Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-02
WANTED TO KILL HAYES
THRILLING INCIDENT OF THE IN
AUGURATION OF 1877.
Arrest of Man Who Came TO Wash
ingtOn to Assassinate the
President-EIect.

some of the incidents attending the in
auguration of President Hayes have never
been told" said Detective James A. Nc
Dewitt to a Star reporter today. speaking
of inauaurations in general and the dangers
which always come with great crowds OF
strangers to the city.
lone incident in connection with that
memorable event is as fresh in my mind
as though il had occurred but yesterday,
he continued. You may recall the 4th of
March, 1877, the year of President Hayes
inauguration, fell upon Sunday, the inau-
guraI ceremonies not being held until the
following day. You may also recall the in
tense excitement which prevailed through
out the country at that time and which
found its center here in Washington. The
historical returning board had declared in
favor of Mr. Hayes. but there were hum
dreds of thousands of Tilden adherents who
disputed his election up to the very day of
his inauguration, and no one knew what
might happen. This fact naturally created
extraordinary vigilance on the part of the
Washington detective force, which had been
instructed to act in harmony with the
United States secret service officers. and all
were alert to nip in the bud any untoward
happening before actual harm could be
done. CrankS Were here, as usual on such
occasions. and my story has to do with one
of this class.
Along in the afternoon of Sunday, March
4. Il gentleman named Hayden. resident
of Washington, called on the chief of po-
lice. Major Richards, at headquarters, and
stated that he had been accOSted on the
street while passing the Imperial Hotel,
near the National Theater on Pennsylvania
avenue, by a stranger, who gave his name
as VIM Myers. and who, after a short con-
versauon, stated that he had come here
from the west for the purpose of shooting
Mr.. Hayes just as he was about to take the
oath of office; and he Myers wanted some
one to help him do the job. Hayden was
very much astonished at this declaration,
but, as he said to Major Richards, he was
convinced that the man was thoroughly in
earnest and meant to carry out his threat.
The stranger was evidently crazy, which
made matters all the more alarming, for
there is nothing worse than a crank with a
gun
Secret Service officials Notified.
We'll, l was called for the detective Of
flee by Major Richards. and after listening
to Hayden's story was instructed to ac-
company him up to the Treasury Depart
ment and turn the case over to the secret
service officers. We left headquarters
walked up Pennsylvania avenue and as we
neared 18th street / met two secret service
men TO whom / explained the case and
turned Hayden over to them, while / went
to my home for a short rest.
Il had not been in the house more than
an hour, when carriage drove up to the
door. Hayden and the two officers alighted
and came into the house. They said their
chief wished me to make the arrest and
as no time was to be lost / Immediately
prepared to carry out Instructions
Hayden and myself entered the carriage
and were driven to the Imperial Hotel
where the man Myers had a room While
on our way there ! instructed Hayden to
introduce me to Myers a friend who
would be better able to assist him in carry
Ing out his design against the life of Mr.
Hayes than he would and that he Myers
should have every confidence in me-
Upon arriving at the hotel we asked for
Myers, and were told that he was in his
room. We were shown up at once Upon
entering the room Hayden did as | mad
directed, and l was soon in earnest CONVEX
sation with Myers. / asked him in what
manner | could assist him. and he replied
that one of the first things he wished done
was To have all the Objectionable flags re-
moved from Pennsylvania avenue. / an
swered that | did not know which were
the Objectionable flags, and that if he would
accompany me in my carriage and point
them out to me l would have them removed
at once. or. II necessary, would remove them
myself. This plan suited Myers exactly,
and he willingly accompanied me in a drive
down the avenue, he supposed, to take
down the Objectionable flags. but really to
police headquarters, where 1 locked him uo.
Significant Find.
In searching Myers the contents OF his
pockets caused the gravest suspicious. and
indicated that the man really did mean TO
shoot Mr.. Hayes, as he had threatened. On
his person he had So. 80 in gold coin and
IS cents in silver. but no paper money. The
fact of the man having only gold and silver
gave rise TO the suspicion that though he
was undoubtedly crazy there probably were
others who knew OF his Intentions and had
supplied him with the coin. Aside from
this he had ticket admitting him to the
inaugural ceremonies in the Capitol, 50 he
would surely have been In a position to
commit the deed had We not nipped his
plans at the beginning.
THE question in my mind has always
been, How did Myers get the ticket who
gave II to him. and for what purpose was
II given? We kept Myers locked up
until March 8. and then turned him over to
Sanitary Officer Connell, who had him COM