The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-11-02
THE MISTAKE OF oUITEAu.
He Intended to Kill James G. Blaine.
But Failed,

tICA VI anu Wuxlt
Charles J. Guiteau was awaiting ex
meeting Dr. d. G. Rush on Pennsyl
vaia avenue, Washington, said tt
him:
| Doctor, I've got to the bottom Of
this Guiteau business, and think
satisfied that Guiteau never intend
ed to kill Garfield, or even to wound
him. ;le fired at James G. Blaine
Garfield got the bullet was simply
one of those extraordinary happen
ings wherein it seems as if the fates
overruled the will of man."
DR.. Rush knew Ingersoll we'll and
appreciated his extraordinary capac.
ity for research and Investigation.
He pressed him for further explanation
of the matter. The two men found
began his story
! you know as we'll as l do, doc
tor" ne said that during the Gar.
lield-Hancock campaign Guiteau was
one of the most favored men at ma.
tional headquarters. He seemed to
have more pull and drag around the
Fifth Avenue hotel than even sena.
tors and congressman. His impu-
dance was superb. His ability to i'm.
press those whom he met casually
with the idea that the success of tna
campaign depended upon him was ex.
traor1inary
when he first made his appear
ance at national headquarters If some
one had alphabetically but firmly
taken him blythe shoulders and kick
ed him into the street the tragedy of
July would probably have never TAX.
en- place. But you know how things
are in headquarters in the heat of the
fight. Everybody counts for some
thing until the votes are in. The s;ft-
ing of individuals does not come un.
til after the balloting.
| I'm consequence of this Guiteal..
without any merit, without any PAR.
ticular knowledge of the situation,
without the control of single vote
in the country but his own, became
an object of Importance at headquar
tiers. He could work his way into
any private room, he could buttOnhole
any prominent man, he could secure
a hearing where either of us might
have to cool our heels for a day.
THE result was the man, never
balanced of mind, gained false i'm
preston of his own Importance
which was to prove his own undoins
i and the working of a frightful wrong
upon the people. He began to talk
loudly of what he proposed to do II
the republicans won the day. H.
spoke mysteriously of certain connec
tons which he hoped to have with
the state department if a republican
secretary controlled it. He said frank
ly that nothing but consulship would
satisfy him. and declared that he
should be so taken care of.
| -
II do not doubt that such prom
isos were made to him by thought
less persons, even by persons, who
could have secured for Guiteau what
he desired. Some public men, to gel
rid of bores, regard it as justifablt
TO promise them anything. But this
policy had more to do with Garfield's
death than anything else. Guiteau
t. ok every promise made him serious
~. He was convinced that he was
to be with either the diplomatic ser
vice in London o. Paris, and that HI
would be one of the most important
representatives of the state depart
ment abroad.
He told this to "a number of per
sons in .ew York city after the cleo
ton, and they smiled and did moi
disallusion him. They even thought
it was capital joke, and l have M
doubt some of them, for the fun O.
ne thing, encouraged him in the idea.
Gulteau did not know Garfield, an(
never expressed particular hostilit,
toward him until after the latter wa:
shot down. He never in my opinion
gave Garfield thought until he saw
that he had shot him instead O
Blaine. Then having missed his or
iginal object. and with a cunning
common to mental prevents Of hi.
type, he Immediately sought to justif,
Garfield's assassination and to max,
it appear that he. Guiteau, was a sa
viOr
after the Inauguration of Garfield
and Arthur he came to Washington anS
commenced his campaign for a con
sulship or minstershp to Europe H,
pad no attention to the president. II,
devoted all his time to the state de
| tAShN' NV was llC 0ldlC OulC(
every day for weeks. His applica
tons were made for diplomatic posi-
tions in France and England. Tn
clerks who first came in cOntac
| with him took him for a fool an
, laughed.
.
Later because he was so seriou
, and so much in earnest, they begal
7 TO tritie with him. He would come il
and ask:
81 was to have the post at Paris
has Secretary Blaine acted upon
, yet? l am very anxious to get away
: He has not acted today, Mr. GU
: teau, but he may tomorrow. We hav
; no doubt but that he will remembe
you. Good day, Mr.. Guiteau'
, This sort OF thing continued 70
( weeks, with constant disappointment
for the man, convinced him that des
. pi;e his wonderful services las he be
iived) for the party, a conspiracy eS
listed against him in the state dspar
: ment to prevent him being rewarJ
ed. Appointment after appointment