Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-07
GUITEAU'S WEAPON
Recovery of Revolver With Which
President Garfield Was Shot.
now IN CUSTODY OF POLICE OFFICIALS
Rehearsal of the Particulars of the
Startling Crime.
VIEWS OF THE OFFICERS

Maj Moore and Chief Clerk Sylvester of
the police department are highly elated
over the announcement they were able to
make yesterday afternoon that the revol-
yer used by the assassin, Charles ]. GGf-
teau, when he shot President James A.
Garfield, is in their custody, and will be put
in the cabinet at headquarters. The revcl-
yer was delivered at police headquarters
late Tuesday afternoon, and yesterday
CHEF Clerk Sylvester had the weapon iden-
titled to his complete satisfaction.
This, to my mind,' he said, to a Star
reporter, this morning, as he exhibited the
weapon, sis theefevolver used by the as
sassin Guiteau.''
The revolver is an ordinary British bull
dog Of A caliber. Four of the chambers
were loaded, while in the fifth chamber
there was an empty SHE'LL While. of
course. the bullets were all of the same
caliber. one of them was much longer than
tie others. Because of the long time the
weapon has rested untouched, the bullets
were partly covered with a green mildew,
and parts of the weapon showed that rust
had started to do it's work on the metal
The pistol is a cheap affair, the handle be-
ing set with pieces of wood instead of with
bone, ivory or other composition.
In Chief Clerks Desk.
When Star reporter called on Chief
Clerk Sylvester the weapon was resting
In small drawer in his desk He had
removed the cartridges and the empty
SHE'LL. This was done because of a rule not
to keep such weapons about the Office load
ed. Then, too, a loaded weapon would not
be put in the cabinet. When the weapon
is finally put in the cabinet it will be fas-
tened more securely than are the other
weapons, in order to guard against The
possibility of it's being carried away by
an INSCRIPTIONS relic hunter.
Mr.. Sylvester said he could not disclose
from whence the weapon was obtained.
but it was gotten from a citizen who has
had 1t In his possession for number of
the person who held 1t, and this letter.
which was signed by Major Moore brought
forth the weapon row in Mr.. Sylvester's
possession.
nation, July 2, 1881, the revolver was taken
from police headquarters, at Pennsylvania
avenue and Az street northwest, by the late
Col George b. Corkhill, who was then dis
trict attorney, and was never returned, it
Is stated.
The Assassin's Arrest.
When the late Policeman Patrick Kear-
ney arrested Guteau he took him to head
quarters. where Policeman NJ. B. German
was on duty at the desk.
What's the matter?'' the officer behind
the desk asked tine policeman who had the
assassin in custody.
This man killed the President" was The
officers response.
No one in the room believed what he
said. but thought ne joking, and when
they intimated as much, Policeman Pat
kearney. as he was called, in his own pc
culiar way, said: so help me God, he's
killed him.
|, His earnest manner caused a stir, and
when he ventured the remark: It believe
he's got the pistol in his pocket" those in
the room started forward to search him
Then 1t was that the assassin began to
struggle, and when the pistol was taken
from his hip pocket Officer German put it
in the drawer of mis- DESK and then put
Guiteau in one of the two cells provided
for prison ers.
The detectives who were in headquarters
and Policeman Kearney went at once to
the Baltimore and Potomac depot to render
what assistance they could to the wounded
President. Officer c. r. Vernon, who play
ed an important part in that days affair,
and who handled the pistol when he re-
turned to headquarters, arrived at the de-
pot few minutes after the shot was fired.
He was then captain of police under Major
Brock.
Heard the Shot.
While standing at the corner of 9th and
c streets officer Vernon heard the sh 1t
fired. Rushing over in the direction of the
depot he found that the man who had fired
the shot was in custody, and he passed into
the building. Soon after learning of the
seriousness of the crime, he spoke to the
late James G. Blaine, who was then Sec
rotary of State, and both he and the cap
tain thought that the prisoner would be
better off in Jail than he would in head
quarters 1t was then believed the excite
ment would be SO great that mob violence
would result.
When he reached the Police Court Can't.
Prince and Judge Smell rendered quick
service in Issuing warrant and making
out commitment. on which the assassin
6yprff tod 20 toll
when l reached headquarters" said
Officer Vernon today, Il saw the pistol
The Pistol Identified.
And is this pistol in Mr.. Sylvesters pos
session the one you saw at headquarters
them" Star reporter asked him.
II have every reason to believe it is"
was his answer. I'm certain it Isl
Later in the day of July 2 1881, Col.
Corkkill called at police headquarters and
asked to be shown the weapon. Knowing
him tc be the prosecuting officer for the
United States, Officer German did not hes
itate to show him the weapon, which ne
put in his pocket and started to carry
| away. To this the officer raised an objec-
ton, and, turning, Col. Corkhill said: II
guess you don't knew who am. I'm the
district attorney"
The officer replied that he knew very
well who he was, but SO far as the weapon
transaction was concerned his identity
made no difference. On the one hand, Col.
Corkhill was bound to have the weapon,
while on the other the officer was deter
mlred that he would not part with it with
out authority.
While this discussion was going on Major
Bro ok entered and by his direction the Of
ffcer withdrew from the contest. and Col
oHel Corkhill went out with the partly
loaded revolver in his pocket.
Several times during the last fifteen years
the question of the whereabouts of the
Guiteau pistol has been raised and dis
cussed. Statements have been made from
time to time locating the revolver at as
many different places, among chem the
safe in the district attorneys office being
the most prominent. There Is now a re-
volver in that safe, which was substituted
for the original weapon.
Mr.. DOnovan's Statement.
Mr.. w. J. Donovan, who is connected
with the license office, was police property
clerk at the time Of the assassination.
In conversation with Star reporter. he
said: when the assassin was taken to
headquarters, ~ street and Pennsylvania
avenue. / went into Lieut.. Eckloff's room,
where the prisoner was being searched.
saw a revolver taken from him and laid