Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-08-24
AUSTIN, MOWER COUNTY, WEDNESDAY,
throat. McGill drew back and the knife
passed through his coat collar, cut
ting off the INNER bntt0ns and

throat. McGill drew back and the knife
passed through his coat collar, cut
ting off the upper buttons and
making clean cut on the left shoulder.
The man drew revolver without cock
ing it, but fnditg himself unable to dis
arm his assailant, he finally cooked the
revolver; when Guiteau dropped his
knife and gtasped the more formidable
weapon, crying for help and calling that
he was being shot. The pistol was acci-
dentally discharged, and several guards
disarmed. The assassin stated to the
guards that he was acting III self-dcfense,
and that McGiIl had attempted to shoot
him.
The question as to how Guiteau OBJ
tanned the knife is generally explained
by the fact that Babe Beford once occu-
pied the cell and tRat several similar
instruments had been concealed by that
criminal.
The knife is what is known by pris-
oners as "cheeser," and is a Grim
inal substitute for jack-knife,
carving-knife, razor or dagger.
It is made out of the
piece of steel found in the sole of a
boot which can be sharpered on stone
or window sill until it becomes exceed
ly keen. The blade is generally about
two or three inches long, and half an
inch broad, and an inch or more is left
unsharpened and wrapped in
rags or paper for handle.
These instruments are used by prisoners
for various purposes. They are confs-
Gated by the jailors whenever they are
found. It is also considered possible
that some other prisoner has in some
way left the knife where Guiteau could
get it.
The assassin considers his escape very
fortunate, and when the guards said in
his presence that he had thought the
pistol shot had settled the day, he re-
piled, My dear sir, that is too impor-
tant a subject for joking. A life is val
uable."
The startling episode created intense
excitement at the Jail. McGill, the
guard, told the critic reported this smorn-
ing, that he supposed Guiteau thought
the President was dead, and took these
means of proving his insanity most con-
clusively. The guard who was attacked
is heavy-built man, of kind, pleasant
manners, and against who personally
Guiteau could have had no bitterfeelings.
The success Of the plan to kill the
guard would not have'given Guiteau any
chance to escape, and SO that motive
could not have prompted the deed. The
guards are reticent and refuse to say
anything on the subject Of the attack
AS soon as the facts we're made known
reporter made his way to the jail and
saw the assistant warden and the army
officers who are doing duty there. They
all refused to talk and said "thcy had
been instructed not to say anything to
the public about the assassin. The
theory advanced by some is that
the knife was given him by prisoner.
Thorough investigation will be ordered
by General Crocker at once and all the
facts brought out. The guard of soldiers
at the Jail has been doubled and now
consists of twenty men and three COM
missioned officers. The most vigilalt
watch is kept over the prisoner.
WASHINGTON, August l9.-Another
"crank" appeared at the White House
this morning about o'clock. She was
handsome woman, young-looking, and
gave her name as Mary Louise Rem
niger, Of Brooklyn, N. Y. She says her
father and mother live at 554 Broadway,
Brooklyn. She stated that she had come
from Paris especially to cure the
President; that she left Paris for forty
days and must see the President before
9 o'clock, as she could cure him imme-
diately. She sat down on the coping of
the iron fence around the White House,
near the gate, and when crowd sur
rounded her, a policeman ordered her
away. She quickly replied that
she was not doing any harm,
and the officer had better
order the crowd away. When she was
told that she could not enter the gate,
she gave small locket, very badly
smashed, to a gentleman standing near,
and asked him to carry it to the Presi-
dent. That he would order her in
stant admission to his bedside. The
police took her to headquarters, from
whence she was sent to the government
insane asylum. While at headquarters
it was ascertained that she was peculiar
ly dressed about her waist. She had on
the upper part of bathing suit, which
she got at Manhattan Beach several days
ago. She took off fancy-made
shirt, and then it was seen by
the officers that she had on the costume
of ballet dancer or variety actress, with
silk stockings and fancy slippers. She
says she is married, and that her hus-
band is foreman of fire company No.
II, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 1t
is believed that she is variety actress.
She was not at all violent.