Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-07-05
said he was an applicant for the position
Of minister to France, but did not want

and sickly that did not have the heart
to do it postponed it until to-day.
Hanging round the Presidents house
and the departments, making free use
of all that came in his way, now cring-
ing and now insolent, he was understood
to be seeking consulship on the con- |
tinent of Europe. It cannot be ascer-
tanned that he had any recommends
tions. Some days ego while the Presi-
dent was absent he called, and day or |
two ago made special inquiries there as
to when and how the President would
leave the city. From that time he has
not been seen about the White House,
though gentleman states that he was
at the State Department Friday.
The statement that the assassin has
been in the consular service and has
recently been dismissed turns out to be
an applicant for Office, and has pressed
his claims upon the President with so
much impertinence that the President
was obliged to rebuke him.
CONSIDERED MORE THAN HALF INSANE.
CHICAGO, July 2.-Charles J .Guiteau,
who shot the President this morning,
has been known in Chicago for the past
twelve years, and for much of the time
has been considered more than half in.
sane. He may have had French blood
in his veins, but was to all appearances
an American. He wore his hair BRUSH
ed up in front, giving his face q start
ling look, When he first arrived in
Chicago he began practicising law. He
married the sister of George Scovell, q
well-known lawyer here, and lived a.
bout Union Place, but being of q shift
ho v,,rfo
and was finally forbidden his house by
Scovell. After living in a precarious
fashion here for some time he went to
New York, only to return in 1878. He
then protested to have been converted,
and began lecturing under the auspices
of the Young Mems Christian Associa.
ton. He was next known in cOnnec.
ton with scheme to buy out the Inter-
Ocean and run it after the pattern of
the New York Herald. AS Guiteau had
no capital and no backing, his scheme
| collapsed, and he returned to his former
practice of "deadbeating." His reputa-
ton has never been of the hest, and his
name was connected with several scan-
dals until he sank so low that no notice
was taken of him whatever.
A MYSTERIOUS ABSENCE.
| About six months ago he disappeared
from his usual haunts, and has not been
seen in Chicago since Guiteau is de-
scribed by lawyers here as having been
while here what is known as q "shy-
ster," whatever practice he had being
in the lower criminal courts. He was
regarded as of weak mind, and at one
time was fanatic on temperance, and
delivered lecture at the First MethO-
dist church on that subject. Failing to
pay the Tribune for its advertisement OF
the lecture, that paper wrote him up as
q fraud, and was sued by him for libel,
the suit never coming to an issue. He
wrote pamphlet on the second coming
OF Christ, which was published by
Jauven & McCiurg as curiosity. Very
little is definitely known of the man,
and that little is very unfavorable in
every way.
/ HIS WORDS AFTER9THE SHOOTING.
A Star extra states that the assassin
said, after the shooting:
II did it, and want to be arrested. l
am stalwart, and Arthur is President
now. I have letter here that want
you to give to General Sherman. 1t
will explain everything. Take me to
the police station"
After his arrest by officer Kearney he
was taken to the police headquarters
and the following letter found on his
person -
| THE AsSAsSIN's LETTER.
July 2, 1881.
To the White House
1.-THE Presidents tragic death was q
sad necessity, but it will unite the Repu
lican party and save the republic. Life
is fiimsy dream, and it matters little
when one goes, a human life is of small
value. During the war thousand OF
!; brave boys went down without tear,
presume ePresident was Christian n,
and he will be happier in Paradice than
here. It wi i be no worse for Mrs.
} Garfield, dear soul, to part with hel
, husband this way than by natural death
H.: is liable to go at any time anyway.
had no ill will toward the President.
"His death was political necessity
; I am a lawyer, theologian and poll
, tician. 1 am "stalwart of the stall
warts" I was with General Grant anC
the rest of our men In New York dur
ing thu canvass.
II have some papers for the press
, which Ishallleave with Byron Andrews
I and his cojournalist, at 142O New YORK
avenue, where all the reporters can SCI
them. 1 sm going to the Jail.
CHARLES GITEAU."
SPECTATORS STATEMENTS.
Secretary Blaine was not going will
. the party, but came down to bid tn,
President "good bye" He said:
1.-THE President and were walking
arm-in arm toward the train; I'heare
two shots and saw the man run.
stan ted after him and saw him grabbed
lust as'he got out of the room. came
to the President and found him lying
on the floor.
The floor was covered with the Presi'
dents blood. A number of people wht
were around shortly afterwards havl
STATEMENT OF THE OFFICER WHO
MADE THE ARREST.
The statement of the officer who ar
rested him is as follows: About 9:2
o'clock this [Saturday] morning, Presi
dent Garfield, accompanied by Secre
tary of State Blaine, drove up to thu
Baltimore and Potomac depot. on 6tl
street, and sat in their carriage nea
the door. The President asked an off
Ger how much time before the trair
started. The officer replied, "AbOu
ten minutes, your honor"
| 4A0 4ACSAuCAus 0AtCA VoASSAoAn6
minute or two longer, got out of tn
carriage, and with Secretary Blaine
walked slowly up the steps into thu
depot. Officer Kearney states that b.
was standing close by, and saluted thu
President by raising his hat. The Pres
ident and Mr.. Blaine walked through
the ladies' parlor and had entered thu
large reception room, when two pisto
shots were fred in rapid succession
The crowd screamed: Hes shot tn,
President; arrest that man."
The assassin was making his way ou
as fast as possible, Cal rage being ther'
to take him away. Kearney threw
himself before him, and seized him BY
both arms between the elbows anC
shoulders and held him as with a vice
A pistol was in his hand when he frs
saw him, and he had just put it into
his coat pocket when the officer haG
him. The would, be assassin said, "Yes
1 have finished Garfield, now Arthur il
President. / am stalwart."
i Kearney secured the pistol and hur-
ried the man to the police headquarters