The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-02
Experts Testified He Was as Crazy as
the Madman That Assnssinated
President Garfield.
CLEvELAND'S LIFE IN PERIL
GOODING THOUGHT THE PRESIDENT
WAS HIS DEADLY ENEMY.
Author of a book That Contains Many
Sensational Statements-A Well
known Democratic Orator.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April There is every
reason to believe that the prompt action of
the authorities in to-day committing Gen.
Oliver P. Gooding, of this city. to the in
sane asylum has averted a tragedy such
as plunged the Nation into mourning when,
a few years ago, Guiteau assassinated
President Garfield. For Gooding is an
doubtedly as insane as was Guiteau,- and
his mania took the same form-the belief
that the Nation could be saved from an
impending catastrophe only by the death
of the chief executive, and that he himself
was ordained by God to perform the deed.
Gooding has long been known in Wash
ington. His history is a remarkable par
allel to Guiteau's. Like that unhappy man,
he has for years suffered from religious
hysterie, eliminating finally in his belief
in his divine mission. Like Guiteau, too,
he believed that he had been unjustly
treated by the President. Goodings serv-
ices for the Democratic party are undenia-
BILE. Up to the campaign of 1884 he had
served in the regular army. During the
war he had conducted himself with distin-
guished gallantry and his name was known
to almost every fighting soldier in the
army. Consequently, when, in the cam
paign of 1884, he offered his services to the
Democratic national committee they were
eagerly accepted His work was almost ex-
clusively among the old soldiers in Indiana,
Ohio, Illinois, etc, and after the battle was
won the committee was extravagant in it's
praises of his work. Gooding felt himself
entitled to recognition at President Cleve-
lands hauds. He asked for retirement,
with the rank of brgadier general, a pro-
motion which he saw bestowed by the Pres
ident on numbers of other soldiers who, in
parson with his own services. Mr.. Cleve-
land could never be brought to accede to
Goodings wishes. and the disappointed dffi-
Ger gradually nurtured a feeling of resent
ment against Mr.. Cleveland, which after
ward developed into a frantic hatred that
unsettled his mind He conceived the
mania that there was gigantic conspir-
acy to assassinate him, Mr.. Cleveland being
the chief of the conspirators. Not long
ago he found his way into Mr.. Cievelands s
private office and there gave vent to the
pent-up hatred and bitterness of his many
years disappointment. His manner became
so alarming that Mr.. Cleveland was COM
PEELED to summon assistanee and have him
summarily removed. singularly enough,
the authorities gave no further heed to
him. Within the past month he published
a book in which he charged that the Pres
ident was endeavoring to have him MUIR
dered and that Mr. Cleveland had brought
about the Ford Theater disaster in the
hope that Gooding might be killed along
with a score OF other clerks.
The climax of the unfortunate mans
insanity came Saturday night, when he
told friend that he was desperate and
that he was about to take a final step.
He was almost without resources, he said,
all his property being gone save small
lot in Indianapolis His book had been
a financial failure and he saw but one way
to save himself from the persistent designs
upon his life. The same remedy that would
rid him forever of secret prosecutions and
attempts on his life would rescue the Ma
ton from impending ruin. His auditor,
knowing of Goodng's previous visit to Mr..
Cleveland and knowing that he always went
heavily armed, Immediately read the un-
happy mans crazed design. Marshal Will,
son was notified, and that night summonses
were served on various persons who had
known Gooding for many years to appear
to-day before a court to testify as to his san
ity. Gooding, too was notified to appear, but
he did not come. DIR. w. w. G5dding, the
superintendent of the District Insane Asy-
lum, who was one of the experts in the
Guiteau case, testified to-day as to the SIM
iIarity between Guiteau and Gooding, say
ing that Gooding appeared to him to be
a second Guiteau, and that he was a dan
gerous lunatic to be at large. All the
other testimony was to the same effect.
When the marshals deputies undertook
to arrest Gooding tonight the mans dam
gerous nature fully displayed itself. He is
a man of powerful physique and threw off
the two deputieseas though they We're chill
dren. He became violent and fought like
a tiger. When he was finally overpowered
and searched heavy revolver, with every
chamber loaded, was found upon him. Good
ing has brother who now resides in In
diana, and who has been hitherto pro-
viding for him. The unhappy mans fate
has caused much sympathy, but it is not
doubted that but for his removal to-day
to a place of confinement he would have
murdered the President at the first oppor-
tunity