The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-07-08
The Attempted Assassination Of Our
President.

Last Saturday morning the country |
was startled and shocked ct the news
that the president Of the United States
had been shot at the railroad depot at |
Washington, when about to take the |
tram for New York. The first reports |
were that the wounds were fatal, but
fuller news soon came which left hopes
tor his recovery. Two balls we're fired
by the assassin. The first entered
the back above the right hip and took q
course which Is supposed to have pene-
trated the liver. AS the president,
stunned, turned toward his assailant
the latter fired second shot which
struck the left shoulder and passed
under the shoulder blade. The assassin
was about to fire again when he was
seized by an ex.chief of the secret SER
vice who happened TO be In the depot,
and Immediately hurried to the Jail be-
yond the reach of the maddened mob
which the horrible news Immediately
gathered. The president was raised
from the floor and at first carried to an
upper floor of the depot, from whence
he was afterwards removed to the
White House under strong guard Of
police. Two companies of the military
were ordered out to preserve quiet. A
council Of physicians was at once sum-
moned, and efforts made to find the
bullet, but fruitlessly. The wound
In the thigh Is of very dangerous ma
ture, from which recoveries are rare.
From Saturday until late Monday night
It was deemed doubtful If the presi-
dents, life could be saved. But his
strong constitution and temperate life,
with the skill of his physicians, have
thus far struggled successfully with
death, and the bulletins up to the pres
ent time have recorded steady improve
ment. The danger is not passed, nor
will It be for some time to come,
but the symptoms manifested by the
president has been so contrary to what
has been prophesied that there almost
seems reason to hope that tie bullet
was 90 far defectedlfrom its course that
1t did not more than slightly injure
vital organ. The physicians, however,
are all agreed that the liver was pene-
trated. The president has continued
to take and retain nourishment during
the past few days.
Immediately after the shooting Mrs.
Garfield was telegraphed at Long
Branch. and at once flew to the bedside
of her husband, and has manifested o
courage and fortitude in caring for him
that has been the admiration of all.
The president himself has borne his
faith Sin Providence, in view OF what
was at first deemed the inevitably ia
tai result, which endears him yet more
to the nation which already loved him.
Many and fervent are the prayers
which have gone up in the last week
that he may be restored to health and
the glorious career in which he has
walked 80 wisely and 30 we'll.
THE ASSASSIN.
The name of the perpetratOr of this
horrid deed is Charles j. Guiteau. He
is q native of Freeport, III, but has
been wanderer about the country
making his living by his wits. He has
been recognized as q dead beat of the
worst class for long time, of which
fresh evidences are continually coming
up. He practiced law in Chicago,
where an attempt was made to disbar
him for dishonest practices. He had a
habit of beating hotels and boarding
houses out of his board, going to new
fields as his brass and cneek failed him
In the old. He has been for long
time persistent ofhce-seeker at WASH
ington, where his pretensions were be-
yOnd all bounds, as he sought nothing
less than first-class foreign mission.
He founded his claims upon alleged
services In the last campaign, going so
far az to claim all the credit of Republic
can success. He was in fact hanger
on at the Republican head quarters in
New York city during the campaign,
but his character was soon well under
stood. He has been at various times
called insane.
The following letter found in his
pocket after the shooting will perhaps
explain his motives.
JULY 2, lssl.--7'o tho Waite House Tho presi.
denrs tragic death was q sad necessity. but 1t
public. Life is himsy dream, and 1t matters
little when one goes. A human life Is OF small
value. During the war thousands OF brave boys
went down without tears. presume the presi- |
dent WAS Christian and that he will be happier |
In paradise than here. twill be NO worse for |
Mrs; Garfield. dear soul. to part Win h, her nus.
iSMsSd he s President His death was political
sTy S ana Win
General Grant and the rest Of our men In New
York during the canvass; l have some papers |
dreWs and his co-journalists at l.le0 New York |
avenue, where all the reporters can see them.
am going 70 jail. c,
(signed) CHARLES 6uIrEAU.
The following was found ON the
street shortly after his arrest, unsealed
and addressed "Please deliver at once
to General Sherman, or his first assis-
rant in the War Department.
To General Sherman: III haye jest shot the pres.
ident. i shot him several times, as wished him
N 70 a easily - possible. His death was . po-
ssal necessity s ann q :,si%eTts x sns
was with General Grant and the rest of our men
in New York during the canvass. am going 70
jail. Please order out your troops and take ipos-
''' Very respectfully, CHARLES GUIraAU.
II IL certain that he had no accom-
plices, but conceived his great crime
himself. He Is undoubtedly of I'M
sound mind, and wrought up 10 despe-
ration by his failure to get an Office.
His preparat tons for the crime, and for
,Is movements after its preparation,
how that he knew what he was about, /
md we may hope that he will secure
heweve- iHAdoqnata. for I
liz deed. II
We regret that we have no space for t
ONE of the many interesting and affec- /
ing incidents connected with c
he president since the shooting.
The whole civilized world was shocked q
" the affair, and thousands of tele- b
rams of coincidence and Of congratula- Q
ion at the hopes which have arisen, /
how how firm q hold our president has
pom the regard Of all who ever heard 9
1 him. +
THAT "CYCLoPEDIA WAR."-Full b
articulsrs of this great literary enter /,
rise given elsewhere In this paper, d
I'M interest every curious reader, and .
specially every searcher after useful n