James A. Garfieldâs assassin was Charles J. Guiteau, a mentally unstable lawyer. The delusional Guiteau believed that he had helped Garfield win the election and was angry when the president refused to give him a foreign consulship. On July 2, 1881, Guiteau shot Garfield two times, and the president died on September 19. Guiteau was charged with murder. He pleaded insanity but failed to convince the jury and was executed by hanging on June 30, 1882.
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