Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-07-07
Shot Down.
President Garfield Danger
ously Wounded.
An ASSOSSin'S' York.
Fired at Entering the Railroad Depot
at Washington.
ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT OF
THE CRIMINAL.
CHARLES JULES GUITEAU.
An Erratlc Creature of Low Ante
cedents.
Mrs. GG113elGs SOr-
rO9C.
She Reaches Washington and Meets
Her Husband.
Intense Excitement - World
wide Sympathy.

President James y. GARFIELD was sn0t
at Washington Saturday morning by
Charles Guitteau, of Chicago.
The President and Secretary Blaine
entered the Baltimore & Potomac depot
arm.in-arm, where the President was to
take the 9:29 train for New York. AS
they reached the ladies' waiting room,
Guitteau, who stood at the right of the
President, raised his arm and deliberately
fired two shots from revolver, exclaim-
ing as he did so, Now we will have
Arthur for President"
The first shot struck the President in
the right arm. The assassin immediate
ly fired again, and the shot took effect in
the President s side and the victim sank
to the floor. Several police officers came
at once to his assistance and he was car
ried to the Superintendent's room on the
floor above.
The President did not say word when
FIRST shot.
Meanwhile the assassin was secured by
those standing near and would have been
torn to pieces but for the efforts of the
police.
The President was carried at once to
his cham Der in the w hite House and laid
upon the bed. Surgeon General Barnes
was in attendance by this time, and a
cursory examination showed that the
second shot had lodged in the groin, just
over the kidney, and will in all probabil-
ity prove fatal.
Charles Guitteau, the assassin, held
the position of Consul to Marseilles dur
ing the last administration, having been
appointed through the influence of Gen.
Logan. When this administration came
into power he was recalled at the desire
of Secretary Blaine and some charge that
in his desperation he resorted to the pistol
for revenge.
His personal appearance was rather
striking although his clothes were very
common; both as to material and cut.
When arrested the prisoner said: 81
did it and want to, be arrested. l am a
Stalwart and Arthur is President now.
l have letter here that l want you to
give to Gen. Sherman. 1t will explain
everything. Take me to the police sta
tion."
Secretary Blain was not going with the
party, but came down TO the depot to bid
the President goodbye. He said: 1.-THE
President and I were walking arm in arm
toward the train. Iheard two shots and
saw a man run and started after him,
but seeing he was grabbed just as he got
out of the room, | came back to the
President and found him lying on the
floor. The floor was covered with blood.
A number of people who We're around
shortly after have some of that blood on
their persons. The weapon he used was
revolver about seven inches long. 1t
had an ivory handle. The calibre was
very large. It is what is known as Cali
fornia pistol. 1t made very loud re-
port
President Garfield at the time of
shooting, was about to start for New
York on his way to the Williams College
commencement. He was to have been
accompanied by Secretaries Window,
Hunt and James and their wives, Secre-
tary Lincoln, and Mrs. Garfield and
family.
The letter from Guitteau to General
| Sherman was addressed as follows:
To Gen. Sherman, or his First Assistant
in charge Of the War Department.
Please deliver at once.
have just shot the President; shot
him several times as wished him to go
as easily as possible. His death was a
political necessity. am a lawyer, a
| Stalwart of Stalwarts. was with Cen
eral Grant and the rest Of our men at
Albany during the canvass. am going
to Jail. Please order out your troops
and take possession of the jail at once.
The Presidents tragic death was a sad
necessity, but it will unite the Republi-
can party and save the republic.
Life is flimsy dream and it matters
little when one goes. A human life is of
small value. During the war thousands
of brave boys went down without tear.
Ipresume the President was a Christian
and that he will be happier in Paradise
than here.
It will be no worse for Mrs. Garfield,
dear soul, to part with her husband this
way than by natural death. had no
ill-will toward the President.
[Signed. CHAs. GU1TTEAU.
WANTED To. MAKE ARTHUR PRESIDENT.
| WASHINGTON. July 2.-Washington is
wild with excitement, and the whole
populace is gathered about the Baltimore
and Potomac Depot. The man evidently
had deliberately planned the assasslna-
ton, with an idea, so far as can be now
ascertained, of making Arthur President
THE PRESIDENT TO HIS WIFE.
| WASHINGTON, July 2-11:05 A. NJ
President Garfield is conscious, and does
not complain of great suffering. He has