Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-15

ror the Murder Of President
Garfield.
Fact. Furnished BY q. District AMOR
ney Corkhill.

Fact. Furnished BY q. District Asser'
ney CoFkhill.
w.suYxerox. July IA. United States
District Attorney Corkhill has furnished tne
following statement fo- publication, IN oraer
n correct certain erroneous assertions wnlcn
have been made in relation to Guifeau. Inc
interest felt by the public in the details OF
the assassination, ami the many stories pup
lished. Justify me in stating that the follow
is q correct and an accurate statement co"-
corning points to which reference IS maze
The assassin. Charles Gulteaa, came ~
Washington City on Sunday evening. Marc"
& 1881. and stopped at the Ebbetf House.
remaining only one day. He then secured
a room in another part of the city and mas
boarded and roomed at various places the
,letails of which l have. On "Wednesday
Nav Is. 1881, the assassin determined TO
murder the President. He had neither mon
ey or pistol at the time. About the last OF
Nav he went into O'Mear's store, on the
corner of 18th and streets in this city. and
examined some pistols, asking for the largest
calibre. He was shown two similar IN call
| bre. and only different IN the price. on
Wednesday, June &. he purchased pistoi
which he used. for which he paid ten doiIars'
| He having in the meantime borrowed nfteeh
| dollars OF "a gcUtlcutu III tutS NtS- W" -
| that he wanted to paw his board bill. On the
same evening about o'clock, he took the
pistol and went to the foot OF Seventeeth ST.,
and prac,iced firing at board. firing ten
shots. He then returned to his boarding
Mace and wiped the pistol dry, and wrapped
| Il in hi. coat. and waited his opportunity.
On Sunday morning. June 18th, he was SIT
ting in La Favette park and saw the fresi-
dent leave for the First Christian Church, on
Vermont avenue, and he at once returned to
his room and obtained his pistol
| and nut it in his pocket and followed the
President to the church. He entered the
church but found he could not kill him there
without danger of killing some one else. Tie
noticed that the President sat near window
and after church he made an examination OF
the window and found that he could reach it
without any trouble, and that from this point
he could shoot the President through the
head without killing any one else. The fol-
flowing Wednesday he went to the church and
examined the location and the window and
became satisfied he could accomplish his
purpose. He determined to make the at
temp at the church on the following Sunday
Learning from the papers that the President
would leave the city on Saturday, the 18th
of Jnne, with Mrs Garfield, for Long Branch,
he therefore determined to meet him at the
depot. He left his boarding place, about D
o'clock Saturday morning, and went down to
the river at the foot Of 18th street, and fired
five shorts to practice his aim and be certain
his pistol was in good order. He then went
to the depot and was in the ladies waiting
room of the depot with his pistol ready when
the presidential party entered. He SAYS.
Mrs Garfield looked so weak and frail that
he had not the heart to shoot the President
in her presence, and as he knew he would
have another opportunity. he left the depot.
He had previously engaged a carriage to take
him to Jail On Wednesday evening the
President and his son, and l think United
States Marshal Henry. went out for ride.
The assassin took his pistol and follow ed
them and watched them for some time in
hopes the carriage would stop, but no OPP
portunity was given. On Friday evening, July
lst he was sitting on a seat in the park opposite
White House, where he said the President
came out alone. He followed him down
the avenue to 18th street. and then kept on
the opposite side of the street, until the Pres
ident entered the residence of Secretary
Blaine. He waited at the corner of Mr.. Nor
toms late residence, corner of 18th and II
streets, for some time, and then, as he was
afraid that he would attract attention, he
went into an alley in the rear of Mr.. Morton's
residence, examined his pistol, and waited.
The President and Secretary Blaine came
out together, and he followed them to the gate
of the White House, but could get no oppor-
tunity to use his weapon.
On the morning of Saturday, July I'd, he
breakfasted at the Riggs House at about Z
o'clock. He then walked up into the park
and sat for about an hour, from there he
took car and rode to South street. got out and
went into the depot. and loitered around
| there had his shoes BACKED and engaged a
hackman for two dollars to take him to 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 preventing the prespira-
ton from the body dampenng the powder
Examined the pistol carefully. tried the trig-
ger, and then returned and took seat in the
ladies waiting room, and as soon as the
President entered, advanced behind him and
| fired two shots.
These facts. l think, can be relied upon as
accurate, and give them to the public to
contradict certain false rumors in connection
with the most atrocious of atrocious crimes.