National Republican., 1882-07-01
Il GUITEAU, /
The Infamous Assassin.
His Life From His
Own Mouth
NEVER BEFORE PUB
LISHED.
An Intensely Interesting and
Astonishing Story.
TITS BOYTIO0D DAYS.
LIFE IN THE ONEIDA COM
MUNITY.
His Experience rs n Lecturer, Book
Agent, Dead Beat, Politician,
and Murderer.
An Intensely Interesting and
Astonishing Story.
EIs BoYIzooD DAYS.
LIFE IN THE ONEIDA COM
MUNITY.
His Experience rs n Lecturer, Book
Agent, Dead Beat, Politician,
and Murderer.

The autobiography of the assassin, who has now
paid the penalty of his infamous crime, will be
read with the interest that attaches to the career
of all criminals. As will be seen from the follow.
ing letter of Mr.. Bailey, the assistant of the Dis
'rct Attorney, this autobiography was dictated by
the wretch who was executed yesterday with great
care and minuteness so that it might be official
and authentic" and was taken down in short
hand. He promised to make it read like romance,
and careful perusal of his utterances will con-
vince the reader that truth is stranger than fic-
tion. This autobiography is now given to the
public in full for the first time, and the readers of
THE REPUBLICAN, will appreciate the enterprise Of
the management in securing the exclusive control
of this remarkable document.
Mr. BaiIey's Letter.
WAsHINGroN, June 80, 1882.
To the Editor ofTHE REPUBLICAN,:
Public attention having again been invited to
Guiteau by the execution of the sentence of the
court, presume no further apology is required
for the publication Of the following narrative.
AS you are aware, in the performance of my
duties as assistant to the District Attorney in the
series Of interviews with the prisoner covering q
period of seven weeks or more Immediately sue
ceeding the assassination These interviews aver
aged several hours in length each and tho range of
topics discussed was exceedingly comprehensive.
Upon one occasion Guiteau suggested that l
should arrange his statements concerning
his career in chronological order and pub.
lish the same for tho edifcation of mankind.
Having explained 10 him the great labor which
such q compilation would necessitate he decided
TO dictate an elaborate and official autobiography,
and consented to listen to him upon his assurance
that II would "read like romance" The auto
biography thus dictated is presented below in full,
and with strict adherence to the phraseology as
well as the order and arrangement employed by
the prisoner. Depending entirely upon his
memory, unaided by written data of any sort what.
soever, the precision and minuteness with which
he detailed dates, names, &C., were truly remark
able. From q scientific point of view, perhaps
the loose, gossipy statements made TO me by Gui-
teau-enough to fill large volume-would lie of
interest as bearing upon the question of his mental
condition, but fortunately or unfortunately, as
the case may be) his miscellaneous observations,
not tending to cast any light upon the crime it.
self, were not reduced to writing, and the manu-
script of the autobiography is therefore all that
am able TO furnish in response TO the numerous
demands which have been made upon me.
Though somewhat irrelevant, take advantage of
this opportunity TO state, in view of the manner in
which the District Attorney has been bombarded
with adverse criticism from all sides, that
the history of the investigation, so Tar as. NY
personal knowl5dge extends, shows no act
done pretnaiGial i'll tie slightest manner to
the rights of the prisoner. Within q few
12inutes after the tragedy had been COM
mitted the District Attorney entered upon the
task Of exploring the case to the bottom, aud con-
tinued 1t necessarily for weeks He was one of
the few who, from the very first, secuted the idea
of confederation of persons in guilt and his con-
duct throughout that trying and harassing period
entities him TO much greater commendaton than
he has received Few persons can appreciate the
extensive scope of the investigation on the part of
the government. Witness after witness was cx-
lmined, rumor after rumor, however ridiculous
and triting, was inquired into and exploded, and
the most astonishing evidence was brought TO the
attention OF the District Attorney. IL would not
have been strange had he gone of at n tangent,
like some OF his superiors in Office but he main
tanned clear head and clean hands throughout
tho siege. Probably the most serious charge
brought against him, and the only one worthy of
mention, was that of suppression of evidence
charge utterly without foundation in truth. The
object OF the interviews held by me was to dis
cover whether or not the prisoner had any asso-
ciates in The crime, aud he had my word that his
statements were taken solely for the use of the
government officers. and would not be used against
MIN in the prosecution. While he was willing TO
make an explanation of everything connected
with the case-indeed he requested Mr.. Corkhill
as personal favor TO call of" his detectives aud
come TO him for any information desired-still
This assurance having been given 1t would have
been manifestly wrong to have violated it. Ac-
cordingly, when was intcrrogated by the grand
jury rs to my conversations and experiences at
the Jail emphatically (but ! trust with proper
courtesy declined to testify, explaining my
nS reasons aS iSr refusing The grand jury apPaI,
OF propliety which | entertained, and, offended
at my conIumacy, submitted the matter to Judge
Cox as to their rights in the premises. The contTo
Yersy with me was, however, allowed to drop. So
far US the declarations of the prisoner made 10 me
are concerned they have never been use against
him In any manner. and although. in the opinion
ofthe Dlstriet Attorney great many facts uniayor
able TO the defense could have been established
by me, he acquiesced in the view of the impro-
priety of such evidence. 1t has been
repeatedly asserted that ii was in my power
To relate numerous incidents which, in
assisted the theory OF the prisoners insanity.
But there Is no use in entering upon such
an steaST SHderss have no dou6, that as
-ktOTm of consure will arise, and it is fur to
presume that the most scorchng indignation, the
1rat blast Of criticism that we have hanged an in
sane and irresponsible man, Will come from those
who were the mlst violent in their demand for
his blood and in their denunciation of the manner
in which Judge Cox afforded TO the prisoner the
privileges and righisguaranteed 10 him by the law
There are certain criucs incapable of ever being
universe, though guided by an unseen Power.
The rawlings of these inveteTate grumblers are OF
no consequence, and these whose opinions are en-
titled TO consideration will probably come TO the
conclusion that the re-openng of this question can
accomplish no substantial good, and that the eX-
tincilOn Of his life should put nality to the I'M
satisfactory discussion upon the subject. 3.
The narrative is as follows:
Introduction.
have not used the words assassination or as.
saKsin In this work. These words CRATE on tho
mind aud produce bad feeling think OF Gen
eral Gartield's condition as a removal and not a,
an Assassination. Ny idea, simply stated, was tC
remove as easily possible Mr.. James A. Garfield
q 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 ]
intended to quietly remove 10 Paradise (Which is
q gTea. improvement on this world, while AIR
Arthur saved the Republic
presume there were thousands of Republican:
in the United States who fot as did about Gem
eral GRfAeld's Nrecking the Republican party, and
had they had the conception, the brains, the
nerve, and the opportunity, would have removed
him ], OF all The world, was the only man who
had the idea. This work tells how got the idea
and sought 70 execute II. Not a soul IN The uni
Vkrte knew of any purpose 10 remove the President
iftt has failed, Ishal never attempt II ggain. My
motiye was purely political and patriotic, and
acted under diyine pressure, AS VIII appear by a