The Murder of President James Garfield

Presidenfrlames A. Garfield took the oath of ot/ice on March 4, .1881. Ris presidency lasted only six months, but his assassination led to the passing of sweeping civil service reform. The Murder of President James A. Garfield

By James C. Clark

ames A. Garfield's brief presidency is generally described in a single phrase: Shot by a disappointed office-seeker. But unlike the three other assassinated Presidents, who died soon after being shot, Garfield survived for eighty days. His assassination, which led to the passing of sweeping civil service reform, provides a penetrating look into late nine- teenth-century American politics, medical care, and life in Washington. On Friday, March 4, 1881, James A. Garfield took the oath of office and immediately revived a tradition of meeting anyone who wanted to see him. In the early days of the Republic it could be done, but by 1881 the crush of visitors was too great. Most of them came seeking jobs; thousands of men jammed the waiting rooms and spilled out along Pennsylvania Avenue. They were after the tens of thousands of jobs the President could fill, ranging from fourth-class postmasters to cabinet posts. In what was known as the spoils system, each incom- ing President was allowed to replace virtually every government worker and reward the party faithful. The presence of the job-seekers concerned Garfield. He had diffi- culty sleeping, tossing at night and wondering if he had the ability to be President. He said his day was "frittered away" with the job- seekers "when it ought to be given to the great problem[s] which concern the whole country." Garfield called the job-seekers a "Spar- tan band of disciplined office hunters."1 Early Sunday morning, less than forty-eight hours after the inau- guration, Charles Guiteau arrived in Washington from New York with five dollars in his pocket and a single shirt. Guiteau was a forty- year-old misfit who had lurched from career to career, always finding absolute failure but always pushing on to something new. He had spent several years as an unhappy resident of the Oneida Community in New York, tried to start a daily newspaper, traveled as an evan- gelist, practiced law, and sold life insurance. In early 1880, Guiteau became convinced that he could obtain an important government job if he campaigned for the successful pres- idential candidate. He began haunting the Republican headquarters in New York, wrote a rambling speech in support of Garfield, and made one sorry attempt to deliver it. When Garfield won, Guiteau thought he would receive a foreign posting. Guiteau took a room at Mrs. Lockwood's boardinghouse at 810

129 PROLOGUE

Twelfth Street, NW, one of the more re- \ ._.) spectable places in Washington, where Il- '..-,. \U· ' ; \\••,r . ..., linois Senator John A. Logan was a 1,«wtt::L~o·s HOTEL, boarder. Mrs. Lockwood was suspicious BRESLIN & COOKE. Proprietors, of the new guest and assigned him a WASH INGTON. D. C. room in an isolated part of the house. Even then he managed to bother the guests, pestering Logan to help him se- cure an appointment and walking so qui- etly that he would suddenly appear be- hind guests and frighten them. Although he could not afford Mrs. Lockwood's rates, he felt her boardinghouse was be- neath him. His choice would have been the prestigious Riggs House. To convince people he was staying at the Riggs, he received his mail there and wrote his let- ters on Riggs stationery. 2 Monday morning Guiteau was at the White House with the other office- seekers. Garfield's secretary, Joseph Stanley-Brown, allowed visitors into a waiting room. There they filled out cards and were admitted to see Brown or the President, or their cards were returned, and they were told that no one would see them. In addition to his White House vis- its, Guiteau began making regular trips to the nearby State Department and writing letters to both Garfield and Secretary of State James G. Blaine. On March 8 Guiteau went to the White House to see Garfield. He did not get in and sent him a letter later that day:

I called to see you this A.M., but you were engaged. In October and January last, I sent you a note from New York touching on the Austrian Mission. Mr. [John A.] Kasson, of Iowa, I under- stand, wishes to remain at Vienna till fall. He is a good fellow. I should not wish to disturb him in any event. What do you think of me for Consul General at Paris? I think I prefer Paris to Vi- enna, and if agreeable to you I should be satisfied with the Consulship at Charles Guiteau wrote this letter to President Garfield only four days after the inau- Paris. 3 guration. It was the first of many written on stationary from prestigious hotels. Guiteau returned to the White House claimed he had done more to get Garfield feler reached the door, Guiteau was in- on March 13 for one of his regular visits. elected than the others in the room. Laf- side the office and had taken a seat next The White House was crowded with of- feler told Guiteau it did not matter and to the door. Laffeler told him to leave. fice-seekers and a delegation of senators that he would have to wait. Guiteau sat Garfield had been surrounded by visi- and congressmen. Guiteau told usher down next to Laffeler and waited briefly. tors, and Guiteau did not see him. 4 Charles Laffeler that he had been a dele- When Laffeler looked up, he saw Guiteau Guiteau visited the White House sev- gate to the Chicago convention and entering Garfield's office. By the time Laf- era~ days later and was allowed to see

130 SUMMER 1992 PROLOGUE

role in the Republican party. Conkling, chills. One of those at the reception was the leader of the party's Stalwart faction, Guiteau, who introduced himself to Mrs. had .opposed Garfield's nomination and Garfield. He told her that he had helped supported former President Ulysses S. put her husband in the White House. He Grant. Conkling's power rested on his said he found her "quite chatty and com- ability to control thousands of federal panionable."11 Mrs. Garfield had appar- jobs in New York, primarily at the New ently come down with malaria, an ail- York Customs House. Blaine and his sup- ment not uncommon in Washington. porters, known as Half-Breeds, opposed Garfield spent much of his time beside Conkling, and now Blaine was not only his wife's sickbed while Conkling contin- Garfield's secretary of state but also his ued his fight against the President's nom- primary domestic adviser. inees. Conkling had few allies: fellow On March 20 Conkling met with New York senator, Thomas Platt; Vice Garfield to discuss appointments in New President Chester Arthur; and soon York. Garfield said he would name nine Charles Guiteau. In May, Platt came up Conkling friends to government posts, with a scheme to restore Conkling's but within forty-eight hours, Garfield standing. He thought that if he and Conk- submitted nominations that included ling resigned, the New York legislature both Conkling allies and opponents. It would reelect them and show Garfield was the beginning of the feud with which that they still controlled the Republican Charles Guiteau visited the White House Guiteau would soon identify. Amid the party in the state. almost every day, convinced that he furor caused by the nominations, one The resignations of Conkling and Platt would be appointed to a consulship. nomination went almost unnoticed, ex- came on May 13, as Guiteau learned that Garfield. He was admitted with a group cept by Guiteau. Garfield nominated his career in government would never be- of visitors and thrust a copy of his speech someone else for the Vienna post, and gin. For his entire time in Washington he into Garfield's hand. On the speech he Guiteau switched back to seeking the had clung to the belief that he would had scribbled that he wanted the Vienna Paris position. He wrote to Blaine on surely receive an appointment. To the post. After that meeting, which lasted March 25, "This is the only office I ask for clerks at the White House and the State only a few seconds, the White House myself or friends, and I think I am enti- Department he was "a kind of butt, sent staff denied him access to the President. tled to it. I ask it as a personal tribute."9 Still, Guiteau called nearly every day. He On April 7 he apparently saw Garfield would leave a card for either Blaine or again and spoke to him briefly. The fol- Garfield, but secretaries quickly learned lowing day he wrote: not to forward the cards, and they filed them with other crank correspondence.5 From your looks yesterday, I judge you After his brief meeting with Garfield, did not quite understand what I meant by saying, "I have not called for two or Guiteau wrote to Blaine: "I think the three weeks," intended to express my President feels well disposed towards me sympathy for you on account of the about the Austrian Mission and with pressure that has been on you since your help I can get it. Am glad he selected you came into office. I think Mr. Blaine you for his Premier. You are the man intends on giving me the Paris Consul- ship with your and General Logan's above all others for the place." 6 approbation, and I am waiting for the In all, he submitted three applications: break in the Senate.10 for the ministry to Austria, the consul generalship to Paris, and the consulship Although the battle over the New York in Liverpool. 7 Once he cornered Blaine in appointments sparked nationwide inter- the State Department elevator and est, Garfield had other concerns. On handed him a copy of his speech. 8 April 25 Garfield and his wife, Lucretia, While Guiteau roamed Washington attended the unveiling of the statue of seeking the job he was confident would David G. Farragut several blocks from the bring him financial security and prestige, White House. It was warm, and during a Guiteau eventually allied himself with Senator Roscoe Conkling of New York reception at the White House after the Senator Roscoe Conkling, the leader of the was trying to hold on to his leadership dedication, Mrs. Garfield began suffering Republican party's Stalwart faction.

MURDER OF GARFIELD 131 PROLOGUE around from place to place, his own ego- two blocks from the White House, but he On Wednesday, Guiteau returned to tism sustaining him."12 Guiteau certainly spent most of his time in Lafayette Park the church and made his final plans to kill did not see himself as a butt. Rather he across from the mansion. Garfield the following Sunday. On listened carefully and took inspiration As others had learned, Mrs. Grant and Thursday, he wrote a letter to the Amer- from what he heard. When an usher at her boarders soon found that Guiteau ican people: the White House told him that the Presi- could talk on nearly every subject and dent would not see him that day, he took seemed to be on a friendly basis with ev- I conceived of the idea of removing the it to mean that the President might see ery important person. At the end of May, President four weeks ago. Not a soul knew of my purpose. I conceived the him the next day. No one had told him he Mrs. Grant sent him a bill. As usual, he idea myself. I read the newspapers could not be the minister to Vienna or resorted to delaying tactics. carefully, for and against the adminis- Paris. Guiteau had always prided himself on tration, and gradually, the conviction On Friday, May 13, he had a disagree- his appearance, but he began to look settled on me that the President's re- ment with ushers at the White House and shabby. His shirt collar became frayed, moval was a political necessity, be- cause he proved a traitor to the men was banned from the waiting room. The and eventually it was discarded. He who made him, and thereby imperiled following day, he approached Blaine on pulled his coat collar tight around his the life of the Republic .... Ingratitude the street outside the State Department to neck. It was difficult to tell if he was even is the basest of crimes. That the Presi- once again inquire about a post. This time wearing a shirt. His cuffs were dirty and dent, under the manipulation of his Blaine became angry and shouted, drooped over his hands. 16 Secretary of State, has been guilty of the basest ingratitude to the Stalwarts "Never bother me again about the Paris To get money, Guiteau turned to admits of no denial. ... In the Presi- 13 consulship as long as you live." In Gui- George Maynard, a distant relative who dent's madness he has wrecked the teau's twisted mind it all became clear: had established an electrical business in once grand old Republican party; and Blaine was seeking to drive all of the Stal- Washington. Guiteau had borrowed for this he dies.... I had no ill-will to warts from office, and Guiteau was just money from Maynard in March and re- the President. This is not murder. It is a political necessity. It will make my as much a victim of Blaine as Conkling appeared at his office on June 8 to ask for friend Arthur President, and save the and Platt. an additional fifteen dollars. Guiteau took Republic. 19 He wrote to Garfield again on May 16, the money to John M. O'Meara's gun lashing out at Blaine: "Until Saturday, I store one block from the White House. His plan to kill Garfield in church was supposed Mr. Blaine was my friend in the Guiteau had never fired a pistol before dashed when Garfield decided to leave matter of the Paris Consulship; but from and asked O'Meara about the guns. He for New Jersey so that his wife could con- his tone on Saturday I judge he is trying had a choice between two guns, a pearl- tinue her recuperation away from the to run the State Department in the inter- handled pistol that cost ten dollars and a Washington heat. Guiteau decided to est of the Blaine element in '84." 14 pistol with a hard-rubber handle that cost carry out his plan at the train station. On May 18, as Guiteau lay in his bed, eight dollars. He decided on the more ex- As Garfield and his wife walked he had what he called an inspiration. "If pensive gun because it would look better through the Baltimore and Potomac De- the President was out of the way, every- in a museum. O'Meara agreed to sell him pot to their train, Guiteau was waiting. thing would go better." Guiteau saw the pistol, a small knife, and a box of car- At the last minute he had a change of himself as the instrument for removing tridges for ten dollars.17 heart and returned to his room and the President. Guiteau believed that the On Sunday morning, June 12, Guiteau wrote: "I intended to remove the Presi- assassination would create a demand for went to Lafayette Park to wait for dent this morning at the depot, as he took his book, The Truth, and he spent nearly Garfield. Garfield left for his church on the cars for Long Branch. Mrs. Garfield two weeks revising it. Vermont Avenue, and Guiteau returned looked so thin, and clung so tenderly to But his assassination planning gave to his room to get his gun and then went the President's arm, my heart failed me to way to more mundane matters-his rent to the church. He entered the church and part them, and I decided to take him was due, and he had no money. Mrs. watched Garfield. "I could not think of a alone."20 Lockwood demanded payment and Gui- more sacred place for removing him than Garfield remained in New Jersey with teau fled as he had hundreds of times be- while he was at his devotions," Guiteau his wife until June 27. He returned to fore . He left behind a note promising to wrote. The church was crowded, and Washington to conduct some business pay her as soon as he received his new with his poor aim he was as likely to hit but planned to leave for the summer on job with its $6,000 salary. Mrs. Lockwood someone else. After the service he went July 2. Guiteau had to act quickly or for- showed the note to Logan, who told her outside and looked through a church get his scheme. On Wednesday evening, Guiteau was a lunatic. 15 His new resi- window. He would be able to shoot June 29, Garfield and one of his sons dence was the boardinghouse of Mrs. through the window and kill Garfield went for a carriage ride. Guiteau watched W. S. Grant on Fourteenth Street, just without hitting anyone else. 18 from Lafayette Park. He clutched his pis-

132 SUMMER 1992 A MODEL OFFICE~SEEKER . "I am a Lawyer, . a Theologian and a Politicianl"-Char/es f Gui'teau.

thatfle':mas q victim olthe battle behveenrthe Stalwarts and the Ualf reeds, anil on May 18, spiration." II~ · began~ to see himself as the instrumenL,for removing the resident. PROLOGUE tol and decided to act when Garfield re- mob might lynch him before his motives turned but grew tired of waiting and re- were known and he could be proclaimed turned to his room. 21 a hero. He wrote a note to General Guiteau was once again confronted William T. Sherman: with an overdue board bill. Mrs. Grant waited until the end of June before con- I have just shot the President. I shot fronting Guiteau about the growing debt. him several times, as I wished him to go easily as possible. His death was a He wrote her, "I can't do anything for political necessity. I am a lawyer, theo- you today but I certainly will in a day or logian and politician. I am a Stalwart of two. You have been kind and I appreciate the Stalwarts. I was with General Grant it. Please do not mention this to anyone and the rest of our men in New York as it will do me harm, as I will settle in a during the canvass. I am going to jail. Please order out your troops and take day or two, you can depend on this." possession of the jail at once. Very re- Guiteau told Mrs. Grant he expected an spectfully, Charles Guiteau.27 appointment, and it should come within a few days. 22 He put the notes into his pocket and After receiving the note, she went to went downstairs to breakfast. He ordered Guiteau's room to demand payment. He the most expensive items on the menu, had already left, taking his few posses- then charged the bill to his room and for sions. At the dinner table Thursday eve- the last time left a boardinghouse without ning, Mrs. Grant told her other guests of paying. Guiteau's departure. Unlike other board- After breakfast, Guiteau went to Lafay- This photograph of Garfield with his inghouse operators, who had simply daughter, Mollie, was one of his favorite ette Park and, as he had done nearly ev- written off Guiteau, Mrs. Grant decided pictures. She was the only daughter to ery day for four months, sat watching the to place an advertisement in the Washing- survive to adulthood. White House. Around half past eight he ton Post to expose him. The guests took the horsecar to the train station. His laughed, but she said she was serious corner of Fifteenth and H streets but be- .44 caliber "British Bull Dog" pistol had and would wait two or three days for came uneasy about standing on the cor- five chambers, each one-and-a-quarter payment, then place the advertisement.23 ner and withdrew to a nearby alley. Gui- inch long and a barrel of two-and-a-half Guiteau moved to the Riggs House, teau checked his gun and continued his inches. The weapon had tremendous fir- one of the most prestigious hotels in vigil. Eventually Garfield and Blaine ing power but two drawbacks. Guiteau Washington, located two blocks from the emerged from the house and walked arm had wrapped the gun in a newspaper be- White House. Since March he had used in arm to the White House. Guiteau said cause any moisture tended to reduce its its public rooms and stationery to write they were "in the most delightful and power, and the force varied from one his letters. He arrived Thursday night cozy fellowship possible; just as hilarious shot to the next. 28 and stayed until Saturday morning. as two young girls." Guiteau did not At the station, Guiteau arranged for a On Friday afternoon, July 1, he called shoot, saying later it was too hot and he carriage to take him away after the deed. at the White House and said he wanted to did not feel like it. 25 He told the driver, Augilla Barton, "I will see Garfield. Usher Alphonso Dunn re- He returned to the Riggs House and be right out. ... I want you to drive me fused to take his card, and Guiteau slept a few hours, rising at four in the very fast. " 29 walked away. That evening at about morning to make final preparations. He As Guiteau made his final arrange- seven o'clock he walked to the front door wrote two more notes. The first was ad- ments, Garfield was preparing to leave of the White House and asked if Garfield dressed to the White House: "The Presi- Washington for the summer. He planned was in. Usher. William D. Allen said the dent's tragic death was a sad necessity, to stop in New York, where he would President was out. Guiteau asked if but it will unite the Republican party and meet his wife, sail up the Hudson River, Garfield might see him when he re- save the Republic." The second was to then travel to Williams College in western turned, but Allen discouraged him. Gui- the press and the public announcing that Massachusetts. Garfield was to attend the teau said "thank you" and left. 24 He re- he was a Stalwart and would not be avail- twenty-fifth reunion of his college class, turned to a bench in Lafayette Park and able for interviews. 26 receive an honorary degree, and enroll watched the White House. Soon Garfield Guiteau thought that once the Ameri- his eldest sons in the school. From there came out of the White House alone and can people realized that he had saved the he planned to travel in the New Hamp- walked two blocks to Blaine's house as Republic from certain disaster they would shire mountains and then spend the sum- Guiteau followed. Guiteau waited on the rally around him. But he worried that a mer at his farm at Mentor, Ohio.

134 SUMMER 1992 On July 2, 1881, having convinced himself that President Garfield's death was a political necessity, Charles Guiteau went ahead with his assassination plan. His second shot hit the President in the back and was eventually fatal.

He rose early and went to his son Har- ladies' waiting room on B Street. The Confused and unable to speak English, ry's room. At times Garfield was more room was carpeted and nicely furnished, he rushed from the station and onto the like a brother to his children than a fa- designed to give women a place to sit Mall. Nearly two weeks later, as he was ther. In Harry's room the President sang where they would not be bothered by looking for some putty, he found the first one of his favorite songs, "I mixed those men and could wait in cleaner surround- ball fired at Garfield. 33 babies up" from Gilbert and Sullivan's ings than the main terminal provided. Guiteau then took two steps to the H.M.S. Pinafore. Harry did a handstand Guiteau had arrived at the station about right and fired his second shot.34 It struck on his bed and teased his father, "Don't 8:30 A.M. He was nervous and paced the Garfield in the back on the right side, four you wish you could do that?" Garfield floor and spent much of his time in the inches from the spinal column and just said, "Well, I think I can." The President main depot. The presence of a man alone above his waist.35 He slumped slowly to quickly did a handspring on his son's in the ladies' waiting room would surely the floor, extending his arms and crush- bed.30 attract attention, so he walked in and out ing his top hat as he hit the floor. The The White House domestic staff lined of the room. He was sweating and wiped back of his light gray summer suit was up, and Garfield shook hands with each his face repeatedly. 32 He entered the quickly covered with blood. The first man one. Blaine picked up Garfield in the waiting room for the final time as Garfield to reach Garfield was Jacob P. Smith, a State Department carriage for the ride to and Blaine sat in the carriage. janitor who at first thought the shots the Baltimore and Potomac Depot at the Garfield and Blaine entered the ladies' were firecrackers. When he saw Garfield foot of Capitol Hill on the site of what is waiting room and had walked several fall, he rushed up and held the Presi- now the National Gallery of Art. When steps when Guiteau fired the first shot. It dent's head. Smith was told to go for a the carriage reached the depot entrance at grazed Garfield's arm, and he turned doctor, and Sarah White, the ladies' room about 9 A.M., Garfield asked Patrick Kear- around. Kristoph Plockschis, a fifty-one- attendant, brought a pillow and placed it ney, the officer on duty at the door, year-old Prussian immigrant who had ar- under Garfield's head. Garfield said "How much time have I?" Kearney rived in the United States in 1880, was on nothing until one of his sons appeared. showed Garfield his watch and said, his way to work that morning when he He spoke with his son, then vomited.36 "About ten minutes, sir." Blaine and entered the station to obtain change for a Guiteau himself saw the pandemonium Garfield talked for several minutes, then ten-dollar bill. He carried his glazier tools his act had caused and began saying "It is Kearney told them it was time for in a box on his back and was removing all right, it is all right. " 3 7 Garfield to board.31 the box when he heard the shot, felt a Officer Kearney ran into the station They entered through the door to the slight jar, and heard his glass breaking. and bumped into Guiteau, who said he

MURDER OF GARFIELD 135 PROLOGUE had a letter for General Sherman. Kear- watching Garfield but staying in a corner who lifted up the wheels when they came ney had no idea Guiteau had fired the across the room.42 to a pothole. shots but took hold of him and said, Secretary of War Robert Lincoln, the At the White House, a dozen men "Look here, you are coming from the son of Abraham Lincoln, ordered his car- lifted the mattress holding Garfield and scene where there is firing, and I will stop riage to go for Dr. D. W. Bliss, one of the carried him up the outside stairs, through you until I see what the result will be." 38 city's leading physicians. Bliss was walk- the Blue Room, up the main staircase, When Joseph K. Sharp, the assistant train ing along Pennsylvania Avenue, about and into his bedroom. There was confu- master, learned it was the President who four blocks from the station, when the sion everywhere. 47 Mrs. Blaine was had been shot, he sent two boys to the driver found him. Bliss took charge of the standing in the hall as Garfield was car- nearby police station and told them to case and kept control until Garfield died. ried by. He pulled her close, kissed her, bring back twenty policemen. He turned Garfield on his side and exam- and said, "Whatever happens, I want Two policemen walked Guiteau two ined the wound and then ordered several you to promise to look out for Crete. blocks to the police station. When asked bottles of hot water placed around Don't leave me until Crete comes."48 his name, he produced a stack of his Garfield's feet and wrapped his legs in Garfield was given a quarter grain of cards and handed one to the officer: blankets. Garfield complained that the morphine and one ninety-sixth of a grain "Charles Guiteau, Chicago, Ill." In the bottles on the top of the feet were causing of sulphate of atrophia. It was the first of excitement, the police officers had forgot- him pain and Bliss removed them. Bliss scores of morphine injections he would ten to take Guiteau's pistol. It was still in probed for the bullet several times and receive. Shortly after noon Garfield vom- his hip pocket when he was searched at sent for yet another doctor. ited and then said to Reyburn, "Well, police headquarters. He had just two Dr. Robert Reyburn gave the President Doctor, I suppose that was the result of dimes in his pocket, the pocket knife he an ounce of brandy and some spirits of your hypodermic." Two hours later he received when purchasing the pistol, and ammonia. He placed his little finger into was given another injection of morphine newspaper clippings dealing with the the wound, the third doctor to probe the and ninety minutes after that, a third Garfield-Conkling feud . wound in less than an hour. His finger dose.49 Guiteau was taken from the precinct to reached the eleventh rib and felt the frac- News of the shooting spread quickly, the city jail by Detective George McEl- ture, then he stuck a probe three inches helped by word of mouth and extra edi- fresh. On the way, Guiteau asked him if into the wound . Eventully there were tions of newspapers. Early Saturday he was a Stalwart. When McElfresh said about twenty people in the room, includ- morning, Guiteau's former landlady, yes, Guiteau smiled and said he would ing at least ten physicians, most of whom Mrs. Grant, went out to do her shopping make him police chief. 39 hesitated to offer advice. 43 and decided to carry out her promise to Dr. Smith Townsend, the city health Young Jim Garfield began to cry, and take action against Guiteau. She wrote an officer, was working in his office when a his brother Harry comforted him. 44 advertisement and placed it in her fireman arrived shortly before ten o'clock Garfield was worried that his wife would pocket. As she was shopping, word and told him the President had been learn of the shooting from reporters in swept through the market that Garfield shot. Townsend rushed to the station, ar- New Jersey. He called an aide to his side had been shot. She finished her shop- riving four minutes after the shooting. 40 and told him to send a telegram to his ping, then went to place her advertise- Townsend asked Garfield where he felt wife: "Tell her I am seriously hurt, how ment. When she put the copy of the ad- the most pain. Garfield said his right leg seriously I cannot yet say. I am myself, vertisement on the counter, the clerk read and foot hurt. Townsend was worried and hope she will come to me soon. I what she had written: "Wanted-Charles that Garfield might be suffering from pa- send my love to her. " 45 Guiteau of Illinois, who gives the Presi- ralysis and asked him to turn over. While the doctors discussed possible dent and Secretary Blaine as a reference, Garfield turned over and asked what treatment, Garfield was becoming more to call at 924 14th St. and pay his board Townsend thought of his condition. "I impatient. He repeatedly demanded that bill." When the clerk came to the name, gave him an encouraging reply ... but I he be taken back to the White House. A he said, "Why this is the man that shot fear he was not much encouraged."41 police ambulance arrived, and some the President."50 Other doctors begain arriving. Garfield cushions from the Pullman car were gath- Rumors spread that Garfield was al- said the pain in his legs and feet re- ered and placed inside. Eight men carried ready dead. In fact, the doctors expected minded him of when he was a little boy Garfield through the train station to the Garfield to die Saturday evening, but and his foot would go to sleep. He said he ambulance. The ambulance moved Garfield not only survived, he seemed to needed more air, and a window was slowly over the brick streets. Dr. Philip S. grow stronger. Sunday morning, nearly a opened slightly. Within minutes Garfield Wales was inside the ambulance and at- dozen doctors met at the White House to said he was getting a chill, and the win- tempted to steady Garfield's body.46 The discuss his care. Dr. J. J. Woodward was dow was closed. More people arrived, carriage was surrounded by policemen the first to speak, pulling a piece of paper

136 SUMMER 1992 PROLOGUE

tainly not chosen for their medical knowl- edge. They had been at Lincoln's death- bed in 1865, and since then they had spent most of their time as administra- tors, not physicians. Their duties were quickly defined by Bliss: Barnes came twice a day to examine the patient; Reyburn was to keep records on the case and release medical state- ments to the press; Woodward was to help take the President's temperature and write the daily bulletins. 52 From the beginning, the bulletins were a fraud. The doctors were confronted with a patient who was alert and hungry for news. If the doctors released negative news, their patient might read it in a newspaper and become depressed. Bliss decided to keep negative news from re- porters. In effect, Reyburn was keeping two logs, one telling the true condition of the patient, the other a fairy tale put out for public consumption. Reyburn's log- book for August 23 reads: "In spite of all our efforts to nourish the President he is emaciating so rapidly that it is distressing to look at him. His weight has gone from 210 down to 130 pounds." The public bul- letin for the same day read, "The Presi- dent continues to take by mouth and re- tain an increasing quantity of liquid food. At the morning dressing the wound looked well, and the pus was of a healthy character."53 There was much the doctors did not know about Garfield's condition, includ- ing the location of the bullet. The bullet had entered Garfield's back, fractured the eleventh rib, then traveled to the left and downward and fractured the twelfth rib. It came to rest in fatty tissue below the pancreas. But the doctors thought it had taken a different direction, entering the Fraudulent daily bulletins on Garfield's condition were released because the Presi- back, hitting the liver, and stopping to dent's doctors feared that if their patient read negative news, he might become depressed. the right of the groin about five inches from his pocket and admitting that he clear that Bliss was about to make above the navel. knew nothing about gunshot wounds. changes in the medical lineup. 51 Although it was unclear what the doc- Woodward said that he had looked up Sunday afternoon, three of the doctors, tors might do if they located the bullet, the subject in some books, and he began Townsend, N. S. Lincoln, and Wales, re- they were obsessed with its location. to read about treatment from his notes. ceived a letter from Bliss telling them They called Alexander Graham Bell into He read for a few moments, then was in- their services would not be needed. Two the case. Bell had been working on a ma- terrupted by Bliss, who quickly ad- who were retained, Surgeon General chine to locate a bullet in a wounded journed the meeting. To Wales it was J. K. Barnes and Woodward, were cer- man. His machine consisted of two elec-

MURDER OF GARFIELD 137 PROLOGUE

Garfield's doctors called in Alexander Graham Bell to help them locate the assassin's bullet. Bell tried, using a device consisting of two electromagnets connected to a telephone receiver, and failed. tromagnets connected to a telephone re- strips of muslin over wooden frames and it down for your inspection. It is now ceiver. When the fields of the magnets wetting them with ice water. A man was largely in use."56 overlapped and a metal object came be- hired to soak the White House lawn each The Jennings machine was installed, tween them, a click was heard. day in an attempt to reduce the heat. The but it failed to provide enough cool air. On July 26 Bell went to the White physicians also sent for engineers from On the evening of July 9, Professor Simon House with his device. Garfield was the Steam Engineering Bureau of the Newcomb of the Navy Department was turned on his side and his bed clothes United States Navy to help construct a called in to devise a new system. He built were drawn up. Bell could not hear any cooling system. 55 a unit that provided cool air, but he was noise and only later found that the con- The first idea was to try a large air com- not allowed to enter the room to take denser had been connected incorrectly. pressor that had been used to ventilate temperature readings. Bell's second attempt also failed, al- mines in Virginia City. The Rand Manu- The new system did reduce the heat though it was not because of his machin- facturing Company sent a compressor but did nothing to improve Garfield's ery. The doctors had told him to look for from New York. As the engineers began medical condition. Although the doctors the bullet where they mistakenly thought assembling the unit, they realized that claimed that " ultimate recovery is beyond it was located. 54 they did not have an engine powerful all reasonable doubt," massive infection The bullet itself caused Garfield little enough to drive the compressor. The en- had already set in.57 On July 23 he got a discomfort. His complaints centered on gineers removed the machines and severe chill, and his temperature rose the heat and humidity that grew worse turned to a more basic plan. A large box dramatically. each day. Garfield's room was in an up- of ice was placed in Garfield's room. The Garfield rallied, and on July 29 he held stairs corner overlooking a swampy area air coming into contact with the ice was his only cabinet meeting after being shot. that was a breeding ground for mosqui- supposed to cool the room. It did not, But the members had been told to with- toes. When he was shot, Garfield was and the box of ice was removed. hold any real problems. 58 On August 17 leaving Washington to escape the heat. Four days after the shooting, Bliss re- there was another setback. Garfield com- Now he was trapped in the city with the ceived a telegram from R. S. Jennings, plained of pain on the right side of his temperature and the humidity rising. The the owner of C. H. Roloson & Co. in Bal- face. On the nineteenth th e swelling be- doctors received scores of suggestions on timore. "We have an apparatus ready for came so great that his right eye was how to make Garfield's sickroom cooler. immediate use which could be put up this nearly closed. 59 On July 11 an unsuccessful effort was afternoon & would be effective in refrig- Throughout August, Garfield began to made to cool the room by hanging long erating the President's room. Shall I bring talk more and more about leaving Wash-

138 SUMMER 1992