Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-07-22
GUITEAU AND MS CRIME.

SIX WEEKS OF PREPARATION AND WATCHING FOR
THE BEsDENT-DIsTRIcT ATTORNEY CORK
HILLS STARTLING STORY.
On the 14th inst. United States District At
torney Corkhill furnished tho following state
ment for publication in order to correct Ger
tain erroneous assertions which have been
made in relation to Guiteau, the be as
sassin of President Garfield;
The interest felt by the public in the de-
tails Of the assassination and tho many stories
published justify me in stating that the fol-
lowing is correct and accurate statement
concerning the points to which reference is
made: The assassin, Charles Guiteau, came
TO Washington city on Sunday evening,
March G, 1881, and stopped at the Ebbit
House, remaining only one day. He then
secured a room in another part Of the city,
and has boarded and roomed at various
places the full details of which l have. On
Wednesday May g. 1881, the assassin de-
termined to murder the President. He had
neither money nor pistol at the time. About
the last Of May he went into O'Meara's store,
corner Fifteenth and F Streets this city, and
examined some pistols, asking for the largest
calibre. He was shown two similar in cali
bre and only different in price. On Wednes-
day, June &, he purchased the pistol which
he used, for which he paid $40, he having in
the meantime borrowed $15 Of n gentleman
in this city on the plea that he wanted TO pay
his board bill. On the same evening, about
Z o'clock, he took the pistol and went TO the
foot of Seventeenth street, and practiced fir
ing at a board, firing ten shots. He then re-
turned to his boarding place and wiped the
pistol dry and wrapped it in his coat, and
waited his opportunity. On Sunday morn
ing, June II, he was sitting in Lafayette
De- Al r. AZ.
Christian church on Vermont avenue, and he
at once returned to his room, obtained his
pistol, put it in his pocket and followed the
President to church. He entered the church,
but found he could not kill him there without
danger of killing some one else. He noticed
that the President sat near a window. After
church he made an examination of the win
dow and found he could reach it without any
trouble, and from this point he could shoot
the President through the head without kill
ing any one else. The following Wednesday
he went to the church, examined the location
and the window, and became satisfied he
could accomplish his purpose. He determined
to make the attempt at the church the fol-
lowing Sunday. Learning from the papers
that the President would leave the city on
Saturday, the 18th of June, with Mrs. Gar
field for Long Branch, he therefore decided
to meet him at the depot. He left his board
ing place about o'clock Saturday morning.
June Is, and went down to the river at the
foot of Seventeenth street and fred five shots
to practice his aim and be certain his pistol
was in good order. He then went to the de-
pot, and was in the ladies' waiting room
of the depot when the Presidential party en-
tered. He says Mrs. Garfield looked so weak
and trail that he had not the heart to shoot
the President in her presence, and as be
knew he would have another opportunity, he
left the depot. He had previously engaged
a carriage TO take him to the Jail. On
Wednesday evening the President and his son.
and l think United States Marshal Henry,
went out for a ride. The assassin took his
pistol and followed them and watched them
for some time in hopes the carriage would
stop, but no opportunity was given. On Fri
day evening" July !, he was sitting on seat in
the park opposite the White House, when he
saw the President come out alone. He fol-
lowed him down the avenue to Fifteenth
street and then kept on the opposite side of
the street upon Fifteenth until the President
entered the residence Of Secretary Blaine.
He waited at the corner of Mr.. Morton's late
residence, corner of Fifteenth aud II Streets
for some time, and then, as he was afraid he
would attract attention, he went into the al
ley in the rear of Mr.. Morton's residence, ex-
amined his pistol and waited. The President
and Secretary Blaine came out together and
he followed over to the gate Of the White
House, but could get no opportunity to use
his weapon. On the morning Of Saturday,
July =, he breskfasted at the Riggs House
about seven O'Clock. He then walked up in
TO the park and sat there for an hour. He
then took a one-horse avenue car and rode to
Sixth street, got out and went into the depot
and loitered around there; had his shoes
blacked engaged hackman for 81 to take
him TO the jail; went into the water-closet
and took his pistol out of his hip pocket and
unwrapped the paper from around it, which
he had put there for the purpose of prevent
ing the perspiraton from the body dampen-
ing the powder; examined his pistol care
fully tried the trigger and then return ed and
took seat in the ladies' waiting room, and
as soon as the President entered advanced
behind him and fired two shots.
These facts think can be relied upon as
accurate, and l give them to the public TO
contradict certain false rumors in connection
with the most atrocious of atrocious crimes.