The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-07-06

ateiy upon hearing the pistol shot,
Officer keaFney, who remained at
his lost of daty near the i street en-
trance after tho President entered
the buildinr, ran into the large re-
ception room, and was in time to see
the assassin running toward the east
door, which opens on Sixth street.
Before reaching this door the assas-
sin turned his back to make his way
out of the north door, where he was
met and arrested by officer Kearney.
The officer met the prisoner on the
steps and said to him: II must ar
rest yon." "All right" said the as
sassin, Il did it and viii go to Jail
for It. am a Stalwart, and Arthur
viii be president" Officer Kearney
took his prisoner into the large wait
ing room, wLcse he was joined by
one Of the railroad officers and es-
corted to Poli G Headquarters. On
the way he gave Kearney card on
which was written: Charles Git
eau, Of Illinois" that being the pris-
oner's name. Giteau is described on
the books at Police Headquarters as
follows: Charles Giteau, arrested
at 9:45, July ,, 1881, for shooting
President Garfield; aged SO; white !;
born in the United States and law
yer by profession; weight, 130
pounds; has dark-brown, thin whis-
kers and sallow complexion; dressed
in dark suitwith black slouch hat. !"
He had letter in his hand and
wanted the officers to take it to Gen.
Sherman, saying it would be "all
right" The man made no resistance
saying he had contemplated the kill
ing of the President, and it was for
the good OF the country. About 8
o'clock the assassin went to a hack
stand adjoining the depot and en-
gaged hack from Barton, a colored
hackman. He said he wanted to go
to Glenwood Cemetery in a short
time, and wanted the hackman to
drive very fast when he should get
in the hack. He agreed to pay two
dollars for the hack on condition
that the hackman would drive fast.
When stopped the assassin was go
ing TO the hack he had engaged and
he insisted that it was important
for him to 20 and deliver a message
to General Sherman. When the Of
lccrs refused to let him go he beg
ged them TO take the letter he had
to General Sherman.
THE LETTERS TO GEN. SHERMAN.
The following is a copy Of the let
ter the assassin wanted delivered to
General sherman:
JuLY ?, 1SS1.-To the White
House. The Presidents tragic death
was a sad necessity, but it viii unite
the Republican party and save the
Republic. Life is a fiimsy dream,
and it matters little when one goes.
A human life is of small value. Du-
ring the war thousands Of brave
bows went down without a tear. |
presume the President was a Chris
tan and that he viii be happier in
Paradise than here. 1t will be no
worse for Mrs. Garfield, dear soul,
to part with her husband this way
than by natural death. He is liable
to goat any time any way. had
no ill-feeling toward the President.
His death was political necessity.
| am lawyer, 4 theologian and a
politician. | am Stalwart OF the
Stalwarts. | was with General Grant
and the rest Of on men in New
York during our canvass. | have
some papers for the press which |
shall leave with Byron Andrews and
his co-iournalists at 1920 New York
avenue. where all reporters can see
them. | am now going to the Jail.
CHARLES GiTEAU.
The papers referred to in the above
letter have not yet been given out for
publication. Byron Andrews, who
is the Washington correspondent Of
the Chicago Inter Ocean, says that
while it Is true a package of papers
are in the hands Of the police, ac-
companicd by 4 note address to him
self, (Aadrews), he has no personal
acquaintance with Giteau, and nev-
er heard Of his existence until this
morning.
The following letter was found on
the street shortly after Giteau's ar
rest. The envelope was unsealed
and addressed, "Please deliver at
once"
To General Sherman or his first assist
ant IN charge Of the Var Department:
To General Sherman-I have Just
shot the President. l shot him sew
eral times, as | wished him to 20 as
easily as possible. His death is q
political necessity. ! am lawyer,
theologian and politician. / am a
Stalwart of the e;talwarts. / was
with General Grant and the rest of
our men in New York during the
canvass. ! am going to the Jail at
once.
Very Respectfully,
CHARLES GUITEAU.
On receiving the above General
Sherman gave it the following en-
dorsement:
Headquarters ofthearmy, Wash
ington, d. c., July ,, 1881, 11-35
a. m. This letter . was
handed me this minute By Major
William ]. Twining, L. S. Engin-
eer, Commissioner Of the District of
Columbia, and Major William G.
Brock, Chief of Police. I don't
know the writer, never heard of or
saw him to my knowledge, and
hereby return it to the keeping OF
the above named parties rs tcstimo-
ny in the case.
". t. SHERMAN, General.
SOME ACCOUNT or TIE MAN.
The assassin has been hanging
about here for nearly two months,
and was several DAYS ago turned
out Of a boarding house at 922
Fourteenth street. because he did
not pay his board. He owed fifty
dollars for board, and kept saying
he would net . hio foreiorn ,,,;csio,o