The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-07-12


crime and expression of sympathy with
the President and family. Had not
troops been placed to guard the jail, the
populace would have saved the trouble
of trying and Furnishing the guilty
wretch who had brought this aifliction
to the Nation. During the several days
following the shooting the newspaper
and telegraph offices were continually
crowded with people seeking the latest
intelligence. Frequent bulletins of the
Presidents condition were issued, but
yet It was impossible to keep up with
the demand of the people for news, and
any despatch giving encouragement was
gladly welcomed.
The following despatch shows in
strong light the feeling of the people;
EXECUTIVE MANSION. Washington,
July 4, II p. M.-To the Press On be-
half of the President and Mrs. Garfield
/ desire to make public acknowledgment
of the very numerous messages OF con-
dolence aud affection which have been
received since Saturday morning. From
almost every State in the Union, from
south as bountifully as from the north,
and from countries beyond the sea, have
come messages of anxious inquiry and
tender words of sympathy in such
numbers that it has been found impOssi-
BILE to answer them in detail. l there
fore ask the newspapers to express for
the President and Mrs. Garfield the deep
gratitude which they feel for the devo-
ton of their fellow countrymen and
friends abroad, in this hour of heavy
affliction. JAMES G. BLAINE,
Secretary of State.
Policeman Kearney, of the Island
Precinct, who arrested the assassin,
makes the following statement of the
shooting:
"Guiteau arrived at the depot about
an hour ahead. of the Presidential party,
and moved about and acted quite rest
lessly. My attention was attracted by
his movements, but did not watch the
assassin particularly until heard him
ask a hackman at the Sixth street depot
if he could drive him off in hurry If
required. I thought it was peculiar
thing, but before l could follow it up
closer / saw the Presidents party driv-
ing down Sixth street to the depot, and
l had to go and look after them. They
drove to the B street entrance. Secre-
the two entered the depot together. The
President walked up to me and asked
how much time he had before the train
left. 1t was twenty minutes after nine,
L saw by looking ut my watch, and l
told the President he had ten minutes.
"Just as he thanked me l heard
pistol shot. saw the man that L had
been watching previously standing
about ten feet away in the shadow of
the main entrance to the waiting room
leveling his pistol across bis arm. He
fired second shot before could speak
to him, and darted between myself and
the President and Secretary Blaine into
the street. The President reeled and
fell just in front of me. AS he fell he
said something that could not exactly
understand, and Secretary Blaine, with
a terrified look, pushed toward him,
exclaiming: My God he has been
murdered What is the meaning of
this ?" did not stop longer, but ran
out after the assassin, and arrested him
just as he started across b street toward
Sixth street.
{" In Gods name, man. l shouted
Fwhat did you shoot the President for?"
" His answer was, am a Stalwart,
and want Arthur for President
He still carried his pistol in his
hand; it was "a large California revolver
of large calibre, with bone handle.
He appeared perfectly cool, and offered
no resistance.
Soon after his arrest he was taken to
police headquarters and from there to
the Dis trict Jail, which is a mile east
of the Capital. He was much excited
and evidently feared rough treatment at
the hands of the mob. On the way he
told Detective McElfresh that he had
intended to shoot the President six
weeks ago, when the party went to
Long Branch, but Mrs. Garfield looked
so sick and delicate he did not have the
heart to kill him. When asked why he
committed the crime, he said: g 1t was
to save the Republican party. We were
in danger of destruction under such an
administration as that initiated by Gar
field"
The following letter was taken from
the prisoners pocket at Police Head
quarters
July >, 1881.
TO the White House:
rHl.o