Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-08-10

ATTEMPTED Assassfnotion Of ne Post
master Generat-- We regret Ia rate mai
d most painful occurrence took place w..
ferday on>board the steam boat Geofsia.
Of the Baltimore and Norfolk Line. Il :
appears that the boat on her passage u
Baltimore took on board at Old Pom, Com
fort several passengers, among them she
Hon Mr.. WickliiIs. Postmaster General,
his two daughters. and, several plherper-
sons. and young man named ]. Mclean
Gardiner. son of Col G. K Gardner, Of
Washington city. formerly First Auditor
Of The Post Office Department.
Duiing his stay al Old Point the con-
duct of Mr., Gardner was remarked 5y the
visi,ers As Of very singular character,
and The belief was generally ENTERTAINED
that he was laboring under neEtal de-
rangement--a belief which was strongly.
concuned IN by Mi. WicklitFe himself.
with whom he bad several. times been IN
conversations. About half past one o.
clock yesterday, when iae passengers
were summoned 10 dinner. BIO offered his
arm TO the ladies' who were with him,
and while 10 the act Of SO doing. Gardner,
without any previous inlimation. sudden
y sprung al MI. WicklifFe. aad aimed
powerful blow with clasp knife al his
breast. The blade Of The knife struck the
right breast bone with much force. aud
the bone. without, tits believed.
injuring The lungs or making deep In
cisioa. Lieut.. Bradford. ofthe v S. Ma
Wy. standing close by, instantly seized
Gardner iii thesac Of making a second
blow at Mrs Wickliife. and prevented his
design. The knife was immediately Ia
ken possession 81 BY Lieut.. B. and Gard
Ener placed in confinement. Aamedies
were Immediately applied 10 Mr.. Wick
liiffe's wound, and on his arrival at this
city, &c was attended hy Professor Smith,
who. we are happy 10 learn. entertaips
the opinion that the wound is not dan.
gerous. - Baltimore .american. Wig. 2
The Patriot of thefaIiernoon says:
The above we copy from The American ofthis
morning, 1t embraces the principal facts as
they. occurred. MIR, Wickhffe remarked inLlhe
boat during,lsss night, resting as web as could
be expected under the circumstances, He was
brought up this morning oh litter, and lodged
safely in Barnnm's Hotel, where flle remains
much revived and suffering but little PAIN
The wound is very small enc, extending IN
depth ofafiher than the breast bone, land atahe
surface mol more than three eighlhs Of an inch ia
length Mrs WicatIe, having been sent tuf(
last evening Immediately on the iandlng Of the
boat, arrived here this morning from Washing. I
/ ton. The scene al the time the assault was.
made, is described nv Captain CoiIey as being
painfully exciting One Of ar. w s. Idaughlerss
fainted, and il was with difficulty sha could be
restored 10 consciousness. Other ladies present. !,
were also exceedingly frightened,
| Gardaer was immediately confined, and after
ARRIVING at The wharf taken inId custody by OIL
Ger Mckeown, Who proceeded Win him 10 '1he
Office of Walton Gray, Es,ks By whoIn he was
committed to.jaiI for further examination, which
will lake place as Soon as Mr. Mieklilerecovtrs
sufficiently to appear with others and give lin
thetI testimony. We learn that Mr.. W.. H.
pressed much sympathy fol The Young man, and
is Of opinion that he perpeirated sie assault I'M
der the influence Of partial mental alienation -G
Gardner, we are told, addressed letter TO Mr..
w soon after the act, in which be expressed
deep regret f6r having violated, in such man.
ner, the lawsiof his country. He is la young
man probably mol more Than twenty-four years
Of age, and aof very genteeI appearance. His
conversation is rational and intelligent. bit his
eye looks wild, and his gaze distracted, as one
Mr.. 'Wickiffe and expresses great anxiety 10
have the matter settled without furihef|proceed.
ing - Patriot, 1aagust3.
The motheriof Mr. Gardner, accompanied BY
the brother Of the prisoner, arrived in the city
yesterday evening; bringing with Them evidence
as TO The insanity of the unfortunate young man
The following letter, addressed TO Mr. Wick
llite soon after the aHartook place written on
board ths boat-ws copy from the Sun of this.
morning. u o.
SlR:---I spoke with you at Old Point eomfort
frankly, and told you where wishedato go
On inquiry You viii find thar no human being
instigated me- by the remotes, hint, to commit
what have done 10 your person therefore, sir,
fyou beinga man high IN office, cannot be so un-
generous, as to show any NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
my family or connexions, .whomI have always
had too little regard RSr in pursuing tbeir advice
You may examine into this and yoazwill find il
as | have written II is some qualification 10
me TO learn that your. wound is Sigh, and not
mortal, With great respect, am, sir Your obe
dent servant, ]. MCLEAN GARDNER.
| To the Hon. C. A. WIcK1lrrE, p MIG.
Mr.. Wicklife has been 50 far relieved as to bee
able to return TO Washington. He arrived there
on Friday last
Young Gardner was examined on Thursday
and Friday before Judge Brice. A. jury was inn
tpapneled to decide upon the question Of insani-
~, and The following is the result: M Il
BALrIMoRE CirY CoUaT, JUNE TERM, lS43.
In the matter Of John Mclean Gsrdnsy,s charged
Nth being insane or lunatic.
| This inquisition taken at.the bar Of The Courr,
bella This fourthday of August, in the year eigh-
teen hundred and fony-tbree, by the undersigned,
Jurors, duly empannelled, sworn and charged in
the matter aforesaid, having heard and consider
ed the evidence submitted 10 us, do find that the
said John Mclean Gardner was lunatic, or in
sane, on The first day Of August, 10 the year a.
foresaid, and at the time of committing the Oft
fence charged against him, and is still SO at the
time Of taking this inquisition. Witness our
hands and seals, on the day and year aforesaid Il
The Court then rendered the following judg
ment and order:
THE Court hereby release the prisoner from
the commitment Of The justice of the peace, and
order that he be placed in The States Hospital,
there TO be confined until he shall recover his
reason, Of which the City Court shall; be satis1
fed, and BY them discharged in due course Of
law.
Cons MooaEs - The New Orleans Republican,
of the 9Th alt. says
Com. Moore, il Is rumosed. will resign