Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1882-02-17
25tl'My Brother Was Not His Own Mas
ter When He Fired That Shot;
Forgive Him."
Bill for the Admission OF Dakota
as State Reported to the
4, House. >zs6
The House Committee on Civil Service
Reform Objects to- Reduction
Of Salaries, Etc.
A Sisters DeUOttO,a.

CH1oAao, Feb. 16. Especial Mrs. SEQ
vile has written letter to Mrs. Garfield in
which she says: ssHumbly I address you,
trusting you will not turn deaf ear. even If
SO disposed, to Gmteau's sister. All the weary
months I have patiently waited until the
time should come for me to speak. When,
after the verdict, which believed would be
mot guilty. by reason of insanity, could
say with shame facedness, my heart bleeds
for you and your sainted dead My
poor brother was not his own master when
he fred that shot. Forgive him. Look with
compassion upon him and me. have
counted the hours for the time when L could
say to you, as have said from the moment
when the terrible news was brought to me on
that dark day in July, he was brain sick, de-
luded, crazy. 4 s5 @
FORGIVE HIM,
even as Christ shall forgive us all. All those
dreadful weeks Of the presidents suffering,
! prayed that the E' Father Il above us al would
spare his life. Day and night my beseechli1ng5
cry went up: God save the president.
But alas, tlle tesnderest care 81 wife and fam
ily and friends and prayers Of the people
could not move tile ruler of the universe to
countermand the DEGREES. His all wise and
mysterious providence could not keep in his
poor, despoiled body, his grandly beautiful
soul. In July when it was reported
that the suffering president was likely to re-
cover wrote letter to you stating the facts
in my brother life, thinking that both your
self and the president would be glad to know
that a poor crazy man had done the deed in
stead of the hardened wretch he was
painted" She says that hearing that the
president was worse she never sent the letter,
and proceeds: "tF'
':MY POOR BROTHER,
shut away from the world for months in
tomb-like cell, not ray of sunshine, not
blade of grass, not flower, not a bird, not
friend to speak kind word; who is there TO
speak in his behalf if not his heart-broken
sister? His sainted mother, purest and
noblest of women; that mother who gave her
life for his, who suffered torture for seven long
years because Of his birth, until death made
her free; that father, tender and kind, but
mistaken in his direction of the boy. would,
If possible, make their voices heard from be-
yond the grave, even as l verify believe
would the giorifed Garfield, cry out in horror
at the verdict" She condemns the judge and
the jury, and refers to the scenes and de-
clares that the assassin's short comings were
of ain unbalanced mind rather than of bad
heart. She refers to his life at Oneida, to
his marriage, and concludes as follows.
ssMy dear madam, write this to the
OUR DEAD PRESIDENT
in behalf Of the man, not himself in condl-
ton to realize the extent of the terrible
wrong he has done you, or to understand your
suferings or mine. Never. can rest satlshed
until I may be allowed, upon my bended
knees. under the weight of this humiliation
and disgrace, a few brief moments III which
to pour forth to your merciful heart plead
inos of one who must ever feel sister g love
for an insane, brotherless boy, even though
by the whole world he be despised. beg
you let me say to you and yours, i N hls
RIGHT mind, forgive, even as Christ shall for
give us all. With the utmost sorrow and re-
spect, I remain sincerely yours, ts IA
FRANo1Es NJ. ScovnLE.
Il. u ~. mR~~Es i & . .s}'