The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-07-07
ASSASSINATION!
Original Details of the Attempted Assas-
sination of President Garfield.
Cincinnati Commercial Specials.
STORY OF THE ASSASSINATION

sissinated He Is now lying at the point of death in
the White House, and his yscians say he cannot
recover. That the deed well planned and long
premetitated there cannot be a doubt Some per
go far as to assert that it the result of
conspiracy but there appears to be evidence to
sustain such a belief The assassin Charles Guiteau
of Chicago arrested, and il safely lodged in ia
Il has been well known for several days past that
the President, accompanied by several members of
his Cabinet and their ladies, would leave Washing
ton this morning for a two weeks trip in New Eng
land. General Garfield had been looking forward to
the journey with great pleasure. lie had mappsd
out himself the route the party TO take and the
details of the trip were intrnsted to Mr.. Jameson
Assistant Superintendent Of the Railway Mail Ser
vice Mrs. Garfield to be of the party. Her
sojourn at Long Branch had completely restored her
to health. General Swain had been cent to Elbcron
TO escort her to New York, where she was to have
joined the President this afternoon. Two sons and
daughter of General Garfield with their mother,
while the two elder boys James and Henry, were TO
have accompanied their father. The day was a mag
nicent one for travelling. The President arose at
earl hour and attended to considerable executive
business lie left his instructions with Private Sec
reary Brown and was preparing to start when Secre-
tary Blaine came to the White House; the other
members of the party it appears had gone to the de
pot some minutes before the time for the train to
start, $40 A. II. Secretaries Window, Hunt, Lincoln
and Postmaster James, accompanied by Mrs. Win
dom. Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. James, had taken seats in
the special car attached to the train. 1t within
five ninuts of the time of starting when the Presi-
dents carriage drove up the street entrance to
the depot. Mr.. Blaine had accompanied General
s;ge o, 70 a1f ,he 'rn and S Sot slowly
up the Stone steps leading into the ladies' waiting
room. From this waiting room the doors open into
the large waitng-room for gentlemen, through which
was necessary for the President to pass 10 reach
the train While General Garfield and the Secretary
of State were passing through the ladies' room into
the main apartment, and engaged in rapid CONVEX
sation, n darfed farward from another door
leading into the main room, stepped quickly behind
the President and drawing large revolver from his
pocket fired two shots in quick succession. At the
second shot the President staggered and fell TO the
floor. scene of the most intense excitement follow
ed. There was larger crowd present at the depot
than usual many persons having been attract
ed there to see >the President and the members
of the Cabinet As soon rs the reports of
the pistol were heard rush made for the ladies'
waiting Some one shouted "Eaine is murder
ed, but the Secretary Of State rushed frintically
into the main room, shouting for Colonel Rockwell
room, was the first to reach the President. The
crowd stood ashast with horror. She lifted up his
head lie deathly pale, hut retained conscious
His son bent his father and sobbed fran
tically The Secretary of State could hardly reprss
his emotion. Mr.. Jameson and others called upon
the police 10 dispcrse the crowd, that the President
might have air. small space made, but the
policemen were absolutely powerless TO preserve
order.
The news of the assassination few along the streets
with electric swftncss. and within ten minutes there
ten Thousand people at the station The
members of the Cabinet and their wives mott
fed Of the event. man hurst into the exelam-
ing, ''The President has been murdered The gen.
tlemen rushed from the into the station. while
the ladies left in a state of speechess suspense
As soon As those who surrounded the President re-
covered their almost paralyzed senses mattress
brought down from the Pullman Office, and the Pres
ident was laid upon it. Blood was oozng from his
wounds and soaking through his clothes upon the
floor. lie yomited profusely. lie tenderly
red upon the mattress through the large waiting
and upstairs into one of the private ofices. The of
back and the outer doors OF the depot were closed
and fastened against the people. Physicians were
immediately summoned; among those called were
DIR. A. N. Bliss, who placed charge of the case
DR. c. NJ. Ford, DIR. Hartingdon q. s A., Dr. J. j.
Wood, L. 5. A., DIR. Townsend, U. s. Lincoln. Robert
Reyburn, Surgeon General Wales, of the Navy, Sur
geon Basil Norris, DIR. Lincoln and Dr. Patterson A
preliminary examination Of the wounds was made at
the depot.
Mean time the assassin had not been allowed to
escape After fireing the fatal shot he started at
rapid pace through the main waitingroom, apparent
ly intending TO escape by the entrance Sixth
street lie held the smoking revolver in his hand |
but prevented from passing by the crowd, which
pushed toward tine spot where the President ly
ing He turned sharp about passed within ten feet |
entrance through which the President had Just pass
ed policeman named kearney was standing on |
the corner of Sixth and streets when the shots |
were fired and he TO the entrance the last |
named street just in time TO meet Gueau as he was
coming out Of the door. Without knowing that Inc |
was the assassin, hut attracted by the mans desire
to get away, the officer grabbed him. and held him
in wise. Guiteau struggled little to get away, his
shirt being torn in the encounter but special officer
Scott came to kearneys assistance and the murderer
submitted quietly. Yes said the assassin. Il have
killed Garfield and Arthur is President of the United
States 1 am Stalwart. have letter that will |
tell you all about it. want you TO take il up to
General sherman His pistol taken from him,
and he removed without delay to police head /
quarters, corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Four
and the prisoner to head quarters, hut violence
toward him attempted; in fact but few of the /
people who saw him rushed through the streets
aware of the gravity of his ofense. lie was entered
on the police books as follows: Charles Gaiteau.
Arrested 92 A. NJ, July > 1881 for shooting Presi-
dent Garfield; aged Do; white. Born in the United
Isll
pounds has dark brown hair; thin whskers; a sal
low complexion; dressed in dark suit, with black
slouch hat
After answering questions that led to the entry
above quoted, Guiteau searched, and placed in
one Of the cells at headquarters number of pa
pers were found upon the assassin. all hut one of |
which the authorities refuse to make public. This
one is as follows:
July Z Iss1.
The Presidents tragic death .ad necessity but
will unite the Republican party the Repab,c. Life
: fmsy drrani and it matters little when goes.
human life Is Of small value During the thousands Of
brave boys went down without tear. i presume the
was Christian and that he win b happier in
paradise than heer IL will he for Mrs. Garfield
lear soul TO part with her husband this than by natu
ii s against IN eIS III H "es death "a. pos.
nece-sty. am lawyer. theocgan and politiciAn.
rant and the rcs of our men in View Yoei during the
anvass have some papers for the press which shall
Sew YORK avenue where all the reporters can see them
am now going to the jail
II shows clearly that the murder preinedita-
ed In a short time after the Of the attempted
spread through the city, crowd, num-
'ering about two hundred people, gathered about
,olce headquarters, anticipating possible attempt
o lynch the prisoner. IL determined to take
i'm at once the District Jail, which is mile east
# the capitol The prisoner considerably ex-
ited, and evidently feared rough treatment at the
lands of the crowd. In this he mistaken News
hat the Presidents wounds had not resulted fatally
ras circulated among the people. The prisoner WAS
ushed down stairs and placed in the carriage with
Lieutenant Austin and three detectives and escorted
" squad Of mounted police, they were driven to
he jail On the way the prisoner conyersed freely.
n conversation with Detective MacElfrish he said:
Il am he replied. "A native born American, born
n Chicago Gliteau said he was a lawyer and
heologian-
McElfrish asked, "why did you do this r and he
cplied:
II did ID to save the Republican party II
"What your politics r said McElfrish.