The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-03-04
THE CURSE or GUITEAU.
PRONOUNCED By THE AssAss1r
UPON THE scAFPoLD,
How the People who Were Promi-
nent @t tie Trial Prosper Under the
Legacy.

/ Ton letter IN the Chicago Netos, a paragraph
has been floating about the country set
ting forth the fact that Guiteau's curse
which he pronounced upon the scaffold
has fallen with baneful effect upon a
number of those who were connected
with his trial and execution. Last even
ing the Ne''s correspondent directed the
attention Of General Crocker, the warden
OF the Jail, to the article, and asked him
how much truth there was in the state
ment. ut is utterly without founda-
ton, and is as flimsy and unsubst antial
tigment of the imagination as could
well be DEVISED" replied the general.
There were probably fifty persons
more or less directly connected with
Guiteau's Imprisonment. Nineteen of
these were the guards and prison attaches
were Gulteau was confined. Twelve were
members of the jury, and the remainder,
including Judge Cox, were officers of
the court, government counsel, and 9th
ers. Three of these gentlemen have died
since the hanging of Guiteau, but when
1T is remembered that most of these peo-
pie were men of middle age or even
older, it is matter of surprise that so
few should in the course of nature have
passed away. Policeman Fowler has
been mentioned as one upon whom the
curse has fallen with particular violence.
Fowler was killed few months ago by
prisoner whom he was attempting to
arrest. AS matter of fact, he had no
more to do with the trial than any of a
dozen newspaper men who were present
from day to day. He was sometimes de-
Atrfxr ~ H. L
beyond that he had no connection what
ever with the proceedings. DR.. Noble
Young, the Jail physician, who died re-
Gently, is another victim. DIR. Young
died calmly in his bed at the advanced
age of eighty-two years, and the only
wonder is that he lived so long, as he
had been constant sufferer from kid
ney troubles for the past decade. The
last of these alleged unfortunates is juror
Pettlbone, but as you may remember,
Pettibone was sick during the course of
the trial, and postponement occurred
several times on his account. His death,
which followed few months later, can
hardly be coupled with any curse Guiteau
might have uttered"
''Does it not appear to you, general"
interrupted the correspondent, THAT, so
far from the people who surrounded
Guiteau being cursed, the very opposite
proves to be the case?"
That is the very suggestion 1 was
going to make. Colonel Corkhill, the
United States district attorney who had
charge of the case, has fallen heir within
the past eighteen months to fortune
variously estimated at from $40, 600 to
500, 600, and is to-day more prosperous
and wealthy than ever before. His
assistants, Messrs. Davidge and Porter,
are well and happy and enjoy a large
practice in this city and New York.
Sergeant Mason, who attempted to kill
Guiteau by firing into his cell and in fact
narrowly missing the assassin, is living
in peace and retirement on his farm in
Virginia, purchased with the 81, 900 con-
tribution which was raised by voluntary
during his confinement in
the Albany penitentiary. Prior to this
Mason had drawn salary of SIT a
month as an under-sergeant in the reou-
lar army, while his wife had helped sup
port the family by taking in washing and
performing other menial services. They
are rich to-day beyond their widest
expectations. But for Guiteau they
would still be living hand -to-mouth |
existence. Bill Jones, the avenger as
he was facetiously called, who, in
drunken frolic, also attempted Gui- |
teau's life, pursues his vocation as a
farmer just across the Maryland border,
and finds great comfort in the
thought that his name will be linked
with that of the assassin of Garfield
by the historian of future ages. The
eleven jurymen who survive Mr.. Petit
bone are all leading contented and peace
ful lives, and the same may be said of
the prison attaches Perry Carson, the
tall, good-looking negro who drove the
prison van from the Jail to the court
lnce during the trial that his admiring
;olored friends of the district sent him
rs delegate to the Republican conven-
ion at Chicago. He is now the proprie-
or of fourishing liquor saloon near
he Pennsylvania avenue railway station,
md has a substantial sum to his credit in
)ne of the local savings banks. He
never probably earned $50 month be-
ore the shooting.
Mrs. Garfield, as you know, is worth
lalf million of dollars. President
Arthur has lived to finish his term as
'hief magistrate. So you see there's
lothing in Guiteau's curse. The people
Who fell under his displeasure seem to
lave prospered, while, so far as am
Die to judge, it has injured no one."
"What disposition of Guiteau's body
made2"
neral Croeker, who had been talking
great glibness, began pulling his
neIvously, and when he replied
with evident embarrassment 81
swer that question: - he replied.
notl Is there any mystery {
with it?" ,
are but two other people in !
no know the place of Quit
There are reasons why it {
.ept a secret" {
IS skeleton is said to be on S
at the medical museum2n {
pie choose to believe so. that