Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1832-02-10
From the Pennsylvania Telegraph.
THE MASONIC ATTACK!

The various reports that have been put in
circulation by the Fraternity, and their adhe-
rents, respecting the assault committed upon
the Editor of this paper, by the State rreasur-
Ter, as well as regard for his personal inter
ests and character. renders it necessary for
him, to give the following statement of facts to
the public, the whole OF which is strictly con.
fined to the truth. and given in the plainest
narration, that every one may understand
lit
On Saturday morning last, as was going
Ito the Capitol about 80 feet from its entrance,
II passed some person wrapped in cloak, whom
III did not see, to know As was ascending
the steps, felt that some one had siezed hold
| of my cloak, and was attempting to pull me
back: at the same time was accosted. Upon
turning round, saw that it was alexander
M1h2n the State Treasurer, and Immediate
| " sprang to him at the foot of the steps, and
demanded what he wanted He siezed me by
the collar, but as soon as could throw off my
gloves and cloak, | gave him blow. that
broke his hold and slid him some feet it being
a spot of ice where we stood, to the lower
side of the walk, where followed him Be.
ling evidently disappointed at the reception he
had met, he kept at about two yards distant
from me, and commenced a parley; SAYING
that he wanted to know the reason of my pub.
fishing the article that appeared in my paper
lahout the time of his election. | replied be.
lcause it was my pleasure to do so, and that he
would obtain no Other reason or explanation
from me at that time or place He pronoun
ced it gross and infamous libel. and asser
ted it as the truth. which stood ready to es
tablish before court of Justice. This decla
taton enraged him. and to me he gave evi
dence OF his being under the influence of Ii
Iquor. He uttered oath after oath, ofthe viles
and most degrading character, and put himsel
into an attitude of hostility; we met, and CAV
!, him etcral blows, the force of which wa
= principally broken. by his efforts to guard hi
face-several marks of blood were howeve
: visible, when he reiterated. and made for hea
Eof waste lumber that Law near, where he cal q
up strip of plank six or eight feet long, an
advanced towards me. But hearing som
e threats from me if he attempted to use hi
!, weapon, and perhaps thinking that he woul
d not be able to strike me. he dropped it, foam
l. ing with rage, and uttering towards me til
: most abusive epithets. disgraceful oaths, an
bitter menances; for which he received seve,
II al blows, that brought from him apparently
d pretty plentiful flow of blood. He siezed til
e plank again, but was soon induced to drop i
lie and take his way towards the west wing of til
d Capitol-now his spirits seemed to have SUM
= and in his retreat he charged me, in mourn
n full and Responding tone, with having first a
is tackled and attempted to destroy his charactt
y and now with having attacked his person, a
'r lodging that he had never done me an iniur,
y had family of seven children to supper
d (wonder if he had no more,) and that l. afts
II having attempted TO ruin his character, now ha
a made an attack upon his life, and wished I
d asassinate him. This denied, and told hi
lr that he had brought the ehastisement upon hin
l. self. by obstructing my passage, unprovoked
', At this instant. when the State Treasure
l. had taken his way towards his office, and