The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-05-31
GARFlELD'S ASSASSIN.
Story of the Fanatic When Hard
Pressed For a Few Dollars.

Pressed For a Few Dollars.
A well known Chicago lawyer, who was
in the city recently, told a curious story
one evening while chatting in the lobby
of the Grunewald. 81 will not be too GER
tain Of the date Of this incident" said he,
but one afternoon, in either 1878 or
1870, l was sitting in my Office, rather
busy, as / remember, when in walked an
odd looking brisk little man, who asked
for few moments interview in private
He was decently dressed In black, but
there was something about him, 1 don't
know what, that Immediately excited my
curiosity. led him into the back room,
and, without wasting any time, he came
at Gnce to the point. I am a lawyer, he
said, as nearly as can remember his ex-
act words, and my home Is in Buffalo.
Bad health broke up my practice and
forced me to go to California last year,
and am now on my way back, much i'm
proved, but have run out of money and
find myself stranded here in Chicago.
Will you lend me enough to buy a ticket
on a cheap excursion train that leaves for
Buffalo this evening? The amount will
be returned he added. before the close of
the week
IL was astonished, very naturally, not
only by his request, but by the matter of
fact manner in which he preferred it.
But why in the world do you apply to
me? l asked; L never saw you before and
have no earthly interest In your affairs
well, sir. am q religious man. he re-
piled, and l believe In special Providence.
1t is absolutely necessary for me to Sc
cure this assistance from somebody, and
in passing your door q few moments ago
something told me l would find 1t here.
The statement I made to you regarding
my predicament may seem very meager,
he went on, but 1t would be childish to
waste your time on details when ] have
no means at hand for confirming them. !
gave you the essential facts, and now ask
you to lend me the money on faith pure
ly.' He said all this In simple, straight
forward fashion that impressed me with
it's truth" continued the lawyer, "and,
acting on one Of those fantastic impulses
that occasionally seize the most level
headed of us, I stuck my hand In my
pocket and gave him the sum he wanted.
He thanked me quietly, took a memoran-
dunn of my name and address and was
about to write his own when I stopped
him and remarked that as long as 1t was
purely a faith transaction any data of
that kind would be highly superfuous.
IF you don't send me the money said I,
I shall certainly make no effort to collect
it
"He smiled blandly and walked out.
and that was the last ever saw or heard
of him; but he left a souvenir In the
shape of a small work of reference called
'Blair's Synonyms which found next
day on the table. I remembered seeing
the book in his hand when he came in.
and he forgot 1t. no doubt, In his eager
ness to decamp after he secured the cash.
/ threw II on the top shelf Of the library.
so it wouldn't remind me Of the episode,
for by that time / had come to my senses
and realized what a first class donkey /
had made Of myself. OF course the
money was never returned, and the story
as It stands is rather n commonplace In
stance Of cunning and credulity, but II
happens to have a curious little second
chapter. In 1885 changed the location
of my Office. and when the books were be-
ing moved 'Blnir's Synonyms forgotten
and covered with dust. fell out of one OF
the cases. picked 1t up, opened It at
random and for the first time noticed the
name of the owner, scrawled at the bot
tom Of the back fly leaf. The name was
Charles ]. Guiteau." New Orleans
tn Democrat.