The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-10


now rises over tho body.
ony the failure OF two pistol caps To- eN.
plodc saved President ,lacl son from
assassination n the capitol ON January
80, 1850. IL was m attempt growing out
OF the bitter discussions Of the times aud
he fiery antagonistic temperament of An
drew Jackson.
President Jackson and his cabinet had
assembled to attend the funeral Of a mem
her Of congress. As the president and his
party were leaving the capitol luhatic,
who gave his name as Lawrence pushed
forward and tried 10 discharge pistol
point blank at MIR Jackson
II was one Of the old style percussion
cap weapons, and for some reason the cap
did not explode. Quickly drawing another
weapon. tho man pulled the trigger. Again
the cap did not explode, and President
jackson, rushing forward, dlsarmed tue
man.
When locked up the man gave his name
as Lawrence. but would say no more. ana
nothing could be- learned rs to his identity.
His retsons for attempting to XIII tue
president were the same ms those given ~
Gultcau--hs refusal to give him an Office
and desire to rid the country OF a man
he considered dangerous to the good OF ms
party.
His behavior in prison was much the
same ms that of GnitcNu, but after long
legal and medical examination. he was DC
clared Insane and committed to an asylum
President James A. Garfield was shot
down in the Baltimore and Potomac rail
road station AT Washington, Mt $3.50 clock
on the morning of July >, 1881. Charles
Jules Gulteau, an erratic and disappointed
office seeker, was his assailant. He was
captured at once and executed for his
crime
The president, accompanied by James e.
Blaine, then secretary of state entered the
station to take a train for New York,
where he was to join his family and. with
other members OF the cabinet and govern
ment officials, make tour OF the New
England states.
AS they entered the station through the
II street DOORS Guiteau stood waiting near
the centre OF the womcns reception room.
The president and Mr.. Blaine walked
through the room, while the assassin cir
cled about until he was behind them. lie
drew n revolver and tred. No one seems
To have realized what had happened. The
president half turned, with bullet
through his left shoulder and an Instant
later Guitcau fred again. This time thc
bullet struck Mr.. Garfield in the back, over
the left kidney. He staggered forward,
sank to his knees and tnen pitched To
the floor.
cabinet was awaiting the presidents ar
rival. At first they refused to believe tue
excited shouts as signals Of disaster 10
their chief. They we're chatting and l3 ,s
they realized what had happened they
rushed to the reception room. whore sew
era hundred wildly excited people were
shut the heavy doors.
Secretary Blaine was shouting for help
and giving excited orders. The president
almost over him, frightened and defiant.
Robert /. Lincoln secretary or war ana
the son Of the ASS sinated president was
Quickly joining the group were secrc-
tary Of the Navy Hunt Secretary of the
Treasury Window, Postmaster General
James Judge Advocate General SWAIN.
and few minutes later Attorney General
Secretary Lincoln sent orders holding all
the troops in the city in readiness for duty,
and the secretary of the navy sent similar
orders to the marines The police reserves
were hurried to the scene.
The rush of the COurtcrS from the station
to the Capitol and department buildings.
the conycrging OF the police and the buge
calls about the barracks aroused the whole
city, and thousands of persons We're soon
gathered about the railroad station shout
ing threats of lynching the man whom the
police held prisoner.
Meanwhile the president had been carried
to an upper room In the station, where
stimulants were applied. He did not lose
consciousness while awaiting medical aid,
Surgeon General Barnes and Drs. Norris
Lincoln and Woodward soon arrived
Within n short time the president had
rallied from the first shock ana could be
moved to the White House In an ambu
lance.
When he fell the president was FIRST
raised by Mrs. White, attendant of the
lap until n mattress was brought. The
president was very pale and nauScated.
He seemed unable 10 comprehend what had
happened
Mir. Parks, the ticket agent saw the
shooting through the window of his office,
and as the second shot was fred ran out
and grabbed Guiteau as he lodged to get
into the street lie held him until Police
man Keaney and others ran up. In his
! hands Guiteau waved a letter, which, he
shouted, was for General sherman, ana
pNDl1ineQ everything.
Gulteau had been noticed about the sta
tion for nearly half an hour before the
arrival Of the president He paced up ana
down the floor of the women's reception
room, and all who saw him seem to have
remarked his nervousness MIS-: WHITE sad
she was just about to have him ordered
out when the president entered the room.
The grounds were surrounded by regular
troops and sentlnels posted all through the
building.
At ii o'clock the surgeon general issued
statement that the wound in the back
might prove fatal. The president himself
had been the first to realize his condition.
In the station after DIR. Townsend had
made hasty examination he asked his
opinion. The physician replied that he
did not consider the wound serious.
II thank you, doctor said the president,
''bnt | am dead man"
All that day the president talked calmly
and courteously to those about him. He
was suffering great pain and was partially
under the influence OF oplates
The wound was probed, hut the bullet
| to the probable course and location of the
bullet, and not until the autopsy was
! either determined. II was generally ad-
mittcd by medical men that the wound was
| necessarily fatal from the first, though
| some authorities have expressed a different
| opinion.
Mrs Garfield was at Long Branch when
| told the news. She left AT once for Wash
| lngton, where she arrived soon after
! o'clock. and hurried TO the presidents bed
! side. They talked together for few min
| utes, and later for half an hour Her
/ presence seemed to improve the President S
! condition.
/ The next day Mr. Garfield was worse,
| and from that time, during the three
| months which life lasted, he improved ana
| failed internationally. His great vitality
! fought steadily for his life. At times nc
! was able to sit up and at other times was
/ reported dying. All over the country gov
| errors of States ordered prayers for his
| recovery, and the greatest snlicltudc' was
expressed by foreign governments
He was removed to Long Branch Septem-
! Der to escdpe the heat Of Washington,
! ana improved somewhat there. but on sep
! TENDER 10 he died.
| Gulteau was indicted for his crime on
! October 9 and was arraigned on October
| 10, pleading not guilty. His trial began
! on November II. George NJ. Scoytlle ap
peared as his attorney. alleging insanity
| MS the defense. Judge Cox presided over
the trial and former Judge Porter was the
prosecutor Much bitterness WAS aroused
| hy some expressions Of friendliness FOL
! Guitenu He was found guilty on January