Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-02
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE
SHOOTING.
WHAT THE ASSASSIN SAID.
HIS ARREST.
THE LETTER FOUND ON HIM.
HIS INTENTION TO KILL
THE PRESIDENT.

Policeman Kearney's Graphic Ac.
count Of the Shooting.
About s.95 O'Clock this morning President
Garfield, accompanied by Secretary of State
Blaine, drove up to the Baltimore and
Potomac depot, on 9Th street, and
sat in their carriage near the door,
Officer Kearney standing near by. President
GARFIELD asked the officers how much time he
had (meaning before the train started) The
officer replied, about ten minutes, your
honor" The President after converting a
minute or two longer then got out Of the car
rlage and with Secretary Blaine walked
slowly up the steps into the depot.
officer Kearney states that he was
standing close by, and saluted the President
by raising his hat; the President and Mr..
Blaine walked through the ladies' parlor and
had entered the large reception room In the
main portion Of the depot, when two pistol
shots were fired In rapid succession. The
crowd screamed "He's shot the President!
Arrest the man." The assassin was making
his way as fast as possible out through the
ladies' parlor towards the B-street door, a
carriage being there to take him away.
Kearney threw himself before him, seized him
by both arms between the elbows and shoulders
and held him as with wise. The pistol was in
his hand when he first saw him, and he had
just put 1t into his coat pocket when the officer
had him. The would be assassin said: Eyes, 1
have finished Garfield; now Arthur is
President 1 am stalwart." Kearney
secured the pistol. heavy fv.
barrel "Engllsh bulldog" ana hustled the
man to police headquarters, where he was
hurriedly searched and thrust into cell.
The Letter In the Prisoners Pocket
The following letter was taken from the pris
oner's pocket at Police Headquarters, showing
conclusively the intention to kill the President
'JULY2, 1881.
To the White House:
The Presidents tragic death was sad ne
cessity, but 1t will unite the republican party
and it matters little when one goes. A human
life is Of small value. During the war thousands
of brave boys went down without q tear
presume the President was a Christian, Hand
that he will be happier In Paradise than here.
1t will be no worse for Mrs. Garfield, dear soul,
natural death. He Is liable to go at any time,
any way. had no Ill will toward the Presi-
dent. His death was political necessity. l
am lawyer. theOlogian ana q politician. 1
am stalwart OF the stalwarss. 1 was with
Gen. Grant and the rest OF our men In New
York during the canvass. have some papers
for the press which / shall leave with Byron
Andrews and hia cojournalists, at 1920
New York avenue, where all the reporters can
see them. / am going to the tall.
CHARLES GITTzAU.
Medical Opinion rs to the Wound.
DR.. woodward, OF the Surgeon Generals
Office, says that he did not examine the Pres-
dents wound, but DR.. Bliss and Dr.. Barne
gave him the explanation OF It. The President
was shot from the right as he entered the la
dies reception room Of the depot with Score
tary Blaine. The Dali entered above the third
rib. but whether 1t has taken Its course toward
the spine, has not yet been ascertaIned. The
wound was prObed by DR.. Bliss, who reports
that In inserting the probe the course OF the
ball did not extend toward the SPINE Still it is
not certain it did not. 1t was the unanimous
opinion of the physicians hatwhat was nee1ed
for the President was not the probing of the
wound but rest.
More can be told as to the seriousness OF the
wound after the President has urinated and
had movement of the bowels. 1t will be
some hours yet, may be day. before It can be
definitely settled whether the wound is or is
not mortal.
What Col. IngersOll Says.
Col. Robt. Ingersoll told STAR reporter. at
five minutes after ten O'Clock. that he. had just
left the President, and had talked with him.
The Colonel says the President Is wounded In
two Places In the arm and In the back. He
says he has hope that the President may re-
cover. but that at ten O'Clock he complained OF
pricking sensation In the feet, which the ply.
sicians thought was an Indication that the ball
which entered at the back had touched the
spinal marrow.
WHAT THE ASSASSIN SAID.
The assassin, when seized by the oflcer,
threw up his arms and shouted: II did it; Vice
President Arthur il President / am stall
wart
REMOVAL OF THE PRESIDENT.
Shortly after ten O'Clock the President was
taken to the White House In an ambulance.
guarded by mounted police
TH1 ARREST.
The assassin made no special attempt to get
away. Station Agent Kearney called out,
"Guard the windows and Let no NO man es-
CAPE Kearney then seized the assassin.