PRESIDENT GARFIELD HIT TWICE BY ASSASSIN'S BULLETS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 2, 1881, President James A. Garfield was shot in the back while walking through the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Station here in the Nation's Capital en route to New Jersey for a summer vacation on the seashore.
The President was shot by Charles J. Guiteau twice, once in the shoulder and once in the back. As he was taken into custody by police officer Patrick Kearney, Guiteau said...
"I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts! Arthur is president now!"
According to Dr. Howard Markel, the first bullet merely grazed the President's arm but the second passed through the spine lodging in the abdomen.
The President cried out...
"My God, what is this?"
Mr. Garfield died of complications from his wounds on September 19, 1881 in Elberon, New Jersey. He was 49 years of age. Chester A. Arthur was sworn in as the new POTUS.
Guiteau was found guilty and executed in June 1882.
SOURCE
"The dirty, painful death of President James A. Garfield," by Dr. Howard Markel, September 16, 2016, www.pbs.org/
