cident and could not have been prevented;
that it might have happened anywhere; and repeated the importance of
making that clear, and that that was his feeling.

That was just before he left in the auto for the Emergency hospital.

* * * * *

The following statement was made by Capt. A. O. Girard, who was in the
automobile when Col. Roosevelt was shot. The statement was made in the
office of the district attorney on Oct. 16, 1912.

I was asked by the secretary of the Progressive State Central committee
to go to Racine and meet the Colonel, having been with him in his
department and been his body guard before, and take some papers down.
The Colonel requested that I stay with him for the evening and after we
got at the hotel I stood in front of the door so he wouldn't be
disturbed, and also at the dining room door.

While sitting in the dining room door there was a slight, dark man who
said he came there especially from New York to see the Colonel, and was
very persistent and wanted to open the dining room door and see him at
the table. I finally forced him away. He was sallow complexioned, 28 or
30 years of age, I imagine, had a dark overcoat on, not so extra well
dressed, smooth face. I noticed his eyes particularly--they were rather
shifty--and he was very, very persistent in getting to the dining room.
He was a man of about five feet ten; this happened at 7 o'clock at the
Gilpatrick dining room.

[Illustration: Dr. R. G. Sayle, Milwaukee.]

I saw him after that after I had told him to go away; he got something
to smoke at the cigar stand and then went out. I did not see him after
that, things happened so rapidly.

The Colonel went upstairs and got his hat and coat on and came down. I
cleared the way going out with Sergeant Murray, and I told the fellows
on the other side of the automobile to get back; they were jammed up
against the automobile; the Colonel started to get into the automobile.

Just as I put my foot on the step of the car, I saw this man raise his
gun, stick it between two fellows' heads at the full extent of his arm,
and Mr. Taylor can tell you the rest.

I started to get into the machine from the sidewalk, and Mr. Moss sat
up on the seat to get out of my way, and Mr. Taylor laid back, as I
remember it, to give him room; after he was laid back, I had my right
foot on top of the car door. That is as far as I got into the machine.
I saw this man e