Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-07-23
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.
The Oficia1 Account OF the Shoot
ing of the President.

United States District Attorney
Corkhill has furnished the following
statement for publication in order to
correct certain erroneous assertions
which have been made relative to Gui-
teau, the wouid-be assassin of Presi-
dent Garfield
"The interest felt by the public in
the details of the assassination and the
many stories published, justify me in
stating the following is correct and
accurate statement concerning the
points to which reference is made:
"The assassin Charles Guiteau came
to Washington city on Sunday evening,
March 6, 1881, and stopped at the Eb-
bitt House, remaining only one day.
He then secured room in another part
of the city, and has boarded and roomed
at various places, the full details of
which have. On Wednesday, May Is,
1881, the assassin determined to muI der
the President. He had neither money
nor pistol at the time. About the last
of May he went into O'Meara's store, at
Fifteenth and T streets, in this city, and
examined some pistols, asking for the
largest calibre. He was shown two SIM
liar in calibre and only different in the
price. On Wednesday, June 8, he pur-
chased the pistol which he used, for
which he paid SO, he having in the
meantime borrowed SIS of a gentleman
in this city, on the plea that he wanted
to pay his board bill. On the same
evening, about 7 o'clock, he took the
pistol and went to the foot of Seven
teenth street and practiced firing at a
board, firing ten shots. He then re-
turned to his boarding place and wiped
the pistol dry and wrapped it in his
coat, and waited his opportunity.
On Sunday morning, June IL, he
was sitting IN Lafayette Park, and saw
the President leave for the Christian
Church, on Vermont avenue, and he at
once returned to his room, obtained his
pistol, put it in his pocket, and fol-
lowed the President to church. He
entered the church, but found he could
not kill him there without DANGER of
killing some one else. He noticed that
the President sat near window. After
church he made an examination of the
window and found he could reach it
without any trouble, and that from this
point he could shoot the President
through the head without killing any
one else. The following Wednesday
he went to the church, examined the
: location and the window, and became
satisfied he could accom- lish his pur-
pose, and he determined, therefore, to
make the attempt at the church the fol.
lowing Sunday.
"He learned from the papers that the
President would leave the city on Sat.
urday, the 18th of June, with Mrs. Gar.
field, for Long Branch. He therefore
determined to meet him at the depot
; he left his boarding place about five
o'clock Saturday morning, June Is, anC
; went down to the river, at the foot O.
Seventeenth street, and fred Ave shots
to practice his aim and be certain his
: pistol was in good order. He then wen
to the depot, and was IN the ladies
waiting room of the depot with the pis
: tol ready when the Presidents party
> entered. He says Mrs. Garfield looked
SO weak and frail that he had not the
heart to shoot the President in hel
presence, and as he knew he would have
another opportunity, he left the depot
He had previously engaged carriage
to take him to the Jail.
dent and his son and, I think, United
r States Marshall Henry went out for
! ride. The assassin took his pistol anC
+ followed them and watched them fo
r some time, in hopes the carriage would
r stop, but no opportunity was given.
, "On Friday evening, July /, he wa
! sitting on the seat in the park opposite
4 the White House, when he saw thu
, President come out alone. He followed
him down the avenue to Fifteenth
street, and then kept on the opposit,
side of the street up Fifteenth until tn
President entered the residence of Sec
i rotary Blaine. He watched at the cor
/, ner of Mr.. Morton's late residence, a
Fifteenth and FL streets, for some time
and then, as he was afraid he would at
tract attention, he went into the alley il
the rear of Mr.. Morton's residence, ex
amined his pistol, and waited. TIL
: President and Secretary Blaine CAM
a out together, and he followed them owe
to the gate of the White House, bu
could get no opportunity to use hi
weapon.
On the morning of Saturday, July 9
he breakfasted at the Riggs House
about 7 o'clock. He then walked III
into the park and Sd. there for an hour
He then took a one-horse avenue car ant
rode to Sixth street, got out and wen
into the depot and loitered around there
had his shoes BACKED; engaged hack
e man, for 81, to take him to the Jail; wen
3 into the water closet and took his pisto
out of his hip pocket and unwrappe'
9 the paper from around it, which h,
had put there for the purpose of pre-
! venting the perspiration of the bod
dampening the powder; examined tn
S pistol carefully, tried the trigger, an,
then returned and took q seat in the Ia
dies waiting room, and as soon as tn
y President entered, advanced behind hin
. and fired two shots.
3 "These facts, 1 think, can be relic,
/ upon as accurate, and give them to tn
< public to contradict certain rumors il
. connection with this most atrocious Q
atrocious crimes"