Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-10-14

John Taylor, whom, Two weeks DerOre, |
had spoken to about taking me out toward
the Congressional Cemetery. They told
me that Taylor's carriage was not there,
and there were three or four hackmen
there who were very anxious to serve me,
and finally I noticed a colored man, and |
said to him, What will you take me out
to the Congressional Cemetery for?' He
saws, well, I will take you out there for
ST. All right said I, If want to use
YOU I will let you know. At that moment
these other backmen were pressing me to
get nv business, and l said to them.
keep quiet; you are too fast on this and
| told this colored man privately that if
wanted his services l would let him know
in a few minutes. l then went into the
depot and took my private papers which 1
intended for the press, (lncluding revised
edition of my book, 'Ihe Truth, Com
panion 20 the Bible. y and stepping up to
the news stand asked the young man in
charge if [ could leave those papers with
him for a few moments, and he said Ger
tainly.' and he took them and placed them
up against the wall on top Of some other
papers. This was about twenty minutes
after nine, and | went into the ladies'
waiting room and looked around; Saw
there were quite good many people there
in the depot and carriages outside. but
did not see the Presidents carriage. | eX-
amined my revolver to see that 1t was all
right. and took off the paper that I had
wrapped around it, to keep the moisture
off. | waited five or six minutes longer,
sat down on seat in the ladies' room, and
very soon the President drove up. He
was in company with a gentleman who,
understand, was Mr.. Blaine, and l am
satisfied it was Mr.. Blaine, although [ did
not recognize him. This gentleman look
ed very old. and he had peculiar kind of
head-eear on, that L did not recognize as
that of MI. Blaine. 1 am satisfied that it
was Mr.. Blaine, now that my attention
was the same gentleman that 1 saw with
he President the night before, and know
positively that that gentleman was Mr..
Blaine. The President and this gentle
| man drove up in a plain single-seated car
riage, with one horse. This gentleman, l
| think, was driving. 1t was single car
riage-a single-seated tod-buggy. The
| President seemed to be in very earnest
| and private conversation with this gentle
man, who evidently was Mr.. Blaine.
although at the time | did not recognize
him as Mr.. Blame. They sat in the car
rage | should say some two minutes; they
had not completed their conversation
when they reached the depot, and during
the interview Of two minutes they finished
their conversation. During this time they
| were engaged in very earnest and private
conversation, as [ have said.s The Presl-
d6nt got out on the pavement side and Mr..
Blaine on the other side. They entered
| the ladies' room; 1 stood there watching
the President and they passed by me. Be-
| fore they reached the depot l had been
promenading up and down the ladies
room between the ticket Office door and
| no nd donr Of fen
or twelve feet. 1 walked up and down
there l should say two or three times
working myself up, as | knew the hour
was at hand. The President and Mr..
| Blaine came into the ladies' room and
walked right by me; they did not notice
| me, as there we're quite a number OF ladies
and children in the room.
| "There was quite large crowd of tick
| ct purchasers at the gentlemen's ticket Of
fee in the adjoining room; the depot seem
ed to be quite full of people. There was
| quite crowd and comotion around, and
| the President was in the act OF passing
from the ladies' room to the main entrance
| through the door. l should say he was
about four or five feet from the door near
est the ticket Office, in the act of passing
through the door to get through the depot
to the cars. He was about three or foul
feet from the door. 1 stood five or six
| feet behind him, right in the middle OF the
room, and as he was in the act Of walking
away from me l pulled out the revolver
and fired. He Strengthened up and threw
his head back, and seemed to be perfectly
bewildered. He did not seem to know
what struck him. l looked at him; he did
not drop; thereupon pulled again. He
| dropped his head, and seemed to reel, and
| fell over. l do not know where the first
shot hit; I aimed at the hollow of his back
l did not aim for any particular place, but
| knew if got those two bullets in his
| back he would certainly go. was in di.
agonal direction from the President, to
the northwest, and supposed both shots
sJruck.'
| What followed after this has been 80 of
! ten told that it is not necessary to repeat