Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-06
Yofal am persOnal.

Assault on the President of the United
states.-Y Yesterday, upon the adjournnlepi of the
Senate, as the President ofthe United States was
about leaving the Capitol, he was followed ont
and addressed by person named James M. JEFF
fards, of Charleston, South Carolina. As the Pre-.
sidenl was leaving him, Jeaards threw a boiled
egg which lie had in his hand, striking the Presi-
dent on the back Of his head and knocking his hat
therefrom. The person who committed this wan.
ton and most disgraceful assault upon the Presi-
dent of the United States was Immediately arrest
ed by Captain Huntington, who held an examina-
lion of the accused in the guard-room of The Cap
tol
We give below the testimony taken before
the Justice
Tobias III. STILLwELL saw man bare-headed
run from under the east portico OF the Capitol
and throw some missile in the direction of the
President.
@. HUTcHINGs saw the accused standing with
an egg in his hand at the stand inside the east
door where fruit and cakes are sold this was a
few moments previous to an egg being thrown at
the President.
J. S. DUKE. 1 was within ten feet of the ac-
cused when he was speaking to the President.
He Immediately t1rned round and came TO where
was standing with Mr.. Wiggans. He asked me
10 go out and be introduced 10 the President. l
declined, because, TO confess the real truth we
had be en- taking few drinks to-day. told him
that friend in the Census Office had promised 10
give us an introduction.
]. f. WIGGANs, (of the city Of New York;
was six feet from the President when Jefards
was talking 10 him. | did not see the accused
throw al the President; did not see the Presi-
turned round when Jefards stopped speaking 10
the President
ISAAC II. WALES, zone Of the Capitol police.)
When the President came out of the Capitol
| was outside Of the doorway; Jeflards spoke
TO the President saying, els this Mr.. Pierce I?
Willyou come and take glass of wine with me I!
have been taking glass with this one and that,
and want you 10 take one with me-" The Presi-
said, {" ! don't do anything OF that kind" car
rage with some old gentleman and lady was just
driving off; The President stepped off the block TO
speak 10 them, and as he was leaving them 10 en-
ter his own carriage, ] saw his hat fall off as
thought; he picked il up and said 10 me, Have
you no power 10 make arrests here said GER
lainly. Irushed in and no persons there but
these misunderstanding 10 Duke, Wggans,
and the accuscd)
]. +. MORTON. AS | came down stairs, | saw
these three young gentlemen standing at the fruit
and cake stand. The President had Just passed
out. Jeilards asked which was President The Pre-
sident was pointed out 10 him; he spoke 10 the
President with all the civilily with which citizen
Gated thought the President was of that opn-
ion. did not hear it, but supposed he asked the
President 10 take drink. The President shook
his head l thought the President was rather in
clined TO move away from him TO his carriage.
Another carriage with lady and gentleman in H.
drove by and The President spoke TO them. JEFF
fards then returned into the Capitol think il is
hardly possible he could have thrown the egg and
returned in the time which elapsed. There was
large crowd of boys there at the time.
s. J. JOHNSON. All / know about it is that
was al the south end of the arcade | saw that
fracas had occurred. asked what was the natter
Mr.. Wales said that the Presidents hat had been
Knocked of by an egg. | asked him if he was
going 10 make arrest. He said he did not know
whom to arrest Jefards was then there. lie
said he had thrown no egg,but had one in his
pocket
Mr.. JEFFARDs requested TO make statement
and being duly cautioned by the justice, stated
follows | have been here week. / am
stranger and have no friends here. had been
with my two friends, Mr., Duke, of 81. Louis, and
Mr.. Wiggans. | saw the President. said to him.
Mr..PIerce will you take drink with me he
said no. l said I" have few friends here who
| want 10 introduce 10 YOU" As | said this,
turned round, and as got hold OF my friend, Mr..
Dukes hand TO introduce him, some one said the
Presidents hat has been knocked Off May il
il please the court eggs are thing never eat"
IL any egg was IN my pocket, II must have been
put in there, while was talking 10 the President.
JOHN MARoNEY-I was the box of Mr.. Doug
lass carriage. i saw the egg coming from the
doorway and the Presidents hat knocked of. |
was looking al the President al the time. did
not see Jefiards i was sitting on the carriage at
the time. / heard some one say you ought not
TO have done il. don't know who said that
j. s. DUKE, IRE examined.--I had been eating
eggs up stairs with Governors Jones and Bell
had been with Jelards and had taken n few drinks
That was the reason why did not want 10 be in
troduced To the President.
WILLIAM M. DUNcANsoN.--I am the son of John
A. nj. Duncanson. l saw the egg thrown al the
President. - 80 ,st
Queston.--Who threw it2
Answer-That gentleman there--pointing 10
Jehards. The accused was standing on the east
pavement The President was speaking TO a lady
at the moment, and was about 10 enter his own
carriage. The accused had the egg in his hand
After throwing, he turned round into where the
cakes were sold. As he threw the egg, he struck
me with his arm.
JOHN Moses. | saw the egg thrown.
Question.--Who threwit?
Answer.-That is the person-ponting TO JEFF
fards. lie had The egg in his hand at the time.
Mr. WIGGANs here made the point, that in throw
ing the egg, Jefiards could not have struck Dun
| canson unless he was left handed.
Jefards protested he was not left.handed.
Capt. BENNINGTON then required the accused Il
give bail in the sum Of five hundred dollars for hi
| appearance at court, or be committed
The accused cried bitterly, lamcntei his hare
fate. He sent for senator 10 20 his bail, but h,
declined He then sent for a relative in this city
| While the messenger had departed for the bail
the accused declared that x sent TO Jail he woul,
moi be living in the morning Meanwhile he tool
out small pen-knife, and inflicted wound OF
his leg just above his knee, protesting that be wal
determined 10 bleed 10 death.
| He was then disarmcd
| After some time, the friend sent for by the ac
cused arrived.
The Attorney General having meanwhile com
municated TO Captain Huntington the desire o
the President that the matter should not be prose
cued, Jeaards was released, having, during IN,
interval, became pretty well sobered.
Bridge over Rock Creek.--The inquiry j
often made in our hearing, why the bridge owe
Rock creek is not rebuilt. We understand tina
the councils have the matter under advisemen
and the committee of aldermen have heretofor
reported in favor of Champions tubular wrought
iron structure, but no action has as yet been take
upon il the members being determined 10 ascel
tain the merits Of wrought over cast iron fabric
of this kind. We believe the patent of Messr
Champion has advantages over any bridge Of III
| kind VIC have seem and for the benefit Of the cit,