Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-05
THE IDiOSYNCRASlES
OF GUlTEAU, TIE ASSASSIN OF
PRESIDENT GARFIELD.
Dreaded the Hetribution of the
Deity on the American People.
By JOSEPH HOWARD, JR.

copyright 1921, by the United Pressl
On the night cf June 9S, 1851, drove 70
the Washington jail with Col C5rklill, the
prosecuting attorney Tor the District OF
Columbia, concerning whom, by the way,
eX-Judge John X Porter wrote: Il desire
to express To you my warm appreciation OF
the invaluable services you have rendered
10 the cause OF public justice in the prose-
Cut.on and conviction of the assassin OF
President Garfield. It Is due 10 you to say
lnat The admirable preparation Of the cause
Tor he tyjll, the spirit Of business and fair
ness which has been so literally extended
10 the prisoner GIu his counsel, and the
ludiCiouS aud effective conduct Of the trial
u a satisfactory ana just conclusion have
been mainly due 10 you" The courtesy
OF Gvu. CrOckor, the warden, an
oid-time soldier, & martinez, dis
ciplnarian, and at the same time
hearty good fellow, secured me an inter-
view with The assassin. with that nOtaOle'S
consent. You remember, doubtless, the
desplcaOle talk. the contemplate insinua-
lions the mods ana winhs ana gestures that
were INDUCED in at the time OF Garheld'S
death about Arthur, C0uzling and all the
band Of men then known Is Stalw2rts. i
WAS then their friend, is ! am to-day, and,
although differences anu GlSSeuSlOGS have
arisen between them, and they exist no
longer save on paper and in argument, my
o.. tlne regard suggests to me this line OF
public instruction; perhaps l would better
say a recalling Of public attention TO the
facts developed IS against the gossip whiS-
perez. ] VII give you
TUE CONYEKsaTION WITH GUITEAU
rs it occurred. H. response to question
Is o what denomination he belonged TO he
said:
"Congrcca:ioual; used to belong to
Henry Ward Beechor's church and often
saw you there. Then I went to Chicago
and joined Ba"tletC'S church.
Bartlett is the man who went into the
pulpit dressed in white dUck!"
Yes, he WAS dressed as l am"
CuIeaU 1T this time stood at the door o.
his cell, dressed in shirt drawers and slip
pors, Yes he continued, this is rs
good dress as any, and is the way l shall
90 up, If 20 on Friday"
"Do You expect 10 go}"
"NcA. can't say. / sent word to the
president today mat he must decide my
case to-day. Friday IS only the day after
to-mOrrC ", and don't want 20 empty my
mind OF the things OF this world if l am
not to hang. Personally don't care bit.
| m ready 10 so in i've minutes, but dread
the rciriouJion of the Dety on the Ameri-
can people. The Jews thought they were
right when they put The body Of Christ in
the ground. but see the result, the destruc-
ton OF Jerusalem, the dispersion Of tho
Jews. the extinction of their nationality.
This was because he was Gods man, anG
don't YOU forget it
But sou surely don't draw parallel,
MIR Guiteau, between the Savior and your
Self}"
why don't II Yes, do. He was Gods
man and so am |. ! was directly inspired
by the Deity 10 remove President Garfield
Can you find any man, no matter what his
politics, who Will say il has not resulted for
the benefit OF the party and the uation} =
Ia Rlyfpp .nf m
tnue rs they were going. this country
would be in war with Chill today You
know ii, and l know il. 1t was a good
thing"
But the president couldn't be expected
TO pardon you on that gToUnd}'
Nobody asks his pardon. All want is
respite till January"
~ hat forl'
We'll by that time the medical experts
could get their minds made uD But |
don't take any stock in that theory, and
perhaps by that time the president would
feel ike risking my pardon, though l take
very little stock in that either. But most
OF al l know that by thai time could edu-
cate the people up 10 my theory of iIspira-
ton, and that's the great thing. Once let
the uation be educated up to that point, and
they would hail me rs a second Nazarene
Inspiration and retribution are the watch
words for Gods army. l tell Gen. Crocker.
and his men here, SO have nothing to do
with hanging me, for the wrath of the
Deity viii be searching and terrible to be-
hold"
AL this time GUiteau was standing in |
neEiige dress with a silk handkerchief |
about his neck 10 keep OF the draught Of |
cool air from the window. Presently. ex- !
cusing himself he closed the shutter and |
L seemed odd TO see a man or |
the verge of the grave shield himself from |
q draught, lest he might take cold; but the |
world is full of funny things, and
THIS WAS ONE OF THEM
Continuing the conversation, Guiteau
said: Il consider myself especially fortu-
nate in having Mr. Hicks with me. II |
seems Ike proviaential interference. l |
never knew him till he came few weeks
ago. He thought was crazy, but / have