THE ASSASSINATION OF JAMES GARFIELD JULY 2, 1881

AFTER 36 VOTES GARFIELD BECAME THE SURPRISE NOMINEE

CHARLES GUITEAU

In 1880, Guiteau became a frequent visitor to Republican Party headquarters in NYC

TIMELINE OF THE INSANE?

INTEREST IN POLITICS?

Although Guiteau had written speeches in support of Grant, a Stalwart, when Garfield became the nominee, Guiteau simply scratched Grant’s name from his speech and substituted Garfield’s.

GUITEAU WROTE GARFIELD ASKING FOR A DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT

“NEVER BOTHER ME AGAIN ABOUT THE PARIS CONSULSHIP SO LONG

AS YOU LIVE.”

Sec. State Blaine to Guiteau:

THE MURDER WEAPON

ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

“I had no ill-will against the President, the President’s removal was a political necessity, because he proved a traitor to the men who made him, and thereby imperiled the life of the Republic . . . Ingratitude is the basest of crimes. It is not murder . . . It will make my friend Arthur President, and save the Republic . . . I leave my justification to God and the American people.”

LETTER TO SHERMAN JULY 1

To General 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. I am a lawyer, a theologian, and a politician. I was with Gen. Grant and the rest of our men in New York during the canvass. I am going to jail. Please order out your troops and take possession of the jail at once. Very respectfully, Charles Guiteau

BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC STATION

Diagram of the Train Station

“MY GOD, WHAT IS THIS?”

“I DID IT. I WILL GO TO JAIL FOR IT. I AM A STALWART AND ARTHUR WILL BE

PRESIDENT.”

WOUNDS ON GARFIELD

1. Enters 4 inches to the right of the spine.

2. Fractures t1th and 12th ribs.

3. Chipping the first lumbar vertebra.

4. Coming to rest behind the pancreas.

ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL’S INDUCTION BALANCE

GARFIELD LYING IN THE CAPITOL

GARFIELD MEMORIAL IN CLEVELAND

Political cartoon created for the cover of Puck Magazine on July 13, 1881. The cartoon shows Charles J. Guiteau with a gun and a note that reads "AN OFFICE OR YOUR LIFE!" The caption reads: "A Model Office Seeker". It is accompanied by a quote: "I am a lawyer, a theologian, and a politician" - Charles J. Guiteau.

Mr. Garfield by Johhny Cash

Mr. Garfield been shot down shot down shot down Mr. Garfield been shot down low

Me and my brother was down close to the depot when I heard the report of a pistol. My brother run out and come back in all excitedAnd I said “what was it?” and he said “it was the report of a pistol” and then he said:Mr. Garfield been shot down shot down shot down Mr. Garfield been shot down low

Lord I knew the President was supposed to be at the depot that dayAnd we just wouldn't believe that he's shotBut we'd run over there and there was so many folks aroundThat we couldn't see him but some lady was standin' there cryin'And I said ma'am what was it that happened ma'am and she saidMr. Garfield been shot down shot down shot down Mr. Garfield been shot down low

Well everybody drifted off toward home finallyAnd they looked like they felt about as bad as I didBut in a few weeks I heard that the President was still aliveAnd I told my brother I said let's get on that train and go to where he's laid up hurt

Well when we got to his big house up there I asked the fellowI said “who was it that did it who was it that shot the President?”And he said it was Charlie Guiteau that shot Mr. Garfield and I saidCharlie Guiteau done shot down a good man good manCharlie Guiteau done shot down a good man low

I heard some fellow there that had been in the house to see the PresidentAnd I sidled up him to listen to what he was tellin' and he saidMrs. Lucretia Garfield was always at his sideIn the heat of the day fannin' him when he was hotHe said that just that day the President said to Mrs. LucretiaHe said Crete honey (he called her Crete)Said if somethin' worse happens to me after awhile you get yourself a good man

And Mrs. Lucretia said James (she called him James)She said I won't hear to that now she said I love you too much but he saidYou'll make some good man a good wife good wifeYou'll make some man a good good good wife(Don't pull in single harness all your life good galDon't pull in single harness all your life)That's what he said don't pull in single harness all your life

Well a few days later I come back to where the President was restin'And it seems everybody was cryin'The flag was hangin' halfway up to the flagpole in front of the houseAnd everybody looked so sad and I asked a soldier boy thereAnd I said is is is Mr. Garfield and he said yeah he's gone

Gonna lay him in that cold lonesome ground down lowGonna lay him in that cold lonesome groundWell they laid the President by that long cold branch Mr. Garfield's been laid down lowMr. Garfield has been shot down Mr. Garfield's been shot(Mr. Garfield been shot down shot down shot down Mr. Garfield been shot down low)

Q: You intended to kill him?

 A: I thought the Deity and I had done it, sir. I want it distinctly understood that I did not do that act in my own personality. I unite myself with the Deity, and I want you gentlemen to so understand it. I never should have shot the President on my own personal account. I want that distinctly understood.

 Q: Who bought the pistol, the Deity or you?

Is the belief that one has been instructed to act by God a sign of mental imbalance?

Guiteau argues that there was no malice in his action, and hence no homicide.  Second, he contends that medical malpractice was to blame for the President's death.

Guiteau argues that the death of Garfield would end the worsening political strife. He argued that Americans were now coming around to his view, and he read letters and poems sent to him--many of which predicted a future in which Americans would accept the divine origin of his inspiration. Guiteau portrays himself as the victim of an ungrateful nation.

“You will be taken to the place prepared for the execution, within the walls of said jail, and there, between the hours of 12 M and 2 P.M., you be hanged by the neck until you are dead. And may the Lord have mercy on your soul."

Sentencing

SIGNIFICANCE OF GARFIELD ASSASSINATION

• Brought the country together• Civil Service Reform• Question the use of insanity as a defense• Use of sterile instruments and the spread of

germs in the medical field.• Ignorance is Bliss!

Come all you tender Christians, wherever you may be, and likewise pay attention to these few lines from me.For the murder of James A. Garfield I am condemned to dieon the thirtieth day of June, upon the scaffold high.

CHORUS: My name is Charles Guiteau, my name I'll ne'er deny.I leave my aged parents in sorrow for to die.But little did they think, while in my youthful bloom, I'd be taken to the scaffold to meet my earthly doom.

'Twas down at the station I tried to make my escape, But Providence being against me, there proved to be no show.They took me off to prison while in my youthful bloomto be taken to the scaffold to meet my earthly doom.

I tried to [play off] insane but found it ne'er would do, the people were all against me, to escape there was no clue.Judge Cox, he read my sentence, his clerk he wrote it down, I’d be taken to the scaffold to meet my earthly doom.

My sister came to see me, to bid a last farewell.She threw her arm around me and wept most bitterly.She says, "My darling brother, this day you must cruelly diefor the murder of James A. Garfield, upon the scaffold high."