Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1881-08-19
The Knife Made from a Corset Steel
and How Possession Of it Was
Obtained.
Guiteau Believed the President Dead,
and the Guard tho Leader Of
Mob. 81
How He Passes the Time in His Ceu
In Writing Lengthy History
Of His Lite.
Guiteau's Assault.

WASHINGTON, Aug. l6.-W arQen CrQcK-
er now admits that Guiteau did have a
knife and used it in his assault upon guard
McGill, on Thursday. Croker says he
had lot thoroughly investigated the mat
ter when he denied it, but the belief is
that the denial was intended to suppress
the truth, because it was reflection upon
the manner in which Guiteau is guarded
to let him get knife. The weapon used
by Guiteau turns out not to have been
made from shoe shank, but was merely
piece Of corset steel about four inches
long and two and half inches wide, with
handle made of paper wrapped with
common string. 1t has
ONE EDGE QUITE SHARP.
In fact it was as McGili says, as sharp as
a razor as it cut entirely through his coat
and vest and nearly into the flesh. The
assault on the guard is regarded as indl-
eating desperation on his part that
would impell him to do much harm if he
got chance. The Warden thinks that
the weapon got into Guiteaus cell from
another cell, as about the first of each
month the prison beds are taken out and
cleaned. Crocker thinks that in
returning them the cot from some other
cell in which ss
THE KNIFE WAS coNcEALED
was put in Guiteau's cell insteadVof the
eat he formerly had. But thistheory
hardly looks plausible, as in washing and
steaming the cots it would appear that
anything concealed in them must have
been discovered. The accepted theory is
that Bedford, j the colored man who was
hung for the murder of Smith, left the
knife in his cell, and that Gulteau found
it. Gen. Croker is of the opinion that
Guiteau's restlessness the night before
the attack was occasioned by conviction
that the President was dead. Even before
the appearance Of additional soldiers at
the jail Guiteau manifested the
MOST INTENSE UNEAs1aEss.
When tho soldiers moved - would go
every five o. ten minutes to his window
and leok out at their movemants Nc
Gill, who has been seen but litSje by Gui-
teau, in making bis rounds startled the
wretch, and he thinking anaattack to be
made upon him by moi, resolved to
fight. It is McGill's custom at 8 O'Clock
to 60 through all the corridors of the jail
and see that the prisoners are not en- gagged
in mischief This he did early yester-
day morning, and finding Guiteau sitting
on the side Of his bed, and thinking some
thing wrong in his movements, spoke
sharply to. him and asked him what he,
was doing. This aroused the prisoner,
and
JUMPING TO HIS FEET
he rushed spasmo modically at the jailer.
When questioned as to why he attacked
the guard Guiteau said he had no bust
ness in his cell at that hour of the morn.
in and that he only intended to put him
out. Guiteau is even more fond of writing
now than when first put in Jail. he fre-
quently asks the warden for pens and pa
per and whiles away the time, in writing
letters. These letters are taken in charge
by the warden, and for the most part they
TREAT OF THE ASSASSINATION.
In nearly every one of them
he says he believed when
he shot the President he was simply car
rying out Gods will. The tone Of some.
Of the letters would indicate that he
thought the President was dead. Guiteau
is still writing his life, which he says will
make book Of about 500 pages. The
episode Of yesterday morning seemed to