Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-02
SceneOfCrirne
In Depot of
Old Railroad
Place Has Become
Site of National
Gallery of Art
BY John Clagett Proctor.

When the National Gallery OF Art
Building is completed, and thou
sands and hundreds Of thousands
of visitors to Washington view the
costly collection Of art works that
will be exhibited there through the
generosity and public spirit Of the
late Andrew Mellon, there will be
a very few who will recall that a
part of this enormous structure COW
ers the site of the old Baltimore &
Potomac Railroad depot, at Sixth
and B streets (the latter now Con-
Stitution avenue), where just So
years ago today President James
A, Garfield was MORALLY wounded
at the hand of the assassin Charles
j. Guiteau.
Though still lad at the time of
this terrible event, yet the writer
will never forget what he learned
of this crime at the time it &C.
CURED. His brother. he recalls, had
gone downtown early the morning
of Saturday July 2, 1881, but soon
returned with another boy Of the
neighborhood. both full of excite
ment with the news of the shooting
of the President. They had been
mingling with the crowd congre-
gated around the railroad depot,
and both eagerly told such details of
the attack as they had gathered.
Report Of Crime.
An extra edition of The Star was
soon on the street, giving such de-
tails of the shooting of the Chief
Magistrate as were obtainable at
that time. This extra read:
About half-past 9 o'clock this
morning the startling news rapidly
spread throughout the city that the
President, who was about to depart
from the city, had been fatally shot
at the Baltimore g. Potomac Rail-
road Depot. The horrible intelligence,
coming so unexpectedly, was soon
proved to be too true. The city was
full of excitement, and as various
officials were galloping up and down
the Avenue, vast crowds of people
made their way to the depot.
President Garfield was shot this
morning at $50 o'clock in the la
dies room of the Baltimore g.
Potomac Depot. He had just alight-
ed from his carriage to take the
cars for the North. Secretary Hunt
and Mrs. Hunt, Secretary Window
and Mrs. Window, Postmaster Cen
eral James and the rest of the
party had taken their seats in the
car. Col. Jameson of the Post Office
Department, who was to have charge
OF the transportation of the party,
was standing at the gate leading to
the cars. He heard a shot, quickly
followed by another.
Rush to Room.
There was a rush to the ladies'
room whence the sounds came.
President Garfield was found lying
on the floor, having fallen to the
left. Secretary Blaine came out of
the room following man and call
ing ROCKWELL Where is Rock
well?'
THE man was seized by Officer
Kearney and Mr. Parks, the depot
policeman. The President was
taken upstairs. DR.. Bliss arrived
soon afterward. 1t was soon dis
covered that both shots had taken
effect. One struck him in the right
arm below the shoulder. The other
went in at the right side Of the
back, between the hip and kidney.
It then passed forward, and went
down into the groin. It was probed
for, but could not be found. DR..
Bliss says that 1t is a dangerous
wound, but not necessarily fatal.
1.-The wound in the arm does
not amount to much, except being
painful. There Is hope for the
President recovering, but he is in
very critical condition.
THE shooting occurred when the
President and Secretary Blaine
were walking arm in arm through
the ladies' room.
Secretary Blaine's Statement.
Secretary Blaine was not going
with the party, but came down to
bid the President 'good-by'
HE said: The President and I
were walking arm in arm toward
the train. heard two shots and
saw man run, started after him,
but seeing that he was grabbed just
as he got out of the room, came
to the President and found him
lying on the floor The floor was
covered with the Presidents blood
A number of people who were
around shortly afterward have some
Of that blood on their person.
think 1 know the man. I think his
name is Gittiu.'
"The Assassin and His Weapon.
THE assassin is about feet 7
inches in height, of strong. though
not stout build. The weapon he
used was a revolver about 7 inches
long. 1t has an ivory handle. The
caliber was very large; it is what
Is known as a California pistol. 1t
made very loud report. When
arrested, he said: I did it and
want to be arrested. I am a stall
wart, and Arthur is President now.
have a letter here that want
you to give to Gen. Sherman; it
will explain everything. Take me
to the police station
hSSdSSlH , ANdHC anu tAuuAC
Officers were sent to the police
headquarters by order of those
around the President to get the
name of the assassin. He very will
ingly wrote his name and address
on sheet of paper, as follows:
"'Charles Gltteau,
Attorney at-LaW,
Chicago, III"
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