Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-17
GUITEAU ASSAULTS A GUARD.
EXCITEMENT AT THE JAIL
IN ATTEMPT OF THE PRISONER TO
ESCAPE EARLY THIS MORNING.

morning by report that Guiteau had murder
ously assaulted one of the Jail guards with the
shank Of shoe. The truth of the story.
| learned by STAR reporter at the jail. is a
follows:
About half-past four o'clock this morning. one
of the guards-Wm. c. McGill-looked into
Guiteau's cell. and saw him in a very
unusual position at his cell window.
McGiil thinking that the man was attempting
to escape or to injure himself, asked what he
was doing and getting no answer. went into
the cell. Guiteau turned and clinched with the
guard. There was desperate struggle.
during which the guards pistol was discharged.
The bah passed out of the door
| and lodged in the wall opposite Another
guard, j. W. Jones. hearing the noise. quickly
came to McGiils assistance and parted the
struggling men. Gniteau was again secured in
the cell. Neither of the men were injured.
RETICENCE AT THE JAIL.
When The STAR reporter went to the Jail this
morning the officers on duty were very reticent
to speak about Guiteau's assault on guard and
in fact seemed to know little about the matter
One of them corroborated the story that the as
sauit had been committed with the shank of a
shoe Both Warden Croker and his deputy.
Mr. Russ, were away at the time Meanwhile
ponce officials and newspaper reporters were
gathering at the Jail TO learn the truth of the
reports circulated up town. When Gen Croker
returned to the Jail about one O'clock he good
naturedly shook away the crowd that waylaid
him. and passing into the rotunda of the Jail
was soon as free from intrusion as though he
had been in Alaska. After remaining i'm the
q ha nd
button-hofed at once by STAR reporter.
WARDEN CROCKER's STATEMENT
81 would like to get the facts about this? -
said the STAR
There is not much TO it. replied the general
"About half past four o'clock this morning as
the guard was passing Guiteaus CELL he saw
Guiteau at the window, and asked him what he
was doing there. Guiteau did not give him any
satisfactory answer. The guard went into the
cell TO see what was up, and Guiteau turned
upon him and clinched with him. and i'm the
struggle the guards pistol was discharged. The
ball went out of the door and struck the dead
wall opposite. There was nobody hurt"
Ibid not Guiteau cut the guard?"
lie did not Neither the guard nor Guiteau
was hurt. Why Guiteau didn't have anything
to cut him with"
WAS there no shoe shank in the cel?"
No. replied the warden. and. continuing he
said. illustrating with his hand, suppose this
TO be the cell and that the passage There is
the dead wall which the bullet struck when the
pistol was discharged. 1t hit the wall that sep
arates the passages. The guard. when he saw
Gulteau at the window. thought his actions were
a little unusual and went in to ascertain WI at
Guiteau was about Guteau says that he did
not intend to hurt the guard. When he clinched
McGlll another guard came to his assistance"
Ibid the struggle last long?" asked the re-
porter.
No. 1t was all over in half minute
quicker than it takes to tell it, but before they
were parted the pistol was discharged"
The assault then. was made by Guteau z"
''Yes, as the guard went into the cell Guiteau
turned upon him and clinched him"
Has Guiteau been at all morose or silent %
inquired the reporter.
mo; there have been no manifestations or
appearance OF mOroseness. Yesterday he was a
little more excited than he has been for two or
three weeks,-in fact he was considerably eX-
cited.'
DO you think he knew anything about the
Presidents condition ?"
HE had no news from the President at all, so
TAR as we know. He may have imagined that
knowledge of the Presidents condition.
sault:"
mo; went into his cell. before left the
Jail last night. and had a conversation with him.
That was about O'Clock He was somewhat
excited. perhaps, but expressed himself as feel
ing very well. / told him to quiet down. get
INTO bed, and go to sleep. He said he felt as well
as he ever did in his life. I noticed. as have
stated, that he was little excited; his conduct
was little unusual"
How is he now ?" incurred the reporter.
He is calm and quiet this morning, and says
that he did not intend to hurt the guard
- Has he made no explanation whatever?'
No; he has said nothing. think he was Of
tended because the guard entered his cell SO
1 n ho frx-ip 10, In,
jure himself or get out of his CELL"
Vas there any weapon found I'm his cell?"
'Ihere was no weapon of any kind or descrip-
ton found. He would make no attempt to es-
cape added the warden. 1t would be just as
futile as an attempt to jump over the moon He
has no means with which to attempt to escape"
HAS any more rigorous measures been taken
since this attempt!'
1.-The guards look after him constantly. but no
more constantly than before, to prevent him
from injuring HIMSELF
1.-The only way he could injure himself" said
Capt. Vernon, who was standing by, 'would be
6y hanging himself-tearing up his bed clothing
for halter"
she has not torn his blanket or clothing or
anything" said the warden HE is constantly
under the eye Of the guards. suppose his ner-
vous condition might have made him a little
restless, and when the guard went i'm to see him.
suppose Guiteau thought it an intrusion and
clinched with him. He imagined the guard had
no business there, perhaps"
''Then," said the reporter, ''there is nothing
in the shOe-shank stOry?"
.'When he came to the jail he had a pair of
shoes like these, said the warden. pointing to
his own. "They were taken from him, and we
gave him pair of Jail shoes, which have no
shanks."
''DiG ne say nothing to the guard? Did he
not swear at him, or something's
He said nothing. He never does curse. and
has never been known to use profane word
McGill was on duty all night, and was not at
the Jail to-day.
DID GCITEAU HAVE KNIFE?
Warden Croker denied emphaticalIy to a
STAR reporter that Guiteau had any weapon at
all when the guard entered his CELL Still the /,
story that a knife was used seems to be gener- |
ally believed. The story, as detailed by one @
the guards to a STAR reporter. fncluded the /
knife feature. The knife it was said. had been |
made from the steel shank OF a shoe. Such |
knives have been taken from prisoners in the /
Jail. There are many theories as to the motives /
of Guitcau's conduct. Some think that he !
really intended 70 overcome the guard and es-
cape, and others that he wanted to do some /
thing to establish the story that he Is insane.
THE sHoE-sHANK STORY
It appears from another account that about |
AZ O'clock fhis morning Mr. IA n N,,,iu <,,., 81