The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-07

fore Springers committee, yesterday, relative to
his prediction of Garfelds assassination, replied
with great deliberaton:
''The statement is full Of inaccuracies but in
the course of the interview between Garfield and
us, did take occasion, toward the close of the
talk, to give him general warning. did not
pretend to have any special information of any
impending danger, but from the general talk of
the time, from the comments of the newspapers,
and from the threats reported in the ordinary
channels of gossip, l had noted that there was
bitter feeling being worked up against the Presi-
dent. l called his attention to these general
facts, but made no reference to any peculiar
class of clients of mine, and said nothing to in
dictate that had any private information upon
the subject, or that | could find any L called
the attention of the President to one fact, and
that was that there were number of
Western desperadoes in the regular employ of
the star-route contractors, and that considering
the high state of political excitement growing
out of the struggle between the stalwafts and
half breeds, some weak mind might be lntiu-
eneed to do deadly HARM | then said to the
President, after summing up the situation: If
were in your place [ would be very careful OF
my public movements General Garfield turned
toward me, in startled sort of way, and said:
oh, | don't think there is any danger and this
ended this point of the conversation"
Mr.. Cook was. asked: DO you think, then,
that Guiteau may have had accomplicesm He
replied:
Il am not prepared to say that he had or that
he had not There is certainly a mystery con
nected with the assassination. 1t is significant
fact that no attempt has been made to solve it.
l have had great experience, everyone will
concede, in criminal practice. At the time Of
the assassination of Garfield personally repre-
sented him in the star-route prosecution Upon
that account felt it my duty to do what I could,
personally, to develop the fact of whether Guiteau
stood alone or not 1 submitted proposition
in writing to the Attorney general to serve
without fee in the prosecution of Guiteau This
proposition was not accepted The district at
torney appeared to be afraid that some one would
rob him of his glory in this prosecution, and for
that reason understand my proposition was not
accepted. Guiteau was treated in different
manner than any other criminal. In the first
place, he was isolated from all visitors, and was
not permitted for long time to see counsel
or friends. The branch of inquiry to which [
have alluded was never entered upon in any de
gree
Cook said, further, that Guiteau was the most
fitting possible tool for an assassination conspir
acy It would have been the easiest thing in the
world for an evil-intentioned person to have di-
rected the warped mind of Guiteau toward the
removal of the President without himself ap-
pearing in the matter. 1t would have been very
important to have brought out who were Quit
teau's associates during the six weeks which
preceded the assassination, and the names of all
those who had had any kind of conversation
with him.