The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-07

saw when they both started TO the door in
which the President entered and that as soon
as Guiteau fred the larger man slipped out
and walked rapidly towards Seventh street.
Mr.. Culton was detained, by order of the chief
police, though but little stock seems to be Ia
ken in his story, the impression being that
he was SO excited over the occurrence that he
has Internationally made imagination into
fact. Ne other persons saw the large man that
he describes, though full description of him
was taken. and the detectives have been on
the lookout for him since.
PRESERVING PfAcE.
The need of having ample force to deal with
any of the possible issues Of the occasion was
early recognized by the authorities, and two
barracks at the arsenal, were placed on active
duty at once; one ct the White House, to make
secure the quiet 80 needed by the wounded
President, and another at the Jail to insure that
the law should have its course and the assassin
not be wrested from it's hands to be dealt with
as 6ercely, cruelty, and as unlawfully as he
had dealt with the Chief Magistrate Of the
people.
Guiteau came to Washington several days be-
I0Ie Tue l06ukuI8blOAl OI tue Toelucut duu ufc
been there since. He first obtained rooms in
clearinghouse kept by Mrs. l.. Lockwood, at
No. 810Twelfth street northwest. He was not
liked In the house, and 90 as to get rid of him
10 soon as possible he was put in an upper and
small room. About the middle Of March his
bill was presented to him, but he said he had
no money 70 pay it, but that Senator Logan
would endorse him for any amount On being
asked about him Senator Logan said he was
crazy, and that he was not responsible for him
in any manner. and that Guiteau was source
of constant annoyance to him, bOthering him
night and day. Finally Mrs. Lockwood told
him she could not keep him any longer, and
he left, requesting that she say nothing of the
little matter of unpaid board bill, as it might
hurt him, and besides that, he would call as
soon as he got q $1,000 per annum posi- ton
consul at Marseilles, France fer which he
was an applicant. To one of the boarders he
said he was an applicant for the position of
minister to France, but did not want it
known.
When asked this afternoon if any one else
was connected with him in the assassination
plot he said, Mot soul; / was enough to
plan and execute the affair, and I alone am
responsible fer it, have had this on my mind
for the past six weeks, and would have shot
him as he was riding out with Mrs. Garfield
just before she left the city, but she looked so
pale and sickly that did not have the heart
to do it; l postponed it until to-day"
GuiteAu has been roaming about the city for
some days, generally calling himself journal
list, but there are so many erratic disreputable
people constantly here making the same false
pretense that neither himself nor his talk at
| tracted much attention. He now acts insane
ly, but most persons, Col. Ingersoll, who knows
him well, among the number, thinks his in
sanity is fcigned.
Hanging around the Presidents house and
the departments, making free use Ut all that
came in his way, now cringing and now inso-
lent. he was understood to be seeking con-
sulship on the continent Of Europe. 1t can
not be ascertained that he had any recon-
mendations. Some days ago 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 yesterday.
The statement that the assassin has been in
the consular service and has recently been
dismissed turns out to be incorrect 1t is
known that he has been an applicant for office,
and has pressed his claims upon the President
with SO much impertinence that the President
was obliged to rebuke him.
THE sTREETs-MoRN AND EVE.
The shooting of the President interfered
much less with private business than might
have been expected Although there were
soon crowds at telegraph bulletins and near
newspaper Offices there was scarcely any ap-
parent excitement in the morning or early
afternoon. Later in the evening, as the like
lihood of the Presidents death grew more
imminent, there was much more excitement
and greater crowds
The Presidents clothing, gray mixed cloth,
was soaked with blood by the time he had
reached the Executive Mansion.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
The scene at the White House upon the re-
turn of its master was such as reminds one of
war times. The military were on duty. |
Crowds gathered in the neighborhood but did
not block the way, which was kept open by
the military. The cabinet and most of the
diplomatic corps have been in waiting there,
and each member of the cabinet seems to have
taken upon himself some special duty-Post
master General James attending upon the re-
ceipt and sending of kilograms, and the Secre
tary of State giving informal audience to the |
diplomats and other distinguished persons &c. |
About three o'clock the President asked the |
physicians to tell him his exact condition, and |
they answered that his condition was most |
critical He turned his head aside and was |
then silent for q long time.
The public feeling in Washington is most |
intense, and while expressions are not so vio- |
lent and high-tempered as at the time of the |
assassination Of President Lincoln, the sense |
of horror seems to be much stronger and |
deeper. If Presidents Of the United States are |
to be assassinated by men to when they do not |
or cannot give Office, it may only be short |
time before the Executive of the United States |
will have to be hedged around with cOrdOns |
of guards and soldiery such rs are necessary |
to protect the lives Of the monarchs of Europe |
The EXPLANATIONS of the assassin at the time OF |
firing the shots are accepted by some as an in |
dication of collnsion with others, but there is |
believed to he no earthly ground tor any such |
assumption. The complications in the polite |
Rl situation to be caused by the advent of Mr. |
Arthur to the executive chair are viewed with |
the most serious concern. The consequences |
must be far-reaching, and cannot be beneficial. |
The change in the policy of the administration |
and in the personnel of those under it, it is |
feared, would be more radical and thorough |
than in case of the advent OF q Democratic ad- |
ministration to power.
But there is some weight of opinion to the |
effect that the stalwart element coming into |
power under such peculiar and distressing cir
cumstances, would be slow to outrage decency |
and public opinion by at least any very radical |
removal or changes. In the event of the |
death Of q President and the succession of the |
Vice-President, the entire cabinet of course |
hand in their designations. Andrew johnson,
when he succeeded to the presidency, requested |
all the cabinet of Mr.. Lincoln to remain, but |
this is the only instance where Vice-Pre |
dent has taken this course. There are only /
two members of Gen. Garfeld's cabinet who
would be al all likely to remain under Gen.
Arthur-SecretaFy Lincoln and Postmaster
General lames-and it is quite possible that
neither one of them would.
WORKING UP THE CASE.
Chief Brooks of the Secret Service and Spe-
cial Attorneys Gibson and Cook are engaged
IN working up the case of the prisoner. I am
informed by member of the Cabinet that last
week information was received indicating
that personal violence might be offered the
President. The fact that Guiteau, who had
not money enough to pay his board and wash
ing bills, was enabled to pay I'll for pistol
and 81 to q hackman naturally suggests an
inquiry as to the source from which his mon
ey came. 1t is said that the officers of the
Government have evidence to show that Gui-
tear yUaa accOmna;nnd In tho dppOt hv opoth