Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1881 — ASSASSINATED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ASSASSINATED.

President Garfield Shot Down at Washington. ' The Assassin a Chicago Lawyer, Named Guiteau. Full and Accurate Details of the Horrible Crime. The President of the United States was shot twice ou the morning of Saturday, July 2, hi the Pennsylvania railroad depot in Washington, by Charles J. Guiteau, of Illinois. One shot inflicted a more flesh wound—not at all dangerous- in the left arm. The second shot entered the lower left side from the j back, fractured one of the ribs, and lodged in the j lower part of the liver. When the President re- I ceived this shot he fell to the floor. The assassin I cried cut: “ President Garfield is dead. Arthur is Pre-ident, and the stalwarts are avenged I Bring I ou the police. I have a letter for Gen. Sherman I that will explain everything." lie was at once | seized by two officers in the depot, and, almost be- ! fore the crowd could realize what had happened, the assassin had been taken t> jail. From the voluminous mass of telegraphic dispatches to the daily press we condense the following connected account of the dreadful affair:

The President had alighted from his carriage a-.d was passing through the ladies' room to the cars. When about five feet inside of the room, the assassin, who was within three feet of him, fired one shot. The President .was dazed, and made no attempt at self-protection. Secretary Blaine had turned toward the door. The assassin fired a second shot within ten seconds from the first. The President fell, and Mrs. White, who attends the ladies’ waitingroom, rushed ;*_> him and raised up his head. Secretary Blaine also rushed to the assistance of the President. The assassin passed out toward B street, but Cant. Parke, the ticket agent, jumped through the window and caught the assassin, who made no resistance. Officer Carney, the depot policeman, ran up and took hold of the assass.ii, and immediately afterward Officer Scott also took hold of him. Parke lot the officers have him, and turned his attention to the President. Help came, and the President was taken up-stairs. He said not a word until he was laid down, when he asked that his shoes be taken off, saying he felt pain in his feet. As soon as his shoes were removed, he raid to Secretary Windom: "Go right home now and send a telegram to Mrs. Garfield, saying: ‘I feel considerably better,’ and, if she feels well enough, tell her to come to Washington immediately.” This dispatch was sent, and a special train was at once cent to Long Branch for Mrs. Garfie'd. Col. Kockwe 1, who was with the President’s party, i>t once dispatched mounted orderlies for physicians. The Piesldent was laid upon a couch at the depot 'i he dor rs were guarded against the crowd that began to mass about the depot, pale with excitement. Burgeon General Barnes, of the army; Surgeon General Wales, of the navy; Dr. Bliss, one of the most skillful of the army surgeons, and a ho-t of local pract.t'oners were soon at the depot. Tire President did not lose consciousness, but his pul-o ran down to 55, and after a short time he vomited. Iho shot in the back was thought for a time to be fatal. Reports that death bad already resulted speedily became current. Crowds gathered everywhere; carria es blocked every crossing ; every one seemed wild with excitement The public departin' nts at once suspend- d business, and nearly the whole population of Washington poured out into the street. The air was fresh and crisp; the wind was from the sea; a more lovely day had never been known there at this season. Instead of the usual su.try atmosphere of a Washington summer,the air was as fresh as a Northern seaside resort. The Preside nt himself was in a happy and chatty' mood that morning when he left the W hite House. He was in perfect health, and looking forward with delight to his trip to New England. He wore a frock suit of tourist’s grey, and a silk hat He was accompanied in his ride to the depot by Secretary Blaine and Col. Rockwell. The carriage that followed him contained his two boys, Harry and James, and Don Rockwell son of Col. Rockwell. Of the Cabinet officers beside Mr. Blaine, Messrs. Hunt, Lincoln, MacVeagh and James were at the depot.

INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE. The President was taken to the White House on a mattress in a police ambulance about 10 o’c’ock. Looking up as he reached the entrance be saw Cols. Crook and Morton, of his personal staff, and p’.uckily waved his band to them, as if to assure them that he was not so badly injured as bad been reporter). As he was brought in upon the stout shoulders of policemen, he passed Mrs. Blaine in the ante-room below, and kissed his hand to her with a reassuiing air. He was then carried up to his own bedroom, where Mrs. Garfield was sick so long, and laid upon the bed. A consultation of physicians was at once held. Mrs. Dr. Edson was installed as nurse. Col. Rockwell eat upon the bed, watching the President, while Mr. Crump, the steward, stood at the head of the bed. Dr. Bliss was placed in charge of the case. All the physicians were pale and trembling with excitement. The President was the coolest person in the room. He was perfectly cheerful, and immediately ordered dispatches to be sent to his wife and mother, to contradict rumors of his death that might have reached thenri The bedroom was cleared of all but the physicians, the personal attendants of the President and his two sons. All the members of the Cabinet were in the hali adjoining the bedroom, where they remained until favorable symptoms began to appear. At twenty minutes of 11 o’clock, Harry Garfield dashed into the private telegraph office in the White House and sent a dispatch to Mrs. Eliza Garfield, his grandmother, saying that the doctor’s opinion

then was that the wound way not fatal. A consultation was had at 11 and Surgeon General Barnes said a few moments afterward that a final examination would be made at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The patient’s condition was so far favorable. His pulse had gore up from below 55 to nearly the normal rate. His face was losing the look of pain, and the tense muscles were relaxing. He did not think the spine was injured, because the President could move bis legs up and down without any trouble. Whether the intestines had been cut was not certain. If the spine and intestines bad escaped there was every reason to hope for • covery. The wound wax made by a very large flaring ball, and the edges were ragged. The President was very bravo and collected. He was continually reassu ing those about him, and made not a single word of complaint. When Dr. Bliss handed him a large glass of whisky, the President said, with a smile, as he took it: “ Doctor, you will make me drunk.” After the reaction and the stimulants inclined him to doze, the hope that he was not fatally injured quieted the excitement in the White House, but the excitement outside continued. After the President's arrival at the White House, there was a continued stream of diplomatic callers and officials. They were received in the hallway, near the President’s private room. Here, scattered about upon the lounges and easy-chairs of the wait-ing-rooms, were grouped, at various times in the day, all of the representative men at Washington. The glass doors which separate the large, wide hall of the White House from the hallways of the executive offices were closed and locked. The correspondent was admitted by Private Secretary Brown to the private part of the house, in the neighborhood of It o'clock. This hallway was darkened. Passing down this to the extreme end, another glass door, also locked, was opened, and the private room of Gen. Garfield was passed. It is a large, spacious room. The furniture is a light wood. The carpet is dark, overrun with small crimson roses and straggling vines. The room itself was moderately darkened, enough light coming in from the southern windows to light up the scene about the bed. There lay Gen. Garfield, with his head sli> htly supported upon a low pillow. Half reclining upon the bed near him was Col. Rockwell, in a gray tweed suit. He rested on his right elbow, gazing attentively at the President to anticipate every movement of his will almost before the utterance. The stolid and faithful house steward stood at the

head of the bed, and one or two messengers were ranged about, obeying the orders of the physicians. | Mrs. Dr. Edson, the celebrated woman doctor of the city, who was one of the principal physicians ; attending on Mrs. Garfield, was also in the room. 1 She is a tall, broad-shouldered, robust-looking woman, dressed in plain, rather seedy-looking i black bombazine. Her yellowish-gray hair was cut short, and comlted down straight likea man’s. She wore gold-bowed glasses that were continually falling off from her long, thin nose, so nervous and excited was this great friend of the President’s wife. Mrs. Edson occupied the position of nurse, f- he was not recognized by the doctors during the consultation. It was she who remained a greater part of the time by the General’s bedside, every now and then leaving the room and rushing to the telegraph office to send a dispatch to Mrs. Garfield, I at Long Branch, or to Mrs. Garfield, senior, in Ohio. ■ Coming in and out of the room constantly during I the physicians' long coneu'tation, held at 11 o’clock, were tli'e two boys of the President, Harry and James. Harry is a tall, stout boy, in the neighborhood of 16, although he looks a trifle older. The younger boy, James, is in the neighborhood of 14. The two lads behaved very bravely throughout the whole affair. THE EXCITMENT IN WASHINGTON. Before the President was removed from the depot I no one was permitted to enter except those whose ' presence was absolutely required. By some unaccountable means, news was conveyed to multitudes in the streets to the effect that, although the President was not dead, he was mortally wounded. Then a gloom seemed to settle down upon the city like a great pall, and the vast concourse of people waited patiently outside the depot for news from within. They reminded one strongly of the friends and relatives of a dying man waiting in the ante-room of the chamber of death. The suspense was dreadful. Business men and ladies, with faces pale with excitement, and eyes bloodshot with straining,stared fixedly at the door of the depot, and strove painfully to learn or divine something about the wounded man within. At last

the door opened and s< of the doctors came out. The throng Dressed closely around them and begged for information. The medical men said: “He is not dead; ho is not in any immediate danger, and in fact there are hopes of his recovery.” The purport of these words was conveyed to the people present, and was transmitted from lip to lip and from lip to wire all over the country. The city drew a long breath, and the excitement, which had been at white heat, gradually subsided in intensity. Then there was a stir on the outer edge of the crowd, and the people | were moved off right and left, and. every way. It was to make room for an ambi’i'ince which had been summoned to transport the suffering President to the White House. Tenderly was he borne from the build'ng to the vehicle, and quietly and gently was he laid on a mattress therein. Then the vehicle drove off slowly to the White House, followed at a respectful distance by the crowd. When he reached it he was borne inside, and was followed by Surgeon Bliss, who had attended him from the first, and other physicians. The friends of the wounded chief stood sorrowfully about him, and the doors closed between him, his future, and the thousands who stood in the highways and byways of the city awaiting the end. SECRETARY BLAINE’S STATEMENT. Secretary Blaine was not going with the party, but went down to bid the President good-by. He said : “The President and I were walking arm in arm toward the train. I heard two ehots and saw a man run. I strarted after him, but, seeing that he was grabbed just as he got out of the room, I came to the President and found him lying cn the floor. The floor was covered with the President’s blood. A number of people who were around shortly afterward have some of that blood on their persons.” Mr. Blaine also gave a very interesting account of his talk with the President that morning going down in the carriage. The President said to Mr. Blaine: “You have no idea how happy I am this morning. I feel like a boy again—everything seems to go so well. The funding operations are all successful, and I think we have gotten through our hard times. The people seem to be with us, and I think we can look forward now to having a very successful administration.” He said: “I am so well satisfied with the situation, so well satisfied with the past, that I feel now that I can go to New England and just have a boy’s frolic. I intend to forget that lam President. I intend to forget all about my past troubles and have a good, wholesome rest.” Mr. Blriuc says that be never saw the President in such a joyful mood, and he was talking in this vein with him in the ladies’ waiting room when the ignoble a-sassin came upon them and fired the two shots that laid the President low. Mr. Blaine himself had a narrow escape, as be stood exactly in line with the President, and, had it not been for the attempt of the assassin to escape after having made the twoshots, he too might havesharedhis crazy fury. SECRETARY LINCOLN’S STATEMENT. Speaking of the shooting, Secretary of War Robert Lincoln said no one could have foreseen the incident, and the duration of its occurrence was barely three seconds. Secretary Blaine and the President stoed elbow to elbow talking about some ordinary topic. The sound of the two shots and the fall of the President were almost instantaneous. The exclamation of the assassin followed as quickly, and in the brief seconds of the occurrence the scene of quiet changed to that of excitement, so great that it amounted to a wild panic. The coolness of the depot officers and some of the local officials prevented anything like riot that was for a few moments threatened. The prisoner was conveyed to the Central Slation before the crowd fully realized what had been done. the president’s wonderful ner-z. Said Dr. Bliss: “From the very first the President has been plucky and brave. Indeed, he has at times been in an almost-frolicsome mood. I never, in all my experience, met with such a patient. I never have Been such nerve—never have seen such coolness, such self-possession. The Pre-i----dent has discussed his case with me at different times all day. When I came to him at the depot he shook me by the hand and said, ‘Bliss, how is it?’ and it has been ‘Bliss, how is it?' at different times all the afternoon.” “Yes,” said Gen. James, “ he shook me by the hand down at the depot, and as he gave me a strong grip he said: ‘James, what do you think was the motive of this man?’ and I replied: ‘Well, you will have to ask Father Kirkwood—he is here—he is older than I;’ and he then turned to Kirkwood, arid all tint Kirkwood could say was, ‘Devilish, iniamous.’ ’’ Mr. Blaine gave a very interesting incident of the

afternoon. He said that at one time the President alluded to the assassin, and that is all. He asked who it wa-<, and was informed. He said, “What could have been the man’s motive?” Mr. Blaine eaid he thought he was some crazy man—that it was an act of lunacy. He said it was charitable, at least, to suppose that. The President then looked up with a smile and said, “Probably he thought it a great thing to be a pirate King.” ARRIVAL OF MRS. GARFIELD. The most touching episode of the day was the home-coming rs Mrs. Garfield. A dispatch had been sent to her early in the day to come. The dispatch was carefully worded so as not needlessly to alarm her. A peremptory dispatch was sent to Judge Swayne, who was with her, to charter a special train and bring her on as rapidly as possible. All the afternoon the President kept inquiring for her. At the time the carriages first appeared in sight, there was aery: “Oh, there they come!” There were three carriages, and the horses attached to them were lashed into a gallop. So furious and swift were they coming that hardly had they appeared in sight when there was a crash and roll on the gravel, and the close black carriage and black horses belonging to the President's own stable came with a whirl up in front of the Attorney General, and were checked by a blue-coated messenger who stood there waiting. The colored man on the lox did not turn his head. He sat as if carved in marble. The Attorney General ran forward, seized the door es the carriage and opened it. Just back of him came running little James Garfield, young Rockwell and Mrs. MacVeagh. f Every head was bowed as Mrs. Garfield stepped resolutely out. There were traces of tears about her eyes. She showed no other signs of weakness. Her little boy sprang forward and cried : “ Ob, mamma.” Thatwasallhe said. She pressed his band warmly, and then, leaning upon the arm of the Attorney General and leading her little boy, she started up the steps. Then came Mollie Garfield, weeping, a pleasant-faced little lass in gray. She was followed by Mrs. Rockwell, a snow-white haired lady, whoso appearance of youthfulness did not correspond witu the gray of her hair. A servant or two with wraps followed. They walked quickly up-stairs. There was hardly a dry eye among the few spectators who watched the pathetic home-coming of the poor woman who had suffered so much. Something of her resolute character was shown as she walked almost without assistance to her husband’s room. She went in and walked up to him quietly without the first evidence or sign of any emotion that would annoy or irritate or make him nervous. She said simply: “I am glad to be home.” He said: “I am very glad to have you.” They kissed, and then she, after a moment or two. passed into a aide room, fearing that she would not be able to control herself in his sight. A moment or two afterward she was seen in company with Judge Swayne and her boy James. The boy had his arm about his mother's waist and ho was doing his best to console her. She ver.” nearly broke down after this, but in a moment she regained her selfcontrol. THE ASSASSIN’S LETTERS. When Guiteau was arrested he made no resistance, saying that he had contemplated the killing of the President, and it was for the good of the country. About 9 o’clock the assassin went to the hack stand adjoining the depot to engage a hack from Barton, a, colored hackman. He said he wanted to go to Gienwood Cemetery in a short time, and wanted the hackman to drive very fast when he should get in the hack. He agreed to pay $2 for the hack on condition that the hackman should drive fast. When stopped, the assassin was going to the hack he had engaged, and be insisted that it was important for him to go and deliver a message to Gen. Sherman. When the officers refused to let him go he begged them to take a letter he Lad to Gen. Sherman. Following is a copy of the letter: July 2,1881. To the White House The President’s tragic death was a sad necessity, but it will unite the Republican party to save the republic. Life is a flimsy dream, and it matters little when one gees. A human life is of sma 1 importance. During the war thousands of brave boys went down without a tear. I presume the President was a Christian, and that he will be happier in Paradise than here. It will be no worse for Mrs. Garfield, dear soul, to part with her husband this way than by natural death. Ho is liable to go at any time, anyway. I had no ill-will against the President. His death was a political necessity. lam a lawyer, a theologian and a politician. lam a stalwart of he stalwarts. I was with Gen. Grant and the rest of our men in New York during the canvass. I have some papers for the press which I shall leave with Byron Andrews and his co-journa ists at No. 1,420 New York avenue, where all reporters can see them. I am now going to jail. Charles Guiteau. The following letter was found on the street shortly after Guiteau’s arrest. The envelope was unsealed and addressed: “Please deliver at once to Gen. Sherman or his first assistant in charge of the War Department;” To Gen. Sherman : I have just shot the President. I shot him several times, as I wished him to go as easily as possible. His death was a political necessity. lam a lawyer, theologian and politician. lam stalwart of the stalwarts. I w.is with Gen. Grant and the rest of our men in New York during the canvass. lam going to jail. Please order out troops and take possession of the jail at once. Very respectfully Charles Guiteau.

TALK WITH THE ASSASSIN. The assassin was taken to jail by Lieuts. Austin and Eckloff and Detective McElfresh. The following conversation took place on th dr way to the jail: McElfresh said: “ I asked him, ‘ Whore are you from? ’ ‘I am a native-born American, born in Chicago.’ Ho said he was a lawyer and a theologian. I asked ‘ Why did you do this ? ’ and he replied, ‘ I did it to save the Republican party.’ ‘ What is your politics? ’ said I. He answered, ‘I am a stalwart among the stalwarts. With Garfield out of the way we can carry all the Northern States, and with him in the way we can’t carry a single one.’ He then said to me, ‘Who are you?’ ai d I replied, ‘A detective officer of this department.’ ‘You stick to me,’ he said, ‘ and have me put in the thirdstory front at the jail, and Gen. Sherman is coming down to take charge. Arthur and all those men are my friends, and I’ll have you made Chief of Police. When you go back to the depot you will find that I left two bundles of papers at the news stand, which will explain all.’ I asked him, ‘ls there anybody else with you in this matter?’ and he answered, ‘ Not a living sou’. I contemplated this thing for the last six weeks, and would have shot him when he went away with Mrs. Garfield, but I looked at her and she looked ro bad that I changed my mind.’ On reaching the jail the people there did not seem to know anything about the assassination, and, when we took him inside the door, Mr. Russ, the Deputy Warden, says, ‘ This man has been here before.’ I then asked him, • Have you ever been here before?’ Ho replied, ‘No, sir.’ I said, ‘Well, the Deputy Warden seems to identify you.’ He said, ‘ Yea, I was down here laat Saturday morning and wanted them to let me look through, and they told me that I couldn’t, but to come Monday.’ I asked, ‘ What

was your object in looking through?’ He Baid, ‘I wanted to see what sort of quarters I would have to occupy.’ I tnen searched him, and, when I pulled off his shoes, he said, ‘Give me my shoes. I will catch cold on this stone pavJment. I told him he couldn’t have them, and he said, ‘ Give me a pair of pumps, then.' ” GUITEAU’S V SITS TO THE WHITE HOU E. Secretary Lincoln said that he knew the assassin •by general reputation in Chicago. He bad beard of him quite often in connection with Socialistic organization, in that city, and Le believed that once or twice he had some temporary connection with the bar. At Iga-t he ca led himself a lawyer, and perhaps had picked up a little practice. As soon as Secretary Lincoln announced m the White House the name of the assassin, ail of the Secretaries of the President could call him to mind. C >l. Crook, especially, has had a great deal to do with him, ad gave, thia morning, a very elaborate description of Guitean, and s me of the details of his many visits at the White House. Col. Cr a>k said: “,Of course you knew that the White Home has become, in latter years, a sort of headquarters for all the luna'lcs in the country. We arc continual'} being inundated with letters fiom ■ crazy peep e, and there is hardly a day that some some lunatic doos not ca’l at the White House upon some very important mission who desires a special audience with the President. Most of the peoj le who call are perfectly harmless. Guitean never, to my mind, has suggested the idea of danger. He has been coming in and going out of here ■ever since the 4th of March. He came to me one morning in April, in my office, and threw his card down upon my desk and said: ‘ I want to see the President.’ He always claimed that he was largely instrumental in carrying Illinois for Garfield, and for that reason he ought to be recognized. Well, after that I went out and told Mr. Guiteau that he could not see the President. The Presiden t was engaged. One day, however, he did succeed in getting by us, and got in with the general crowd, and presented his h ind to the President. That was some time ago, however. The President treated him as he did all that cla s of callers, and got rid of him as easily as possible, without m king any promises one way or the other. Since then be has been coming here every day. He was a very peculiar man—so peculiar that I have made a sketch of him, and h re the Colonel opened his book and •showed a lead-pencil sketch that he had made of Gu tcau several weeks ago. The pencil sketch represents a man with a good forelie id, clear staring eyes, sharp nose, lull mustache, flowing beard, and stubby hair combed right back from the forehead without parting. Col. Crook says he has. always worn a blue gray suit, and a black, dirty hat. He had l>een very impudent and insolent to most of the people about the White House and has annoyed them excessively, but has never approached anything like violence or disorder so as to warrant his arrest. He said that he came in one day and called for some stationery and cards, and gradually began to use one of the large ante-rooms of the White House as a private office. He would come up there in the morning with Lis papers and read them, and borrow some stationery and write a lot of letters, and in fact w'as making himself so much at home that yesterday Col. Crook suggested to him that he was encroaching upon the privileges of the office, and that he could not give him any more stationery. This seemed to irritate Guiteau very much. Gniteu at all times sought to produce an impression upon the Secretary that he was a very’ powerful politician. One day Gen. Logan came into the White House, and while there Guiteau lan up to him and shook hands with him. Gen. Logan looked at itim as if he might have known him and might not have known him, and passed on. Then Guiteau came to Crook and said : “ There, do you ■ see, I know Logan. I know all them big fellows. You see how I stand with them. Now do you think ■t am a man the administration can afford to overlook ?” The proof of Guiteau’s lunacy lies in the •letters that he has written. He belongs to the class of crazy men who feel it their duty to send each day a daily missive to the White House. His lettershave become so notorious that they are simply thrown Into the waste-basket without being opened. At the first part of the administration bis letters were addressed io the President, congratulating him on his policy and giving him very elaborate advice. His sentences were well wi itten and the words correctly spelled, but there was a lack of coherency. There was nothing in the way of sense in the communications from beginning to end. If the letters were not artful preparations and were the honest productions ot Guiteau, any judge would certainly convict him of insanity upon their reading.” DISPATCH TO MINI 1 ER LOWELL. WASHINGTON, July 2. The following was forwarded by cable: D. iuhtmkst of State, ) Washingt n, July 2./ ' To Janies liusseil Lowel’, Minister, etc , London: The President of t e United States was shot this -morning by an assas-in named Charles Guiteau. 1 lie weapon was a large-sized revolver. The President hud j ust reached the Ba t more and Potomac -tition at about twenty minutes past 9, intending, w.th a p irtion of his Cabinet, to leave on the limited express train for Now Y rk. I rode In the carr.age with hijm from the Executive Man-ion, and was waking by his side when he was shot. The assassin was immediately arrested, amt tl.e President was conveyed to a private room in the station building, md surgical aid at once summoned. He has now ■ at twenty minutes past 10) been removed to the Executive Man-ion. The surgeons in cot sultation ret gard his wounds as very serious, though not necesv- irily f ajal. His vigorous health gives strong hopes ffif bis recovery. He has not lost consciousness for a moment Inform our Ministers in Europe. James G. Blaine, Secretary of State. A MES AGE FROM G- N. HANC CK. The following was received from Gon. Hancock : Govirnor’s Islani , July 2. To Gen. W. T. Sherman, Washington : I trust that the result of the assault upon the life of the President to-day may not have fatal consequences, and that in the interest of the country the act may be shown to have been that of a madman. Thanks for your dispatch and your promise of further information. W. S. Hancock, grant’s wold. The following dispatch was received by Secretary Lincoln fr >m Gen. Grant: Elberon, N. J., July 2. To Secretary Lincoln, Washington: Please dispatch me the condition of the President News recived conflict-. I hope the most favorable may be confirmed. Express to the President my deep sympathy and hope that he may speedily recover. U. 3. Grant. THE QUEEN’S SYMPATHY. The Secretary of State leceived from Sir Edward Thornton, the British Minister, the following telegram, dated London, July 2, 10:15 p. m.: To Sir Edward Thornton, British Ambassador, "Washington: The Queen desires that you will at once express her sorrow with which she has learned of the attempt upon the President’s life, and her warmest hope for his recovery. Mer Majesty wishes for full and immediate reports as to his condition. Lord Granville. ARTHUR’S CONDOLENCE. The following telegram was received by Secretary Blaine: New York, July 2. The Hon. James G. Blaine Secretary of State, Wash- : ington: Your telegram with its deplorable narrative ■ did not reach me promptly, owing to my absence. I am profoundly shocked at the « dreadful news. The hopes you express lelieve some-

what the horror of the first announcement. I await further intelligence with the greatest anxiety. Express to the President and about him my grief and sympathy, in which the whole America! people will join. C. A. Arthub. THE FEELING IN ENGLAND. London, July 3. Intelligence of the aft-mpt to assassinate President Garfie d was received here about 5 o’clock yesterday, creating the most intense excitement among Americana. Ail sorts of speculations were indulged in. Some thought it was done by Socialists, as part of a general plan for the assa-sination of the rulers of the various countries, as lately announced in the Socia ist programme. Supposing such to be the case, it was the universal wi-h that the assassin should never be permitted to reach the jail alive. It was also hoped that the people or the United States would at once cohimence a war of extermination against every socialist in the country who should indorse the deed. Every American center in London was besieged by Americans to get the latest news. The office of the Amer.can legation was thronged by crowds, anxious to get the latest news, and personal calls were received from hundreds, many of whom were B iiish officials, a-king information and expressing regret over the event. Minister Lowell was not at alt communicative, declining curdy to express any opinion as to the occurrence, or as to the effect on the British people in case Garfield should die. Telegrams were teceivcd by M-. Lowell from several members of the British Cabinet, and one from the Quern at Windsor, asking for the latest information, and expressing regret at the attempt made upon Mr. Garfield s life. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD. James A. Garfield, the twentieth President of the United States in succe-sion to that office, was born at Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio (fifteen miles from Cleve’aml), Nov. 9,1831. Both his parents were of New England stock. His father was a farmer in moderate circumstinces, and died when Janie < was only 2 years old. There were three other children, and upon the widowed mother devolved the rearing of her little family. James developed a stout boyhood in the rugged out-door life which filled hieariicr years at farm work and canal-driving, and he had intended to ship as a seam n on a lake vessel, when a fit of sickness turned his destiny to another direction. He therefore entered Geauga Academy, near his mother’s home, and, working his way, was able, at the age of 23 years, to enter the junior class at Williams (Mass.) College, from which he graduated with honor in 1856. He then connected himself with the little college at Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, as Professor, and later as its President, and incidentally filled the pulpit of Camphellite churches, to which denomination Hiram College was attached. While college Professor, he married Miss Lucretia Rudolph, daughter of a neighboring farmer. His political career began in 1859 with an election to the Ohio Senate, and the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861, opened to him a wider life. He went to the field as Colonel of the Forty-second Ohio regiment, wa> soon put in command of a brigade, and, as a brigade commander, participated in the earlier campaigns of Kentucky and Tennessee, including the second day’s battle at Pittsburg Landing, the siege of Corinth, and operations along the line of the Memphis and Charleston railroad, in January, 1863, he became Chief of Staff to Gen. Rosecrans, in the Army of the Cumberland, and bore prominent share in all the campaigns in Middle Tennessee in the spring and summer of that year. His last conspicuous military service was at the battle of Chickamauga. For his conduct in that battle he was promoted to a Major Generalship. In 1862 the district long represented in Congress by Joshua R. Giddings had made Gen. Garfield a Congressman-elect, and, with the assembling of the House, in December, 1863, his Congressional service began. Successive re-elections extended that service over a period of seventeen years, and it was begun and continued in a manner to place him in the front rank of Republican leaders. Gen. Garfield was elected a Senator of the United States, as the successor of Thurman (Democrat), by the Legislature of Ohio, in January, 1880. Gen. Garfield’s term as Senator would beg n the 4th of March, 1881, but the political events f 1880 decreed that he should, instead, ba inaugurated President of the United States on that day. BiIEAXING THE NEWS TO THE GOOD OLD MOTHER. Cleveland, Ohio, July 3. The news of the sheeting of the President was broken to his mother this forenoon. She had been so much overcome by The fatal accident which resulted in the death of Thomae Garfield and Mrs. Arnold that the family had kept from her the intelligence of the attempted assassination. But thia morning she felt better, and spoke of attending Mrs. Arnold’s funeral, which took pace at Bedford to-day. In announcing h<r intention,, she remarked: “ Last Satu: day Thomas was buried, today C xrnelia. I wonder who it will be next Sunday ?” Mrs. Trowbridge, at whose h- use Mrs. Gaifie.d was, then sent for Mrs. Larrabee, another daughter. When the latter arrived Mrs. Garfield inquired if she was going to Mrs. Arnold’s funeral, Mrs. Larrabee replied that she guessed she could not, as something bad happened, so the sisters thought it best not to go. “What has happened?” inquired Mrs. Garfield. •“ We have beard that James is hurt,” replied Mrs. Larrabee. “ By the cars?” asked the mother. “ No. He was shot by an assassin, but he was not killed,” replied the daughter. “ The Lord help me I” exclaimed Mrs. Garfield. Mrs. Larrabee assured her mother that the latest reports were favorable, and showed that the President was resting quietly and in a fair way to recovery. “ When did you hear of this?” queried Mrs. Garfield. “ Yesterday noon; but we thought best not to tell you. The news was not as favorable as to-day,” was the reply. “ You were very thoughtful. lam glad you didn’t tell me,” said Mrs. Garfield, adding that she thought something bad happened, as she had noticed that the manners of her daughters had been peculiar toward her during yesterday. She added: “Howcou’d anybody be so cold-hearted as to want to kill my baby?” This afternoon she dictated the following dispatch to her grandson: Horry A. Garfield, Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C.: The news was broken to me this morning, and shocked me very much. Since receiving your telegram I feel much more hopeful. Tell James that I hear he is cheerful and lam glad of it Tel him to keep in good s. irits and accept the love and sympathy of mother, sisters and friends Eliza Gabfii-ld. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ASSASSIN. Washington, D. C., July 3. Guiteau sent for District-Attorney Corkhill this afternoon, and asked for an interview. Col. Corkhill took a stenographer with him, and the interview lasted for three hours. The District Attorney refusei to give to the press the story told by the prisoner, but says that he made a very full statement, which he is now engaged in verifying. In answer to a suggestion made by Col. Corkhill that it was a horrible er me, of which he was guilty—so horrible that all having any connection with him in any way would be suspected of being implicated with him—Guitean said : “If that was so. he would te’l all.” He then told all the incidents of his life in Washington, from his arrival here until the attempte lai sassin. tion. He to’d where he lived.

what he did from day to day, where he received his mo ley, who lent it to him, whom he knows and associated with, and where he bought his pistol. He reiterated the statement contained in his published letter that his motive in shooting the President was to saxo the Republican party. He told how ho had formed the pan and when, how long he had brooded upon it, and how it had become a fixed fact in bis mind tbit the only salvation of the Republican parity was the death of the President. He seems to save said very little about the defeat of his asp rations for office, i nd the District Attorney rejects the theory that be is insane. He has no delusion, and talks rationally and calmly about his crime, glorying in it, and evinces no synip’oms of regret at its commission. On the contrary, he is as firmly convinced as ever that it was bis duty to kill the Pre-i-----dent, and says that he > hot him with precisely the same feeling that he would have shot a rebel bad he been in the army. His talk on this subject is apparently that of a fanatic. The only regret that he expresses at all is that the President is not dead. He said that he learned with sorr w that he is groxx ing better. 'This was early in the afternoon, anti he based his remark on the talk he bad heard among the officers of the jail, who had been expressing their p’ea sure at the favorab e bulletins that were then issuing by Dr. B iss. Guiteau scoffs at the idea that he is an ordinary criminal, and desired to save himse’f from punishment. On the contrary, he says that the happiest moment of bis life since lie matured his plan to kill the President he experienced when he was on his way to jail. The carriage that he hired to take him to the Congressional Cemetery was really intended to carry him to the jail, which adjoins the cemetery’. He had the carriage ready and waiting for him, and had instructed the driver to hurry quickly as possible to the cemetery when he should jump in. There is no one here who believes that the crime has any political significance whatever. The District Attorney Hays that Guiteau now talks very little of his otalwartism. At any rate, whether he does or not, there is a general fee ing here that it is cruelly unjust to ho’d the stalxvarte in any way responsible for the criminal vagaries of a man who is not absolutey crazy, but is a most deluded fanatic. No one, of course, thinks that Conkling or Arthur, or any other stalwart, had anything directly to do with the shooting of the President, but they’ or their friends here say that an effort is making to cast odium upon them by reason of the shooting. guiteau’s record. [From the Chicago Tubune.] Guiteau is a man now 39 years of ago. He was liorn in Fieeport, 111., xvhere his father—the cashier oi a bank for many years, but now dead—was a respected citizen. He studied in Ann Arbor, and xvent from there to the Oneida Community in New York. His father was a believer in the doctrines of the pecu’iar people of whom Mr. Noyes was the head, and the y< ung man bad read much in earlier days of the literature of the Community. His life there, hoxvever, was neither very long nor a very happy one. He xvas unwilling to work, and finally left the Community, demanding the return of the s7to which ho had put into the common fund when he entered the Community there. This was at fit st refused him, and in 1868 he began a suit against the Community for the recovery cf this money. Finally, with the aid of Mr. George Scoville,lawyer, who had married his Bister, be succeeded in getting some of it back, and, after a very brief residence in New York, he came to this city, xvhere he appeared in .1869 as a lawyer, officing at No. 6C La Salle street. The following year he moved bis quarters to No. 101 Dearborn street, still pr .feesiiig to be a lawyer. At this period he got into troub e xvith the Young Men’s Library, from xxh’ch he was charged with stealing seme books. He was prosecuted, but was acquitted, and afterwards brought suit against the association. Toward the close of 1870 he married a young lady in this city and moved with her to New York, where they lived unhappily for a few months, and she finally got a divoice from him on account of bls cruelty and illtreatment. He remained in New York until the latter part of 1874. During his residence there be got into difficulty on account of his cheat ng the hotels out cf their beard bills, xvas imprisoned in Ludlow street jail, and was released only by the exerlions of his brother-in-law. In 1875 he was back in the city, officing at No. 176 Fifth avenue, and living for a time at the Clifton House, bailing to pay his bill at this hotel, as he had failed to pay it at so many others, he was summari’y ejected. The folloxving year he was over at No. 147 LaSalle street, and was making au effort to Jive at the Gault House, but xvas put out of there for his peculiarities. During this year he went to NewYoik and again resumed the practice of the law there. Owing to bis irregularities when intrusted with the collection of debts—f ir he col ecte.i his share first and then let bis client do the re.-t of the collecting for himse’f—he was written up extensively by the New York Herald, his practices being commented on in very unfavorable terms. After this article be sued the paper for SIOO,OOO, and in October of that year returned to Chicago. In January, 1877, he broke out xx-ith his religious mania. He had conceived the idea that the second coming of Christ occurred at the time of the destruction of Jerusa em, and that we were not living under the new dispensation. He tried to enforce these doc'rines through lectures delivered in the city, and through pamphlets and books which he printed. In July Of that year he wag arrested on a charge of embezzlement—failing to turn over money which he had been employed t > collect, and was sent to the county jail, but was released on the 28th if Ju'y, the g.and jury failing to find an indictment against him. After that he again delivered his lectures at xarious points throughout the country, and in September, 1877, xvas over in Detroit, Mich. Here he tried to steal away without paying nil board-bill, xvas arrested in the interior of the State, and, xvhile being taken back to Detroit in the cars, jumped from the train and escaped. It was at first thought that be had been killed, but this, unfortunately, turned out to be an error. In 1879 he was back in the city, officing at No. 93 Randolph street, and emp.oyed as an insurance agent. His di s honesty, hoxvever, drove him out of the business, and he spent his time from that period till the time of the murder in xvandering around the country, seeking to deliver his lectures, turning up occasionally at his brother-in-law’s house for the purpose of getting some e’ean clothes and a decent meal. During the national campaign last year he suddenly appeared in Nexv York, at the headquarters of the National and State Committees. He had meddled in politics to some little extent here, and qn this occasion transferred his activity to a broader ip’iere. He produced a printed speech which he said he had deliveved at various points, and tried to get money and a position from the committee. Afier Pre-ideut Garfield's inauguration, he wandered to Washington in quest cf a Consulship, his claim being the political services he had rendered during the campaign. He also bore xvith him a pe'ition signed by ono or two people of this city, who had put their names to the document simply ia order to get rid of him, and without being aware of the rascally features in the man’s character. He hung around there all through the spring months, but returned to this city in May, stayed a few days, and then, on the Ist of June, left again for Washington. A FAST ING FOURTH. Gov. Cullom has issued the following : Sfate of Illinois.- Executive Department,> Springfield, Ju’y 3, 1881. ) In pride and prosperity the people of Illinois and < f the Union were preparing to celebrate the 105th

anniversary of American independence, when the appalling news broke upon them that, on Saturday morning last, the President of the United States was shot by an assassin. In the providence of God, President Garfield, though dangerously wounded, still lives, and, at the writing of this proclamation, at midnight preceding the Fourth of July, the attending physicians report that the wound is not necessarily fatal, and his condition gives hope that he may ultimately recover. Wherefore, I. Shelby M. Cullom, Governor of the State of Illinois, do recommend to the people of this State, that, in their public ceremonies on to-morrow, they manifest, by appropriate expressions, their thankfulness to Almighty God for the preservation from death thus far of the President of the United States, not forgetting that he still lies in great danger. In testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand, and cause the great sea’ cf the State to be affixed. Done at Springfield the day anil date above named. S. M. Cullom. By the Governor: Henry D. Dement, Secretary’ of State. Columbus, Ohio, July 3. Gov. Foster has issued the following proclamation: Executive Department, Governor's Office,) Columbus, Ohio, July 3, 1881. ) Suggestions are coming to me to counsel Mayors ofcitits and villages and the people of the State to suspend the usual Fourth of Ju y celebration, and substitute therefor exercises in harmony with the universal feeling of distress over the attempted assassination of the President. These suggestions being so heartily in accord with my own feelings, I earnestly request that the poop e assemble in the churches at 10:30 a. m. and engage in devotions to Almighty God, and that the ce ebrations of the day be conducted ia accord with what may then be known of the physical condition of the President. Thanks to kind Providence, it is a great joy to add that present advices give hope for the recovery of the President. Charles Foster, Governor. Springfield, 111.. July 3. THE DAY AFTER—HOPFFUL FEELING. Washington, July 3. President Garfield still lives. That such is the fact is largely due to his vig >rous constitution, his temperate habits, his robust health and his indomitable pluck. Aa Secretary Windom remarked this morning: “ If the President had not been one of the greatest men in the world he wou’d not now be alive. He does not treat his condition lightly, nor assume an air of bravado, but, contemplat ng the probabilities of bis situation with the calm heroism of a Christian, he is firm and determined, yet cheerful. . This s ems to dcserilre the" President’s mental condition perfectly. He has a soul that knows no fear, and, xvhile he undoubtedly fully realizes the imminent danger of his situation, he has not permitted it for an instant to unnerve him or to cloud bis faculties. His pain, which has been at times intense, has been borne with patient cheerfulness. No murmur has escaped him. He has been as tender and considerate of the feelings of those ai on ml him as he used to be in the hours of his greatest vigor and joyousness. During the night, although the wound was not probed, medical tests xvurc employr dby the surgeons to track the course of the ball, and they gave the alternative of two positions. They said it was either lodged In the lower edge of the right lobe of the liver, or that it had passed through that portion of the liver and was lodged in the anterior wall of the abdomen. Through the night morphine was constantly used to deaden the pain, and for other repressive purposi s. Ice was also constantly used to prevent inflammation, and the wound was continually swabbed. Mrs. Garfie’d is very cert in that her husband will recover. The Presiden t himself shares thisopinion. Once only lias he felt that bls hours were numbered, when, at his own request, at a time when he seemed to be sinking rapidly, the physicians told him that the chances xvere that he had not many hours to live. But it was only for it very short time that he seemed to feel that his end was near, and, oven then, he was not despondent. Late in the night he talked of pleasant things, and di cussed with the watching ph sician, Dr. Bliss, what the effect upon his (the President’s) career would have been had a brother of Dr. Bliss (who was Garfield’s boon companion) failed to reiurn to him a $lO note which he had lost. “ The loss of that note,” said the Pre id- nt, “ might have prevented my going to school, might have prevented me from becoming President.” The President’s mind during the night was constantly on pleasant things of this sort, and he conversed cheerful y, in all his waking interva's, during the night. Commissioner of Pensions Dudley passed the night wi h the President. The latter, m all hia waking hours, was eager to ta k. His mind was clear. He had great confidence that l e was improving and would ultimately recover. He asked about the assassin, but from the description was unable to recall liim. He suffered much pain at times in his legs, but did not at any time complain. As to the possibility of death he epoke calmly, and said, with great deliberation, that, if it was God’s will that he must die, he was ready to go and was not afraid to die. Secretary Blaiue has been deluged by telegrams of condolence and sorrow from prominent people in every part of the country, including one from Senator Conkling. Senator Jones, of Nevada, called at the White House and informe i the members of the Cabinet that Vice President Arthur had arrived in the city and was his guest, and would like to see the President if ho could be permitted to do so. Senator Jones was told the phy icians did not th nk it best to allow any one to see the President except the members of his family. ’■ EX-SBNATOR CONKLING. New York, July 3. Late in the evening, when Mr. Conkling had partially recovered from the awful news, he left his room and pi ced thoughtfully along the halls of the Fifth Avenue Hate'. “ I hardly know what to say,” he remarked to a party of gentlemen who met him. “I was prepared for almost anything rather than this. When I saw that dispatch ,in General Arthur’s hands to-day I was almost stunned. I felt as if I could scarcely hold my breath. Gcd grant it be not true. I cannot yet bring myself to believe it is as bad as was firwt reported. It is, if true, the most terrible scourge that has afflicted this country since the murder of Lincoln. All I have to say further, gentlemen, is [turning to go to his room and throwing up hia hands] may Heaven help our country!” MIMES HOF ANXIETY. Washing : on, July 4, 4:20 a. m. The President is given up as beyond recovery. He is dying under the influence of opiates. Mrs. Garfie d has been with him almost all night, and is now prostrated with grief and exhaustion. Th i President is suffering intense pain in the feet, which is considered a fatal symptom. The abdominal swelling was only slight, but peritonitis has set in, and his fever is rising. Powerful opiates are being administered and patient is barely conscious. Secretary Lincoln says “ hope is dead.” Dr. Bliss refuses to concede the worst. Horn REVIVES. Washingion, July 4, 9:15 a, m. The genera! symptoms of the President are much better. He is conscious, and says if it was not for the pain in his feet he would feel as well as he ever did. Dr. Bliss is very hopeful that his patient will pull through.

JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD.