Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-07-26

Confession Of Guiteau.

Confession Of 6uiteau.
United States District Attorney Cork |
hill has furnished the following state |
ment for publication, relative to Guiteau. |
"The assassin, Charles J. Guiteau,
came to Washington on Sunday even
ing, March 9Th, 1881, and stopped at the
Ebbitt House, remaining one day. He
then secured room in another part Of
various places, the full details of which
I have.
ION Wednesday, May 10, 1881, the as
sassin determined to murder the Presi-
dent. He had neither money nor pistol
at the time. About the last of May he
went into Omeara's store, corner OF Fiji
tenth and F streets, in this city, and
examined some pistols, asking for the
largest calibre. He was shown two,
similar in calibre. and only different in
price. On Wednesday, June 9Th, he
purchased the pistol which he used, for
which he paid $40, he having in the
meantime borrowed SIS of gentleman
in this city on the plea that he wanted
to pay his board bill. On the same even
ing about seven o'clock he took his pis
toll and went to the foot of Seventeenth
street and practiced shooting 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.
ION 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 hip pocket, and fol-
lowed the President to church; he en-
tered 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 thro'
the head without killing any one else.
1.-THE following Wednesday he went
to the church, examined the location
and the window, and became satisfied
he could accomplish his purpose, and
he determined, therefore, to make the
attempt at the church the following
Sunday. He learned from the papers
that the President would leave the city
VI OatuIudyi Uuc 1Ctu Va sSuaoy Will
Mrs. Garfield, for Long Branch. He,
the depot He left his boarding place
about o'clock Saturday morning, June
IS, and went down to the river, at the
foot of Seventeenth street, and fred five
shots. to practice his aim and be certain
his pistol was in good order. He then
went to the depot, and was in the ladies'
waiting room of the depot, with his pis-
toll 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 pres
ence. and as he knew he would have
another opportunity, he left the depot.
He had previously engaged q carriage
to take him to the Jail. On Wednesday
evening, the President and his son, and,
I think, U. S. Marshal Henry, went out
for a ride. The assassin took his pistol
and followed them, and watched them
for some time in hopes the carriage
would stop, but no such opportunity
was given.
ION Friday evening, July 1, he 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 Fifteenth ST.,
and then kept on the opposite eide ofthe
street up Fifteenth until the President
entered the residence of Secretary
Blaine. He waited at the corner of Mr..
Morton's late residence. corner of Fiji
tenth and 81, for some time, and then,
as he was afraid he would attract atten-
ton he went into the alley in the rear
of Mr.. Morton's residence, examined his
pistol and waited. The President and
Secretary Blaine came out together, and
he followed them over to the gate of the
White House, but could get no oppor-
tunity to use his weapon. On the morn
ing of Saturday July 2, he breakfasted
at the Riggs House about O'Clock. He
then walked up into the park and sat
] there for an hour. He then took aOne-
horse avenue car and rode to Sixth St.,
got out aud went into the depot and loi-
tered around there, had his shoes black
ed, engaged a hickman for So to take
him to the Jail went into the water closet
and took his pistol out of his hip pocket
and unwrapped the paper from around
it, which he had put there for the pur-
pose of preventing the perspiratiOp from
the body dampening the powder; ex-
amined his pistol, carefully tried the
trigger, and then returned and took
seat in the ladies' waiting room, and, as
soon as the President entered, advanced
behind him and fired two shots. These
facts, think, can be relied upon as &C.
curate, and give them to the public to
contradict certain false rumors in cOn-
nection with this most atrocious of afro.
cious crimes"