Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-08-24
The Murderer Guiteau Fights a
Guard.


in the corridor of the jail where Gui-
teau is imprisoned, noticed that the
prisoner was particularly engaged.
The guard was informed OF the fact
W. c. McGill, one of the guard look
ed into the cell and saw the prisoner
sitting on his bed apparently engaged
in pairing his finger nails. He step
ped in and asked Guiteau for the
knife that he had seen in his hands.
The prisoner denied having a knife.
McGill drew his revolver, and, level
ing it at Guiteau, demanded the knife.
The revolver was not cooked, and was
drawn merely to intimidate him.
When the knife was first demanded
the prisoner replied: Il haven't any
knife" and upon the reiteration of
his command the guard approached
nearer to the prisoner There was
space of about two feet between them
when Guiteau sprang to his feet, and
making a spring forward made a
downward sweep with the knife, cut
ting the outer clothes of the guard.
Seeing that his attempt was unsuc-
cessful, he made q rapid retrograde
movement and managed to secure the
guards arms. Thereupon strug
gle took place that was furious for
about FIVE minutes. The rest of the
officers being in the rotunda were not
aware that struggle was going on
inside. Finally both fell upon the
bed, and while still struggling the
pistol was dropped upon the mat
tress. As soon as this was done,
Guiteau, whose evident intention was
to secure the pistol, loosened his
grasp and made a savage dive for the
weapon, but the guard was too quick
for him and secured it. He cooked
it, but before he could use it Guiteau
was upon him. Mr.. McGill warned
him to release him or he would fire,
but Guiteau did not heed him, and
made frantic efforts to secure the re-
volver. By an almost superhuman
effort the guard managed to free his
right hand and placed the pistol over
his right shoulder with his finger on
the trigger. Guiteau grasped his
arm, and disconcerting his aim caused
the pistol to 60 off toward the cell
ing. The report brought the guard
Mr.. Jones, and the sergeant of the
soldiers who are stationed at the Jail
to the cell. When they came Gui
teau released his hold and dropped
on his bed, crying: "They are try
ing to kill me! Give me my pistol
Give me my pistol! 1t belongs te
mel" He was secured and locked uI
and the knife taken from the cell
which was thoroughly searched fol
other weapons. Mr.. McGill is {
short, thick-set man, weighing about
300 pounds, and, while being stout
i,s nc. muscular. Guiteau is more
active AID eupple, and thus is enabled
to move mo,s raPidly and use him
self to better advantage IN hand-to
hand encounter with heav.cr-buil
person.
The knife which the assassin usec
was what is known as the "cheeser
at the Jail. 1t is the shank in The
sole OF shoes, and is often removed
by prisoners, who can sharpen it OF
the sandstone window ledge to almos
razor keenness 1t is used by then
for shaving, and is the best of steel
1t is about inches in length and 1
quarter of an inch in width. Abou
three inches of this weapon wer,
!, -harpened, and the rest was wrapped
in paper and tied with twine, SO as t.
form substantial handle, and it mad'
altogether a nasty weapon in th'
hands of desperate criminal. Th'
pistol which figured in the affray is 1
small latest pattern improved Smitl
& Wesson revolver, seven chamber
and thirty-two calibre. There is NJ
doubt but had Guiteau obtained it h
would have killed the guard. Wha
his motive was cannot be imagined
unless it was in revenge for the com
mand to yield up his knife. He is al
extremely sensitive man, and proba
bly, therather harsh command: '.Drol
that cheeserr' angered him, for b.
made no demonstration when his eel
was first opened Another motiv'
that has been brought forward is tina
he did it for revenge, as McGill wa
engaged ia making fun of him abou
a week ago. It was not an attemp
to escape, for that would have beel
impossible, as the rest of the guard
were in the rotunda, and an armet
sentry was posted at the head of tn