the residenc
of Secretary Blaine. He waited at Mr.. Morton
late residence, corner of Fifteenth and H for som
time, and then as he was
AFRAID HE WOULD ATTRACT ATTENTION
he went into an alley in the rear of Morteus resi-
dence, examined his revolver and waited. III
. president and Secretary Blaine came out together
and he followed them over TO the gate of tn
White House, but could get no opportunity TO us
his weapon. On the morning of Saturday. July
he breakfasted at the Riggs house about Z.
an oas wake then to a rcs lat
street, got out and went into the depot and loitere
round there, got his boots blacked, engaged back
closet and took his revolver out Of his hip pocke
l and unwrapped the paper from around it. which
s had put there for the purpose Of prevent
| ing perspiration from the body dampenin
the powder. He examined his pistol ca refull
tried the trigger and then returned, took seat
the ladies' waiting roomand Us soon as the presder
entered, he advanced behind him and fired th
shots. These facts, / think can he relied upon a
accurate, and gave them to the public to corret
. certain false rumors In connection with this mo'
/. atrocious of atrocious crimes.
TALKING WITH THE DOCTORS.
: DR.. Woodward said to your correspondent:
I "The president is doing as we'll as possible, an
r each day finds him better prepared for the mex
; The fever still keeps up. That is to be expecte
9 during this period Of suppuration
'How long will 3hat period contiuue?"
For several days. It is impossible to tell ho
many"
what, then, is to fear from the case nowp"
8 "Well, Lcan't say. Idon t feel like saying any
G thing on that subject. There has bee
! too much bosh printed in the newspaper
It already on that subject. Mrs. Garfel
i, reads IL and is worried. think the press Of tn
g country have acted like hogs in the case don
{ propose to say anything more about what thel
q is to fear. If the president does just as We shon
q like to see, IL no unfavorable symptoms sho
themselves It win be three or four weeks before
> can leave his bed
'How is his appetizer"
"His appetite continues good, and all his syml
y toms are favorahle /" s5r#