The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-08-25
have been the recipient of these crazy
messapes This official

has no doubt that there are plenty ol
crazy people in this country who would
be impelled, in times of excitement ma
turally following the Presidents death
TO make some such attempts as are ont
lines IN these numerous missives
Another kind of letters received by this
official comes from different class OF
people. These letters contain threats
against the life of Guiteau in case of
Gen. Garfeld's death. The writers Of
this second class of threatening say that
body of armed men will march on TO
this town for the purpose of taking Gut
teau from Jail and hanging him. There
is certainly enough OF Il lawleSs and
crazy character in these numerous
epistles to warrant something Of the
grave apprehensions felt by this official
in looking forward to the future. End
less precautions will be taken to avert
any scene of disorder or
ANOTHER ASSASSINATION.
Another one of the threats against Vice
President Arthur takes this shape: The
writer says that Vice President Arthur
will never reach Washington in case of
his coming on here TO be sworn in as
President; that some accident Will hap
pen to the train; that rail will be dis
placed, or that dynamite viii stand Ia
his path. There is so much of this that
borders upon the extremes Of sensation
alism that it would not he given were it
not for the fact that the letters are Vouch-
ed for by an official of the goVeRameAS
connected with the departments of justice.
Very stringent orders have been issued
to the local officers. Every crazy man,
or even any person indicating an erratic
disposition, would hardly be safe from
arrest in Washington at this time. A
vigilant eye is also TO be kept upon
tramps. II is not generally known that
within the last two weeks upwards of
thirty stranger lunatics have been arrest
ed in this town and quietly taken over
To the government asylum.
More About the Giteau Sensation.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., August 17.-Mai.
Brock, of the Metropolitan Police force,
who just came from the Executive Man
sion, was summoned to the telephone q
moment ago and informed by police
man whom he had dispatched to the Jail
to ascertain what truth there was in the
rumor concerning Guiteau's attempt to
assassinate guard, that the guard was
standing Immediately outside the door
of the cell when he noticed that the
prisoner was acting in strange and I'M
usual manner, and as he (he guard)
thought, was trying to hang himself.
The guard opened the door and upon en-
tering the cell, Guiteau seized him and
a scuffle ensued during which the guard
drew q pistol in self defense, and it was
accidentally discharged, when another
of the guards rushed to the scene and
separated the men. There was no dam
age done by the discharge of the weapon
Guiteau has volunteered no explanation
of the matter so far. 1t was also
thought he was attempting 10 escape,
but Warden Croker states that
in his belief no attempt at escape had
been made. His theory is, that Guiteau,
who has been in an extremely nervous
and irritable condition for some time,
became so much excited and enrsged at
the sudden entrance OF the guard, that
he was led into this exhibition of VIC
lencc.
The news of the Presidents critical
condition gave rise to a number of ru-
mors at the Jail yesterday which were
increased by the fact that early last even.
ing the guard was doubled and a mill
tary drill was held in the rotunda, the
noise of which awoke Guiteau to a state
of fevcrish excitement. He paced his
cell and enquired anXiously for news
from the President. A rumor reached
the Jail late in the evening that the
President was dying, and il was sup
posed that Guiteau heard it, as he was
observed 70 climb up to the window in
his cell, and in other ways TO show great
excitement. Mr.. w. c. McGIll, who
has charge of the Jail on alternate nights,
visited the cell several times, and CON-
ing to the conclusion that Guiteau had
heard from some of the prisoners the
alarming rumors, he watched HIM
with unusual care. Several times
MIR. McGih observed Guiteau cling
ing to the iron bars of his window, and
the idea that the prisoner might be at
tempting to hang himself prompted the
guard to visit the cell about halfpast
four this morning. Mr.. McGill, upon
opening the cell, found that Guiteau was
concealing something in his hand. De-
termining that it was knife he said !:
"What are you doing with that knife"
Guiteau looked up and eXcitedly cried:
$50 help me God have no knife" Mr..
McGill insisted that he had and stepped
toward the prisoner, when Guiteau
sprang up and rushed at him furiOusly,
and made a savage cut at his throat.
McGill drew back and the knife passed
through his coat collar cutting through
the upper button and making o clean
cut on the left shoulder The guard drew
his revolver without cooking it, but
finding himself unable to dlsarm his
assailant, he finally cooked his revolver,
when Guiteau dropped his knife and
grasped the more formidable weapon,
crying for help and calling that he was
being shot. The pistol was accidentally
discharged and several guards rushed
10 the cell, when Guiteau was disarmed.
The assassin stated TO the guards that
he was acting in self-deiense and
nat al a.
shoot him. The question as
to how Guiteau obtained the knife is
generally explained by the fact that
Babe Bedford once occupied the cell,
and that several similar instruments had
been concealed by that criminal. The
knife is generally known by prisoners as
"cheeser," and is criminal substitute
for pOcket-knife, carving knife, razor
and dagger. 1t is made out of the piece
of steel found in the sail of boat,
which can be sharpened on a stone or
window sill until il becomes an exceed
ingly keen blade, and is generally two
or three inches long and halt an inch
broad, and inch or more is left unsharp
ened and wrapped in rags or paper for q
handle. These instruments are used by
prisoners for various purposes. They
are cOnfiscated by jailOrs whenever they
BILE that some other prisoner had, in
some way, left the knife where Guiteau
could get it. The assassin considers his
escape very fortunate, and when the
guard said in his presence, that he had
thought the pistol shot had settled the
dog, he replied, "My dear sir, that is too
important subject for joking. A life
is valuable thing" The startling cpl
sode created intense excitement at the
Jail.
Mr.. McGill. the guard, told a Critic
reporter this morning that he supposed
Guiteau thought that the President was
dead, and took this means of proving
his insanity most conclusively. The
guard who was attacked Is heavy built
man, of kind, pleasant manners, and
against whom personally, Guiteau could
have had no bitter feeling. The success
of the plan of killing the guard would
not have given Guiteau any chance OF
escape, and so that motive could not
have prompted the deed. The guards al
the Jail are reticent and refuse positively
to say anything on the subject of Gui.
teau's attack on the jsilor. As soon as
the facts were made known, the reporter
made his way to the Jail and saw Assist.
ant Warden Russ and the army Officers
who were doing duty there; they all re-
fused To talk, and SAID that they had
been instructed not to communicate any.
thing to the public about the assassin.
The theory advanced by some is that
the knife was given to him by prisoner
A thorough Investigation will be or
dered by Gen. Croker at once and all
facts brought out.
The guard of soldiers at the Jail has
been doubled, and now consists of twen-
ty men and three commissioned officers.
Most vigilant watch is kept over the
prison