Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-20
Myistellaneuns &eading,
GUITEAU'S CONFESSION.
His Story Of President Garfeld's Assassina.
tiOn.

His Story of President Garfleld's Assassina'
The New York Herald of Thursday, con.
tanned seven closely printed columns of what
purports to be an autobiography of Guiteau,
the assassin of President Garfield, as dictated
by him to stenographer, the narrative being
condensed, it is alleged, to one.third of the
actual amount Of matter as taken down, in
series of interviews, from Guteau's own lips.
His story Of the assassination, or, as he pre-
fers to style it, "the removal of the President"
is one of the most cold .blooded accounts of q
dreadful crime that has ever been put on pa
per- "My idea, simply stated" he remarks,
"was to remove, as easily as possible, Mr..
James A. Garfield, quiet and good natured
citizen of Ohio, who temporarily occupied
the position of President of the United States,
and substitute in his place Mr.. Chester A.
Arthur, of New York, distinguished and
highly estimable gentleman. Mr.. Garfield, l
intended to quietly remove to paradise (Which
is great improvement Oh this world), while
Mr.. Arthur saved the republic" And he
adds "Not soul in the universe knew Of
my purpose to remove the President. If it
has failed I shall never attempt it again.
My motive was pursl! political and patriotic,
and | acted under Divine pressure. It was
the same kind of pressure that led Abraham
to sacrifice his son Isaac"
All that part of his narrative relating to
his genealogy, his sojourn with the Oneida
Company, his shiftless life in Chicago and
New York, his law studies and subsequent
practice, his joining several churches in sue
cession, his career as religious lecturer, and
finally as politician, we pass over as being
already generally known to the public. The
profound interest Of his confession centres
about his motives for assassinating the Presi-
dent, and the series of attempts he made to
accomplish his purpose prior to firing the ia
tai shot. After giving an account OF his ap-
plicalion for either the Austrian mission or
the Paris consulship, and the little satisfaction
! he obtained either from President Garfield or
Secretary Blaine, in respect to these appoint
mcpts, he asserts that the rebufs he met with
"had not the slightest Influence on him either
one way or another in reference to his remov-
ing the President" He came, he said, to the
bloody determination pending the answer to
his request for the Paris consulship, and for
, several weeks alter being uenleu an interview
with the President he did not press his appli.
cation either to him or Mr.. Blaine. In the
meantime, according to his story, he was
brooding over the quarrel that had broken
out between the Stalwarts and the Half breeds
in consequence of the resignation by Mr..
Copkling of his seat in the Senate. At this
point we follow closely the narrative.
THE CONCEPTION OF THE CRIME
"My conception of the idea of removing
the President was this: Mr.. Conkling re-
sigued Monday, May 16, 1881. On the fol:
lowing Wednesday l was in bed. 1 think !
retired about o'clock. l felt depressed and
perplexed on account of the political situa
ton, and l retired much earlier than usual
| felt wearied in mind and body, and was in
my bed about o'clock, and was thinking
=. over the political situation, when the idea