Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-29

dents the crime regarded If possible as
being even the more revolving and shocking
And the long weary days and anxious moments
that elapsed from the day of the shooting to
the day of his DEATH on September l9, 1881,
fixes more wildly the dastardly crime in the
minds of those old enough at the time to
recall now this great outrage against free gov
eminent and republican institutions
Inaugurated two days short of four months
before, with all the pomp and splendor possible
for such an event, concluding at night with
the inaugural ball in what is commonly
known as the Old Building of the National
Museum just then being completed, Gen. Gar
field had hardly adjusted himself to the duties
of the presidency when all of a sudden and
without warning, the fiendish crime was COM
mitted
President Garfield unquestonably one
of our most notable Chief Magistrates-intel-
lectually, morally and politically. Friend and
foe alike had nothing but praise for the man
who by his efforts and determination had
elevated himself from the driver of mules on
the canal to the Hottest Office in the United
States, only to be stricken down at the pin
nacle of his fame by fanatical assassin with
imaginary grievance.
The writer remembers well the morning he
shot. He recalls the excitement through
out the city, the pail thrown over everybody
and everything. Business brought almost
to a standstill, while every anxiouSly
awaited the bulletins from the White House,
telling the people of the Presidents condition,
while prayers for his recovery were on the lips
of the public generally.
THE crime occurred on the morning of Sat-
- urday, July 2, 1884, in the Baltimore &
Potomac Railroad Depot, which then stood at
the southwest corner of Sixth and b streets
northwest where today can be the founda-
ton of the proposed George Washington Me-
mortal Building.
The President had left the White House and
had arrived at the depot about 800 am. He
fingered there a few minutes in his carriage,
talking to Secretary Blaine. before entering the
depot by way of the ladies' entrance, which
the B street side of the building, the
two men passing through the ladies' waiting
room arm in arm However, they had not
proceeded far when two shots rang ont in
quick succession, the shooting having been
done by Charles j. Guiteau, who had ap-
preached the President from the rear
The weapon used by the assassin was of the
British bulldog revolver type, with a short
barrel, and noted for its inaccuracy, which
accounted for the first bullet passing through
the right coat sleeve Of the President and
doing injury. The second shot, however,
more true and entered the body above the
third rib where the .44-calber bullet lodged
under the pancreas and stomach, about two
and one-half inches to the front and left of
the spinal column
Perhaps there are people still living who are
familiar with the details of the assassination
Of Garfield, but very few, if any, who could
speak with greater authority than DR.. William
Tindall, whose service with the local govern
ment runs back to the days when the District
Of Columbia was governed to an extent by a
mayor a board of aldermen and a common
council. DR.. Tindall is still active and alert
and on the job early and late at the District
Building, and it is hoped that Congress and
the Commissioners will find way to keep him
there, especially for his valuable knowledge of
District affairs
HE doctor at this time was secretary to the
Board OF Commissioners, and his story Of
the sad event, as delivered before the Columbia
Historical Society some years ago, is interest
ing enough to repeat. In part, he said
while busy at my desk in the Office of the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
which was then housed in the Morrison Build
ing on the west side of Four-and-a-hah street.
now John Marshall place, few minutes before
10 o'clock on the morning of July g. 1881,
was startled by the abrupt entrance of the
ONCE messenger and his excited exclamation
that Vice President Arthur has just been killed
ut the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Station.'
II Immediately left the building to GO to
the station, but, upon reaching the northwest
corner of -Four and-a- half street and Penn
Hylvania avenue, where the police headquarters
was then situated, was attracted by two de-
tectives leading man up the outside steps
ON the Four-and-a-hah street side of the
building, by means of which access was had
!" euc ScCUuu SCOEy, where The Office OF Tine
superintendent of police was quartered
II followed them up the steps, and when I
reached the top the man in custody OF the
officers turned his face toward me and smiled
at me with silly sort of leeT. Some years
before. when the territorial form of govern
ment for the District of Columbia was in force,
one of the prominent participants in the local
political gatherings in the voting district In
which I then resided was a highly nervous,
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