Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-07-14
ATERRsBLE CR.ME.


An attempt was made to assassinate Presi-
dent Garfield at the Baltimore IL Potomac
Railroad Depot in Washington on the morn
ing Of Saturday, the ID.
DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY.
The President had alighted from his car
riage and was passing through the ladies'
room to the cars. When but few feet in
side the room. the assassin, who was within
three feet of him. fired one shot. The Pres
ident was dazed and made no attempt mt
sef-protection. Blaine had turned toward
one door. The assassin fired second shot
In ten seconds the President fell, and Mrs.
White, who attends the ladies' waiting
room, rushed to him and raised his head.
Blaine also rushed TO the assistance OF the
President. The assassin passed out toward
b Street, but Capt. Parke, Ticket Agent,
jumped through the window and caught the
assassin, who made no resistance. Officer
Carney, the depot policeman, rushed up ana
took hold OF the assassin, and Immediately AZ
forwards Oficrr Scott also took hold Of him.
Parke let the officers have him and iurrcd his
attention to the President. Help came and the
President was taken up stairs. He said not
a word until he was laid down, when he
asked that his shoes he taken off, saying he
felt pain in his feet. As soon n his shoes
We're removed he said to Secretary Windows:
''Go right now and send telegram to Mrs.
Garfield saying / feel considerably better,
and il she feels well enough tell her to come
TO Washington Immediately This dis
patch was sent and special train was at
once sent to Long Branch for Mrs. Garfield.
Secretary Blaine was not going with the
party, but went down to bid the President
goodbye. He said: "The President and ]
were walking arm int arm toward the train.
heard two shots and saw a man run. j
started after him, but seeing that he was
grabbed just as he got out Of the room, J
came To the President and found him lying
on the floor. The floor was covered With
the Presidents blood. A number OF peo-
pie who were around shortly afterward
have some OF the blood on their person.
The assassin is about 5 feet inches i'm
height, Of strong, though not stout build.
The weapon he used was a revolver about
inches long. 1t had an ivory handle; the
calibre was very large. 1t is what is known
as California pistol. 1t made a very loud
report" Parke says both shots were fired
while the assassin was behind the President. |
THE ASSASSIN,
Charles Guiteau, is said to be a Frenchman, |
and claims TO be OF German nativity. He is |
= short, thick-set, solid Hooking man of |
about forty-five years Of age, bald-headed, |
with rim Of sandy hair and sandy mus
tache. He speaks both French and German, |
which tends to confuse his real nationality. |
He dressed decently, and has the general |
appearance of a respectable beat who lives |
by his wits. Guiteau is a familiar figure |
about Washington, and is especially we'll |
known at the White House, where he has
been frequently pointed out to newspaper |
reporters as one OF the regular haunters of |
the ante chamber. He was generally re-
gsrded by the attaches as harmless nui-
sance.
The following letter was taken from the
prisoners pocket at police headquarters:
July =, 1SS1.-T'O the White House: The
Presidents tragic death was a sad necessity.
but it will unite the Republican party and
save the Republic. Life is fiimsy dream
ami it matters little when one goes. A
human life is of small value. During the
war thousands OF brave boys went down
without tear. / presume the President
was a Christian, and that he will be happier
for Mrs. Garfield, dear soul, to part
with her husband this way than by
natural death. He Is liable to 20 At any
time. anyway. | had no ill-wiil toward the
i Icsiutnt. us GellH WAS Il pDtlllrdl arfp~- I
sity. L am lawyer, theOlogian and a poll
itician, and am Stalwart OF the Stalwarts.
/ was with Gen. Grant and the rest OF our
men in New York during the canvass. /
have some papers for the press which I
: hall leave with Byron Andrews aud his co. !
al the reporters can see them. | am going /
to TIC jail. CHAS. GUIr-AU.
Tue papers referred to above have not vet
been liyen for publication. Byron An
drews, who is the Washington correspond
ent OF the Chicago Inter- Ocean, says that
VII !" it is true that package of papers in
the hands OF the police, accompanied by a
note, was addressed to himself, Andrews.
he has no personal acquaintance with Gui-
teau, and never heard of his existence until
this morning. From what he has gathered
from the police, Andrews believes Guiteau
is from Freeport, Ill. The following letter
was found on the street shortly after Gui-
teau's arrest. The envelope was unscaled
and addressed:
"Please deliver at once to Gen. sherman
or his First Assistant in charge of the War
To General Sherman: have Just shot the
President. l shot him several times, -
wished him To go as easily a. possible. His
death was political necessity. am a law
yer, theologian and politician. / am a Stall
,yart OF the Stalwarts. 1 was with General
Grant and the rest Of our men i'm New York
during The canvass. 1 am going TO Jail
Please order out your troops and take pos
session of the jail at once. Very respect
fully, CHARLES GITEAU.
ON receiving the above General sherman
gave it the following Endorsement:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY. WASH
INGToN, July 9, 1881, IL 80 a. m.-This let
er was handed me this minute by Major
VIM. j. Twining, L. $. Engineers. Com
missioner of the District OF oumhia. and
Major VIM. G.. Brook, Chief Of Police. /
lon't know the writer; never heard Of or
saw him to my knowledge, and hereby re-
urn it to the keeping OF the above named
par ieS n testimony in the case.
(Signed) w. L. SHERMAN, General.
ARRIVAL OF vICE-PREsIDENT ARTHUR.
Vice President Arthur was in New York
when he received telegram from Secretary
Blaine announcing the calamity that had
,vertaken the President. He was pro-
'oundly shocked by the news, and started
or Washington soon as he could make
he necessary arrangements. He reached
Washington on Sunday morning, aud pro-