Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-05-31
THE INvEsTIGATION-M SUMMERS
CONDITION

WAsufXdroS, May 26.--The House Com.
mittee Of Investigation waited on MIR. Sum.
ner to-day. lie was in bed but gave his tes.
tmony in regard to the assault. and was also
cross-eyamned He was unable to sit up
during the visit of the committee but did so
short time to day. lie is still very weak,
and his physicians counsel him not to move
out of the house for week
The following is the statement Of Mr. Sum.
ner made under oath:
| attended the Senate, az usual. on Thurs
day. the 22d Of May, and, after some formal
business, message was received from the
House of Representatives, announcing the
death of a member Of that body from Missou-
ri, when. according to usage, and ont Of res.
pect to the memory Of the deceased on mo.
lon of Mr. Geyer. the Senate adjourned.
Instead OF leaving the Chamber with the
rest on the adjournment, | continued in my
seat occupied with my pen. While TINS in.
tent, in order to be in season for the mail
which was soon to close. | was approached hy
several persons who desired 10 converse with
me, but answered them promptly and brief.
iy; eIcrsing myselt for the reason that was
much engaged. When. the last Of these per-
sons left me, drew my arm chair close TO
my desk, and with my legs under the desk
continued writing. My attention at this
time was so entirely drawn from all other oh.
!eets that although there must have been ma
ny persons IN the Senate ] saw nobody
Nhle thus intent, with my head bent over
my writing, | was addressed by person who
approached the front Of my desk. so entirely
unobserred that / was not aware of his pres
ence until my name was pronounced As ]
looked up with my pen in hand, | saw q tall
man. with whose countenance | was not fa-
mllllar, standing directly over me. and at the
p1nn / al,
read your speech twice over carefully. 1t is
n libel on South Carolina and Mr.. Butler,
who is relative Of r!ne." While these words
were still passing from his lips. he comacn-
ced succession Of b ow. with heavy cane or
my bare head, by the first Of which | was so
stunned as to lose my sight. / no longer
saw my assallant, nor any other nerson or OBJ
Ject in the room. What | did afterwards
was done almost unconscously. acting under
the instincts Of self defence. with nv head
already bent down, | rose from nv seat.
wrenching rp my desk, which was screwed to
the iloor and then pressing forward. while he
continued his blows. ! have no other con-
sclousness until todtd myself ten feet for
ward in front of'rfy, desk, lying on the Aoor
OF the Senate with my bleeding head snrpor.
ted on the knee of IA gentleman whom ! soon
recognized by voice and manner rs Mr. Nor
gan OF New York. Other persons there were
about me Offering me friendly assistance, but
did not recognize any of them. Others
there were at II distance looking On and offer
ing no assistance Of whom recognized only
Mr. Douglas, Of ILL.,, Mr. Toombs. of Ga, and
Thought also my assailant standing between
them. ! was helped from the floor and con.
daelcd into the lobby Of the Senate, where |
was placed upon sofa. OF those who helm.
ed me here, have 70 recollection. AsIen.
tered the lobby, | recognized Mr.. Slidcll. OF
Bouslana, who retreated, but recognized no
one else, until felt a friendly grasp of tbe
hand, which seemed TO come from Mr.. Camp.
bell, OF Ohio. | have vague impression
that Mr.. Bright, the President Of the Senat,
spoke to me while ] was on the floor of the
Senate, or in the lobby.
make this statement in answer 70 the IN
terrogatory Of the committee, and Offer il as
presenting completely II ing recnl!cctjcns q
the assault and Of the attending circumstan
ces whether immediately before or immedi
ately after. ] desire 10 add, that besides tn
words which have given as uttered BY m-
assailant, | have an indistnct recollection q
the words cold man;" but tbe,a are 90 envel
oped in the mist which ensueG from the frs
blow, that l AIN not sure whether tbev wer
uttered or not.
On cross examination, Mr.. Sumner state,
that he was entirely without arms of any kin,
and that he had no notice or warning Of an,
kind, direct or Indirect Of this assault
IN answer to another question. Mr.. Sumne
repl.ei that what he had said of Mr.. Butle
was strictly responsive to Mr.. Butler
speeches, according to the usages Of parlis
mentary debate.