Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-08
THE GUITEAU MYSTERY.
Alleged Strange Secrets that Die With
ex-District Attorney Corkhfll-Ais
Belief In u Deep Conspiracy.
BRIEF OUTLINE OF NARRATIVE THAT HI
WAS PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF A NARRATIVE THAT he
WAS PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION.
A Long Branch correspondent Of the New
York Herald referring to the death Of Col.
Corkhill telegraphs to that paper as follows:
Just one week ago this afternoon met him
in the House corridor OF the Capitol at WASH
ington. He was suffering from unusual agita-
ton, it was evident. At first he declined TO ex-
plain, but ultimately he exclaimed:
can't endure the reproaches that have
been cast upon my conduct of the Guiteau case
any longer. My professional pride revolts at
the injustice that has been heaped upon me-
Only yesterday was accused to my face OF
having hanged an insane man. But to-day,
thank God! have been put in possession of
facts that render it possible for me to speak
that will drive at least two public men into
social ostracism. 1t came to me by accident
and most curiOuSly."
"How?"
81 was sitting at my home in the Portland
this forenoon, thinking OF my coming vacation
trip To- the west, when the servant announced a
lady. am not in the habit of having callers of
that sex. sent word that, il a client, she could
find me at my office about two O'Clock.
A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR.
"The woman would not take such an answer
and the maid returned to say that the visitor
was awaiting me in the drawing-room. Well,
when entered the room a tall woman rose and
"'You do not know me, sir, though you have
cause me great deal OF misery.
81 looked closely at the speaker and replied
that l certainly never had seen her before.
When she had taken a seat, at my suggestion,
she confined:
Livery true; yet you hung one husband of
mine, and now, as an act that will partially
offset that mischance, want you to help me
secure a pension for another. viii you do it?'
but. madame, VINO are you?
~ Was once the wife OF Charles Guiteau!
THE STARTLING LETTERS.
"'Indeed, are you the wife We heard SO much
about, but never could finds?
al am sine Here is my marriage certificate
and she produced q much crumpled docu-
ment Here is mis- photograph - and she
showed q picture OF the assassin wholly unlike
any had ever seen, but Enthusiastically the lace
had been II remarkably tine looking man in his
day. More than that my friend, she produced
n bundle of letters-letters, sir, that made my
breath iail me. She promised them to me if
would aid her to her rights. had the precious
bits Of manuscript in my fingers, one at a time,
for she corraled them as though they were
diamonds consented to undertake her case.
Those letters are to be my fee. They are more
than life to me, my boy. They are revenge!"
reached the restaurant by this time. The
weather was warm and We each drank cool
cobbler in silence. The first reference again
made to the matter took this form:
"Wait till see member of the House COM
mittee on pensions to verify what this woman
Col. Corkhill was gone ten minutes. Stand.
ing in the corridor, near the telegraph office, 1
waited his return. Congressman Sowden, of
land. He and CorkhiIl were neighbOrs and
friends. When tile lawyer returned he TOOK the
writer by the arm and said:
passed the Senate. 1t will be brought up here
Friday H,;, night If possible. Now come 70 the
A hanson took Us down the hill and up 14th
street. The distressed and thoroughly venge-
tul lawyer poured his story into my ears At
a Oil Gin ,o1 10
was regarded as u sacred confidence That Sig
nal can never be made. Col. CorkhiIl Is dead.
JUST FOR A STARTER.
But, says the disappointed reader, cannot
you give me hint? Yes, indeed. Here It is:
Col. Corkhill claimed to be able to show by
legal evidence appointments, long talks re-
garding the "removal' Of Garfield held over
luncheons at Rudolphs, and In q certain base
ment restaurant not far from that hospitable
bar. He believed In the existence OF q calmly
developed conspiracy, whose plot covered even
said he knew the vessel, the name under which
q staterOOm was taken for Guiteau and The
identity OF the persons who were to assist him
in his flight. DATES, names Of men and steam
ers, were at his fingers end. It was the most
horrible, crushing array OF allegations, correct
or tnat my ssrs ever heard The
Portland was the production OF the mutilated
Guiteau letter (about which COrkhill had been
space Of the missing piece OF paper. It matched
exactly. Upon It were two names, though IL
contained exactly two and q half lines OF script.
We looked at each other. C0rkhili's eyes
were ai1ame es he pointed to one of the names
and muttered with the solemnity OF an exc
cutioner about TO break q culprit on the
sand it was for him damaged my profess
sional career beyond recall; for him that gave
It was q moment and q picture that viii
never pass from my memory. But the man who
spoke Is dead; He was TO have been here next