Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-07-20
GUITEA US CRIME.
History OF Its Inception and Execution
by District Attorney Corkhill.
A PLAN TO KILL THE PRESIDENT AT
CHURCH.

Wnlcn ne undertook. Inc Dlstrlcl
Attorney has the right to use all bis
energies and knowledge of law to con
vict Guiteau, who has so grossly of
Tended society and the law; but his
volunteer story is case for the Court
and jury, and not for the press. Read
his own story:
United States District Attorney
Corkhill has authorized the publica.
ton of the following, in order to cor.
rect certain false statements:
"The interest felt by the public in
the details of the assassination and the
many stories published justify me IN
stating that 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 9th, 1881, and stopped at the
Ebbitt House, remaining only one day
He then secured a room in another
part of the city, and has boarded and
roomed at various places, the full de.
tails OF which | have. On Wednes
day, May 18th, 1881, the assassin de-
termined to murder the President
He had neither money nor pistol al
the time. About the last OF May he
went into O'Meara's store, corner Of
18th and r streets, in this city, and
examined some pistols, asking for the
largest calibre. He was shown two
similar in calibre, and only different in
the price. On Wednesday, June Sth,
he purchased the pistol which he used,
for which he paid $40, he having in
the meantime borrowed SIS Of a gen.
tleman in this city, on the plea that he
wanted TO pay his board bill. On the
same evening about 7 O'Clock be took
the pistol and went TO the foot Of lfth
street and practiced firing at board,
firing ten shots. He then returned 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 be at once re-
turned TO his room, obtained his pistol,
put it in his hip pocket and followed
the President to church, but found he
could not kill him there without dan.
ger of killing some one else. He motto.
cd that the President sat near win
dow; after church he made an exami.
nation 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 with.
ont killing any one else. The follow
ing Wednesday he went to the church,
examined the location and the window
and became satisfied he could accom-.
plish his purpose, and he determined,
therefore, to make the attempt at the
church the following Sunday. He
learned from the papers that the Presi.
dent would leave the city on Saturday,
the 18th day of June, with Mrs. Gar.
field for Long Branch he therefore
determined to meet him at the depot
He left his boarding place about 5
o'clock Saturday morning, June is,
and went down to the river, ut the
foot of 18th street, and fired FIVE shots
to practice his aim and be certain his
pistol was in good order. lie then
went to the depot, and was in the
ladies waiting loom of the depot, with
his pistol ready when the Presidential
party entered. He says Mrs Garfield
looked so weak and frail that he had
not the heart to shoot the President in
her presence, and as he know he would
have another opportunity he left the
depot. He had previously engaged a
carriage to take him to the jail. On
Wednesday evening the President and
his son, and ] think U. S. Marshall
Henry, went out for q ride. The as
sassin took his pistol and followed them
and watched them for some time in
hopes the carriage would stop, but no
opportunity was given. On Friday
evening, July 1st, be was sitting on
the seat in the park opposite the White
House, when he saw the President
come out alone he followed him down
the avenue to 18th street, and then
kept on the opposite side of the street
up 18th, until the President entered
the residence of Secretary Blaine. He
waited at the corner of MIR. Mortons
late residence, corner 18th and II, for
some time, and then, as he was afraid
he would attract attention, he went
into tho alley in the rear of Mr.. Nor.
tons residence, examined his pistol and
waited. The President and Secretary
Blaine came out together and he fol.
lowed them over to the gate of the
White House, but could get no oppor.
tunity to use his weapon. On the
morning of Saturday, July I'd, he
breakiasted at the Riggs House about
Z o'clock, He then walked up into
the park and sat there for an hour.
He then took one. horse avenue car
and rode TO 9th street, got out and
went into the depot and loitered !
around there, had his shoes blackened, |
engaged hackman for So to take him
to the jail, went into the water closet
and took his pistol out of his hip
pocket and unwrapped tho paper from
around it, which he had put there for
the purpose of preventing the perspi. |
ration from the body dampening the
powder, examined his pistol, carefully
tried the trigger, aud then returned
and took seat in the ladies' waiting
room, and, as soon as the President
entered, advanced behind him and fred
two shots. These facts, | think, can
be relied upon as accurate, and | give
them to the public to contradict GER
tain false rumors in connection with
this most atrocious of atrocious crimes"
-
A CORRUPT PARTY.--An exchange
In his Friday meeting talk
Rev Henry Ward Beecher made the
following remark: "Thc Republican
party, which carried the nation thro'
It's struggles, is now like the Roman
soldier sitting on the ground throwing
dice to see who should have share of
the Saviour's garments. Liberty was
imperilled for the sake of party plum.
der" This is pretty plain talk from a
high Republican source. The only
wonder with us has been why the
better men of the Republican party
had not the manliness to speak ont
-. -. 4. Z. II. -. - III.