The Portland daily press., 1886-07-09
cARFIELD's ASSASSINATION.
The Late Col. Corkhili's Belief in a
Deeply Laid Plot
A Dramatic Interview with the Wild
ow of Assassin Cuiteau.

New YORK, July S.-With the death Of ex-
District Attorney Corkhill of Washington,
who convicted Guiteau, dies the narrative
that he was preparing for publication, CIV
ing the grounds for his firm belief in deep
and ably planned conspiracy, which resulted
in the death .of President Garfield. A cor
respondent of the New York Herald, writ
ing from Long Branch, details most re-
markable interview with the ex-District At
torney. which occurred just previous to his
death.
During this interview, Mr.. Corkhill stated
to the correspondent that he could no longer
stand the odium and reproach that had been
cast upon his conduct lof the Guiteau case,
and that his professional pride revolted at
the indignity and injustice that had been
heaped upon him. He was greatly agitated,
and after considerable urging related TO MS
listener that he had only that day come INTO
possession of facts that would permit MIN 70
speak in such manner ABOUT the uas.aIuly
ASSASSINATION of Gen. Garfield as to drive at
least two public men into social ostraclsm.
The facts upon which he based this remark
able assertion came into his possession, SO ne
asserted, through the medium OF woman
who was once the wife OF Gulteau, ana
about whom so much was said, and In whom
nous trial Her interview with Col Cork
hill was most dramatic. 1t is told in the
Coloneps own language, as f0lloWs:
''Ind6ed, are you the wife we have heard SO
much about but could never find?' inquired.
~ am she; here is my marriage eertlileate,
she said producing a much crumpled document.
Here is his photograph !" and she showed PIC pc
ture of the assassin. wholly unlike any had ever
seen, but Enthusiastically the face OF Guiteau Con
trary to the general belief, Guiteau had been re-
markably fine looking mansin his day;
Inrofh N
Letters that made my breath fail me. She prom
ised them to me if would aid her 10 ner rgnts.
took the precious bits of manuscript in my nngers
one at time, for she carried them as tnougn tney
were diamonds. 1 consented to. und ertake her
These letters are to be my ney are 70
This woman sought Col. Corkhilps services
to aid her in securing pension for another
person. The Colonel then left the Herald S
correspondent to verify the womans state
ment in regard to her pension claims, and al
ter an absence Of ten minutes returned ana
stated that she had told the truth, and that
her bill for relief had passed the Senate al.
ready. Then Col. Corkhill told the story OF
his belief in a conspiracy to assasslnate
President Garfield. At that time, and until
signal should be given, it,was to be regard
now never be given that will give the story
To the world Col. Corkhill is dead. But
the correspondent throws out the following
hints without violating his trust;
COL COrKnlll Cldllutu W dDlC W W
legal evidence that appointments and long
talks regarding the removal" OF Gen. Car
field were held over luncheons at Rudolph's 8
and in a certain basement restaurant In
Washington. He believed. in the existence
of a calmly developed conspiracy, the plot OF
which covered even the flight of the assassin
to Europe Col. Corkhill said that he knew
the vessel, the name under which state
room was taken for Guiteau, and the identl-
ty of the persons who were to assist him In
his flight The dates and names of the men
and steamer were at his fingers's ends 1t
was a most horrible and crushing array OF
allegations, whether correct or not The
dramatic incident of that solemn hour at the
Portland House in Washington was the pro-
duction of the mutilated Guiteau letter about
which Corkhill had been so DETAINED, and
the fitting of that missing piece OF paper in
to the space. 1t matched exactly. Upon 1t
were but two names, though it contained ex-
actly two and half lines of writing. Cork
hilFs ewes were afiame as he pointed to one
of the names and muttered: ''And it was for
him damaged my professional career be-
yond recall for him gave odds and suffered
defeat" But the man who spoke is dead;
He was to have been in New York next
waay Now he will never come.