The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1881-07-06
The Assassin.

disappointment at not getting what
he wanted has caused temporary
alteration of mind. Guitteau is a
well-known figure to the people at
the White-house. He has tried
on several occasions to pass him
self of as newspaper reporter.
He frequently wrote notes to the
president, of which the following
is sample: 81 regret the trouble
you are having with Senator Conk-
ling. You are all right, and should
maintain your position. You have
my support and that of all patri-
otic citizens. / would like an au-
dience of a few moments" He
used to seize upon the White
house state stationery, take some
of it of and write innumerable
letters. He would also utilize
blank cards by writing himself a
supply, if he should ever need
them, and one day Col. Crook, dis
bursting clerk, said TO him: "You
seem to make yourself a home and
be laying in a supply of station
ery." Said Guitteau to him in an
insulting manner, "So you know
who / am? | am one of the men
who make presidents" Last Tues
day he met one of the employees
and was very particular in inquir-
ing when the president would
leave and by what train aud road.
He has an idiotic grin on his face
at times. One day he said that
this was shell of a government.
The people are no better than
slaves" 1t is not true that he was
once consul. He has never been
appointed, but was always a per-
sistent office seeker from Garfield
and Blaine. He saws he did this to
save the republican party. There
is not another living soul with
him in the matter. He is des-
cribed as a shyster attorney, q
real pettifoger. A New York at
torney, who has had some indirect
legal dealings with Guitteau, say:
some four years ago he was practic'
ing in New York city and was il
the habit of taking claims to col
lect on the shares; namely, tC
receive for his services half the
proceeds. Guitteau used to max,
sufficient collections to secure hi
half but the client never obtained
anything. The Herald exposed
the whole proceeding and the re
suit was that Guitteau found New
York too hot to hold him anC
went west, finally settling dowr
in Chicago. From this point h'
wrote TO James Gordon Ben
nett demanding 100000 for libe
but failed to get the money
He, however, wrote again to Ben
nett intimating if he would en-
gage in a certain newspape
enterprise in Chicago with him
| (Guitteau) the claim for 100000
could be wiped out. While ir
Washington he took charge of &
case for a lady on Fourteenth
street and secured judgment 70
5000. The judgment was attached
on the ground of fraud, and al
though the judgment could not b'
proven the court set aside the
| Judgment. 1t is understood many
of his legal practices were baset
on the same order of professiOna
proceedings. The assassin owe
$50 board and hypothecated witt
his landlady on expectation of a
foreign appointment. He applies
for the United States ministry t,
Austria, then consul-general o
France, but had no endorsement
whatever, filing only a copy of on
of his speeches during the presi
dental campaign last year. H
claimed he was with Grant ant
Conkling in their canyassing tou
last fall, and says he is from Free
port, Illinois, aged 80 years. H
evidently planned the assassina
tion, but without providing for es
cape. He believed he could con
vince Sherman he did right. H
was hurried to Jail so fast Their
was no time for iynching. Co
Bob. Ingersoll, who knew Cult
teau, says he is quiet and sobe
man, and Bot. believes his insanit
is feigned.
About half past eight o'clocl