Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-07-06
PRESIDENT GARFIELD SHOT
While Entering a Railway Depot at
Washington.
His Wounds Pronounced Serious by the
Physicians.-The Assassin.

WASHINGTON, July 2, 1850 A. M.-At
$50 o'clock this morning, when Presi-
dent Garfield was at the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad depot, with his party,
waiting to take the train, he was shot
twice by man within two feet of him.
The President s friends rushed to him as
he fell, and Blaine called for Colonel
Rockwell Station-Agent Carney arrest
ed the assassin, who said: did ii; I
am q St0IU0rt, and Arthur IS noaU
FreSedent. Take o. letter 7 have here
to General Sherman and he ay5U tell
you all 0boUt It,"
| WASHINGTON, d. c., July 2.-The
President had alighted from the carriage
and was passing through the ladies'
room to the cars. When about five feet
inside of the room, the assassin, who was
within about five feet of him, fred one
shot. The President was dazed, and
made no attempt at self-protection.
Secretary Blaine had turned toward the
door. The assassin fred a second shot,
within ten seconds of the first. The
President fell, and Mrs. White, who at
tends the ladies' waiting room, rushed to
him and raised up his head. Secretary
Blaine also rushed to the assistance of
the President. The assassin passed out
toward B street, but Capt. Parke, the
ticket agent, jumped through the win
dow and caught the assassin, who
made no resistance. Officer Carney,
the depot policeman, ran up to the as
sassin, and Immediately afterward Off
Ger Scott also took hold of him. Parke
let the officers have him, and turned his
attention to the President. Help came
and the President was taken up stairs.
He said not a word until he was laid
down, when he asked that his shoes be
taken off, saying he felt pain in his feet
As soon as his shoes were removed he
said to Secretary Window: eco right
home and send a telegram to Mrs. Gar
field, saying, Il feel considerably better,
and If she feels well enough, tell her to
come to Washington Immediately. up
This dispatch was sent, and special
train at once sent to Long Branch for
Mrs Garfield.
Secretary Blaine was not going with
the party, but went down to bid the
,, President goodbye. He said: "The
President and I were walking arm in
arm toward the train. heard two shots
and saw man run. I started after him.
but seeing that he was grabbed just as
he got out of the room, came to the
President and found him lying Oh the
floor. The floor was covered with the
Presidents blood. A number of people
who were around shortly afterward have
some of that blood on their persons. I
think know the man. I think his name
is Guiteau." The assassin is about five
feet seven inches in height; of strong,
though not stout, build. The weapon
used was revolver about seven inches
long; it had an ivory handle; the caliber
was very large. 1T is what is known as
California pistol. It made a very loud
report.
THE LETTER TO GEN. SHERMAN.
The following letter was found on the
street shortly after Guiteau's arrest, the
envelope unsealed and addressed:
Please deliver to Gen. Sherman or his first
assistant in charge Of War Department:
GEN. SHERMAN: I have just shot the Presi-
dent. I shot him several times, as I wished
him to die as easily as possible. His death was
political necessity. am lawyer theologian
and politician. I am stalwart of the stalwarts.
l was with Gen. Grant and the rest of our men
ID New York during the canvass. I am going
to jail. Please order out troops and take pos
session OF the jail at once. Very respectfully.
CHARLES GITTEAU.
On receiving the above, Gen. Sher-
man gave it the following endorsement:
HEADQUARTERS OF ARMY,
WASHINGTON, July 2, 1S81,--1:30 A. N.
minute by Maj. VIM. Twiring, U. S. Engineer
and Major VIM. G.. Brock chief of police. I
don't know the writer-never heard Of or saw
him, to my knowledge-and hereby return it to
the keeping Of the above named parties as
testimony in the case, Signed,
W. T. SHERMAN, General.
HARTFORD, Conn.,, July 3.-In an in
terview, yesterday, Gov. Jewell, chair
man of the Republican national commit
tee, said: 81 know Charles Guiteau, the
assassin, quite well. He is aged about
40, and has for years pretended to be a
practicing lawyer in Chicago, but has
never had any practice, and impressed
his acquaintance as being OF unsound
mind and very queer and eccentric-a
fanatic on moral and political subjects.
He once hired hall to deliver lecture
on reform. Only ten or fifteen people
were present, and he made discourse.
which was thoroughly ridiculed by all
the papers next morning. Early in
the last presidential canvass he
appeared at the republican head
quarters in New York, where his
almost insolent intrusion of himself
upon the committee and myself soon
showed us that he was pestilent bore,
who was consumed with hunger for
Office. He continually approached me
with requests that use my influence to
secure his appointment as minister to
Austria, and exhibited as proof for his
fitness for that Office alleged recommen-
dation from prominent politicians east
and west. It was apparent to me, after
I ceased to regard him as hummer
that he was half lunatic, whose vagaries
would result liz no harm to any one,
however disagreeable they might be.
He once said to me that if he should Sc
cure the position Of minister to Austria,
he could, on the strength of it, marry a
rich heiress, whose name do not care
to disclose.
THE LATEST BULLETIN.