The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-08
AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON.
WAe Assault ON tho Prssldent OF the UniteA
St&ses-ProcrcdaSxs in tho Cas-.
TVyorn the Wash pptun Irinn. Au0ust


WIae Assault ON the Prssldent Of the UnitcA
SSases-Procrcdasxs I'm tho Cas-.
(Trom the Washington Uni"n, August 81
As idle exaggerated being circulated in
relation to indenity supposed have been offered
the President esterday have taken pains to ascertain
the facts which have dune aud present them fol-
lows:The President during the morning-as Is custom
AIRY for The Executive at he cluss o session Of Con-
gTess-hnd been at ths CAPITOL approving and signing
bills. At about oclocksll the business reuiriug his
presence having been coscdhe lett Vice Presidents
private secretary. tasN-R
On arriving al the entrance Of tbs passage which leads
to the Senate chamber, the President waited for mo-
ent for his carriage up While standing there
young man-wi'hout coat but otnsiw,se dressed
marking respectfully that his nane WAS Jehards, aod
that he belonged Charleston south Carolina, extended
his hand, which the Prest ent took There was no.
thing in the language bearing Of tho young man
which indicated Intentional rndeness although he
y FROM the se: Of liquor The Young p n.n after
having shaken hands with the President, retired in
the direction of the door, The carriage came up i'm
thing struck his hat. Mr Webster iaquired, "Wh1s
was that" The President replioi that g he did not
know but at that moment observing the ntoxcates
young man making some ,io.cnt gestlculatons, no
suggested to q poicdma standing near that he
had better take csre Of him, though at tina.
ster, that whatever struck his hat accdental'y
thrown from an upper .indow. The carriage i'm
mednteiy driven away and the Presdeat nether spike
nor thought of the oce urrence till Information
hronaht to him that the young had been arrested
for throwing what proved b. the reaiuipg portion
whom he Immediately requestea tha. he be discharged
and his friends they coul be found be sent for to
take care Of him. We also earu that this unfortunate
young man 49, as hestated, firm CharlestOn aud that
he came within few days with his mother this city
to visit sister, who Is the wife u highly respected
has been such to require the ntsrpotion of friends
to prevent him from infc,ing wounds upon his
person. lie is, we understand in tho care Of kind
friends; and We hope he may derive salutary lesson
rom thlE mcrtlfying experience.
(From the Washington Sentinel, Aug 81
President Il Tie United states was about leaving the
Capitol he was sfolowed out and addressed by person
nasned James Jefards, Of Charleston South Caroua.
egg which he had in his hand STRIKING the President
the back Of his head and knocking his hat thereron
graceful assault upon the President Of the United States
immediately arrested by Captain Dunnngton who
held an examination of the accused In the guard room
We give below the testimony as taken before the
justice =
Tobias II. stillwen saw man bare. headed run from
under the east portico Of the Capitol aud throw
missile in the direction Of the President.
G. HutchiDgs saw the accused standing with an egg
in his hand ut TIE stand inside the sas door where fruit
and cakes Sold this few moments previous to
an egg beirg thrown at the President.
g. Duke.I was within tea feet Of the accused when
he eakng to the PRESIDENT he immediately turned
round, and came to where standing with Mr. Wig
gans he asked me to go oat and be introduced to ths
had been taking fev drinks to-day told him that
friend in the Census Office had promised to give US an
introduction.
j. r wiegans (of the city Of New Yorl;)-I was six
feet from the President when Jerds talking to him.
did not the accused throw at the President; did
turned round when Jeards stopped speaking to the
President.
Isaac H. Wales, Zone Of the Capitol police, ,)-whcn
the President out Of tho Capitol outside OF
The doorway JeffaIds spoke to the President saying
"Is this Mr. Picrcef Will and take glass Of
wine win nes have been taking q glass with this
md hat ROrI tn
President ssid 81 don't do anythiog Of that kiad'
carriage ith old gentleman and lady was inst
to them md as be leaving them to enter hrs
carriage his hat fell off ~ thought; he picked II
Seere eVS eer;any roshs @ in and saw VINO no
there but these gcnuomcn-ponsns to Duke, "iSsaas,
and the accused.
j. f. Morton--as came down stairs saw these three
Young gentlemen standing at tho fruit and cake stand
the President had just passed OUT eards asked
e I ss wien ali .e csty With which
citizen ought to speak to the President no was ntorca
ted; thought the President was OF that opnioa did
rot hear IT, but he asked the Presiient 20 take
drink: tlc Preaidcn, shook his head; thought the
President vps rather inclined to move away from him 10
his carriage snosher ear.sc with aay & ana "a sHnue
JefArds then returned into the Copitoi; think II II
hardly possible he could have throSn the egg and re.
turned in the time which elapsed; there was large
crowd Of boys there at the time.
s. j. Johnson-An know about II is, that was at the
south end Of the arcade saS that fac .s mad ocsur
red asked what the matter Nr. Wauos said that
the Presidents hat had been knocsed OIL by al egg
asked him If he going to make no arrest ne sad
he did not know whom arrest Jesrds was then there
se said he had thrown egg hut had in his pocket
Mr. Jefards requested to make statement, and being
iuly cautioned by the justice, stated as hay
been here q week. am stranger, and have no frendi
here hao been with my two friends, Mr. Dake, OF II
Louis and Mr. Wiggans l saw the President said =
sas ssS T have few aff friends here who
to introduce to you - said This turned around an
as got hold oi my friends Dukes) hand to intro
rsl Nm prou tfe hat haa hN1
snocked OF may 1t please tho court, " eggs are thin
4 eat, If any egg was in my pocket It must hAv
been pu; n there while was tsla; to the President
riage the egg coming from the doorway, and tn
Presidents hat knocked of was looking at the Tres
dent at the time did not see Joaaris was sitting
The carriage nj the time heard say you ougt
not 70 have done 1t l don't knoT who sai1 TINT.
u.s. Duke rs-examned = hal neen , ea.Iag eggs, y
Ieards and had taken few drinks that was the reaso
Why did net want to be introduced to the
William N. DuncaLson.-I am the son OF John A.
.Duncanson; 1 saw the egg thrown at the President.
Questicn.-who threw it:
eY.-That gentleman there (pontins to Jeifards
,she accused was standing On tbs east pavement Il
President speaking 10 a lady at the moment, 81
was about TO enter his own carriage; the accused M
che egg in his hand; after throwing he turned roar
into where the cakes we're so he threw the egg
-sruck me with his arm.
John Moees II say the egg thrown.
Question Who threw itr
Answer.--That is the person (poiotng to Je:rards)
had the egg In his hand at the time
Mr.. Wieears here made tho point, that in throwi
the egg Jesards could have struck 0uncsnson u
less he LETT handed.
Jefaids protested Q was not ieft handed.
Capt INlaing ton then reqnitol the accused t. 81
bal in the Of Ave huudfei collars for Lis arpe1rau
CT court, or be committed.
Tire stcustd cried bitterly, iamented his hard fate.
cent for a Senator TO 20 bis bail, but he declined
then sent for a relative in this city. While the messo
ger had departed for the bsil the accused declared ii
81 fen' 10 Jail no would not 20 living in the rornir
Meanwhile he took out sinall n.knfe aud ntices
wound On DIS leg just above al Sncc, protesting that
was determined TO blee 1 10 death
He was then disarmed.
After time, the ffispd send for by the a-cus
arrived.
The Attorney General haviog meanwhile commune
ed to Capt nrnnngton tue ccsiFc of the President II
the matter should not be prosecuted Jcrerls was
Eesscd haying during the interval, become pretty
sobered
The Colt Investigation.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, Aug. o, 1851.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
DEAR SIR--Your Washington letter, dated I'd, dt