THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2285, 29 July 1881, Page 3

THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

The American papers to hand by the mail are full of telegrams expressing sympathy for the President, and grief at bis attempted assassination. We take the following from the San Francisco “ Post” of July 2nd : THB ASSASSINATION. Washington, July 2nd.—The President had alighted from his carriage, and 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. Blaine bad turned towards one door, when the assassin fired the second shot. In ten seconds the President fell, and Mrs White, who attend* the ladies’ waiting room, rushed to him and raised up his head. Blaine also rushed to the assistance of the President. The assassin passed out towards B strest, but Captain Parke, ticket agent, jumped through a window and caught the assassin, who made no resistance. Officer Carney, depot policeman, rushed up and took hold of the assassin, and immediately afterward Officer Scott also took hold of him. Parke let the officers have 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. He asked that his shoes be taken off, saying he felt pain in his feet. As soon as his shoes were removed he said to Secretary Windom —" Go right and send a telegram to Mrs Garfield saying I feel considerably better, and if she feels well enough, tell her to come to Washington i i,mediately.” This dispatch was sent, and a special train was at once sent to Long Branch for Mrs Garfield. SECEBTAEY BLAINE’S STOBY. Washington, July 2nd.—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 towards the train. I heard two shots and saw a man run. I started after him, but seeing that be was grabbed just as he got out of the room I came to the President, and

found him lying on the floor. The floor was covered with the President’s blood. A number of people who were around shortly afterwards have some of that blood on their persons. I think I know the man. I think his name is Gittean. The assassin is about sft 7in in height, of strong though not stout build. The weapon used was a revolver, about 7in long. It had an ivory handle. The calibre was very large. It is what is known ss a California pistol. It made a very loud report. Parks says both shots were fired while the assassin was behind the President. When Officers Scott and Corner got held of the assassin, and were taking him to police head-quarters, he said voluntarily to them, “I did it and will go to gaol for it. I am a stalwart and Arthur will be President.” He had a letter in his hand, and wanted the officer to take it to General Sherman, saying it would be all right. The prisoner made no resistance, saying that he hod contemplated the killing of the President and it was for the good of the country. About nine o’clock the assassin went to a hack stand adjoining the depot, and engaged a htci from Bartin, a colored hackman. He said he wanted to go to Gtlenwood Cemetery in a short time, and wanted the hackmaa to drive very fast when he should get in the hack. He agreed to pay 26d01. for the hack on condition that the hackman would drive very fast. When stopped the assassin was going to the hack he had engaged, and he insisted that it was important for him to go.

THE ASSASSIN’S LETTER, Washington, July 2nd—Following is a copy of the letter the assassin wanted delivered to General Sherman : “July 2nd, 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 limsy dream, and it matters little when one goes. A human life is of small value, 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. He is liable to go at any time, any way. I had no ill-feeling against the President. His death was a political necessity. lam a lawyer, a theologian and politician. lam a stalwart of the stalwarts, I was with G-eneral

Grant and the rest of our men in New Tork during the canvass, I have some papers for the Press which I shall leave with Byron Andrews and his co-journalists, at 1420 New Tork avenue, where all reporters can see them, lam going to gaol, “ Chab. Gittbau,” WHO THE ASSASSIN WAS, Chicago, July 2—There are many recollections of Charles I. Gitteau, which is his correct name, who lived here several years and acquired an unenviable reputation. He was at one time on the point of marriage with an estimable young lady on the South side, bubble character became known just in time to prevent such calamity to the lady and her family. Gitteau left town immediately u.hcr this for some months. One gentleman rsmarkod—“ I remember Charles Gitteau well. He was here two or three years ago, and seemed to have no visible means of support. He preached or lectured on religious and social subjects, upon which he was- an enthusiast. He started in here as a lawyer, but failed utterly, and then tried to lift himself into notoriety by lecturing on religion one evening in each week. His card in the newspapers is produced to day, and is a literary curiosity. He bored the newspapers by trying to get his manuscript printed. He failed also as a lecturer, and then began life os a tramp of the more respectable order. He was branded by the Hotelkeepers’ Association as a bad beat. In appearance he is an American, of French extraction, thirty-five to forty years old, of medium height, slender build, fair complexion, brown hair, French-shaped moustache, and beard tinged with gray. His whole appearance was that sf a dandified man of small mental calibre. Ho was unu-mally fond of notoriety, and would go almost any length to get his name in the papers. He was arrested here once for embezzlement. He got the idea in his head that he was fit for official position, and has been trying with all his power to get a consulate at Marseilles. EIFORTS TO INTERVIEW THE PRISONER.

Washington, July 2nd.—The district jail, in the eastern extremity of the city, was visited by a reporter after eleven o’clock for the purpose of obtaining an interview with Charles Qitteau, the would be assassin of President Garfield. The officers refused admittance to the building, stating the reason therefor. They were acting under instructions received from the Attorney-General, the purport of which was that no one should be allowed to see the prisoner. At first, indeed, the officers emphatically denied that the man "had been conveyed to the jail, fearing, it appears, that should the fact be made known that he was there, the building would be attacked by a mob. Information had reached them that such a movement was contemplated. A large guard, composed of regulars from the barracks and metropolitan police, ore momentar'y expected to arrive at the gaol, to be in readiness to repel any' attack. The statement that the assassin is Gitteau was verified by an officer in charge of the gaol. The prisoner arrived, and was placed in a cell about 10.30 o’clock, just one hour after the shooting occurred. He gave his name as Charles Gulteau, of Chicago, Illinois. In appearance he is a man about thirty years of age, and is supposed to be of French descent. His height is about sft Sin. MBS GARFIELD ALMOST FB ANTIC Long Branch, July 2nd—Mrs Garfield is almost frantic over the news. Her physicians allow her to see none of the serious dispatches, but dictate hopeful ones to her. A dispatch to General Grant has relieved Mrs Garfield’s anxiety. It says : —“ The President’s wounds are not mortal. Ho was shot in the arm and hip.” Mrs Garfield will depart on a special train for Washington at one o’clock. She is now much more composed. Dr. Bliss has just telegraphed that the wounds are not necessarily mortal. THE CONDITION OF THE PRESIDENT Washington, July 2ad, 11.30 a.m. —The condition of the President is very much improved. Immediately after the shooting nis pulse went down to 53, and his face, as he was removed to the White House, was of an ashen hue. His pulse has recovered to 03, and the color is returning somewhat to his face. His general symptoms, moreover, denote very considerable improvement. It is not thought wise to make any furlhe* attempts at present to withdraw the bullets, and it is difficult to determine ui'til a thorough examination is made how serious the internal injuries may be. Surface indications, however, give good grounds for hoping that the President will rally.