Charles Guiteau (song) by Johnny Cash. Bascom Lamar Lunsford recorded both songs in 1949 for the Library of Congress. Charles Guiteau (song) "Charles Guiteau" (LAWS E11) Roud 444 is a traditional song about the assassination of US President James A. Garfield by Charles J. Guiteau. It is based on another old ballad, "James A. Rogers". The song is told from the point of view of the assassin himself. For a while, it was believed that Guiteau wrote the song himself, possibly because of the poem "I am Going to the Lordy", which Guiteau actually did write on the day of his execution. It
John R. Brady shot by an assassin, Charles Guiteau. Arthur, then Vice President, became President. Arthur was at home around midnight on the night of September 19, 1881 with Police Commissioner Stephen B. French, District Attorney Daniel G. Rollins, and attorney Elihu Root, when he learned in a telegram from members of Garfield's cabinet that Garfield had died. The cabinet members wired Arthur their advice that he should "take the oath of office as president of the United States without delay." It was after midnight when Arthur and his guests dispatched messengers to locate a judge who could administer the presidential oath. The