The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-02
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

THE, SHOOTING AFFA1R AT MASONIC HALL. -
EXAMINATION or WlNANT STRENGTHS HIS.
TORY AND APPEARANCE.
winant streng, the who on Thursday last fred
into body of Masons they leaving Masonic Hail.
of Ninth and streets, is Prussian by birth
He was born on the 4th Of January 1921 and Is con
sequentiy, thirty years Of age He is short
thick set man. with swarthy complexion his forehead
very square and low his eyes blue and altogether no
exhibits air Of determination, which fully accounts
for tho persistent attempt which he made TO effect
his murderous object In conversing upon indiffer-
ent subjects he acquits himself with ease and credit
andit Is only when inquiries made in reference to
his attack upon the Masons that anything like in
sanity is noticed II is then that his eyes are light
ed with strange fire, and his replies become al
most unintegible. There be no doubt of the
danger of leaving him to run large and it is fortunate
indeed that he taken before he had committed
Their violence.
But little known of his past history, except that he
took part in the Geran revolution of ls4s for 1t
at that time he first left his native country Imme-
diately upon landing he to Wisconsin where he re-
sided until lS49 when he carried away with visions
Of gold in California, and determined to seek IT, He did
not proceed directly to California however, but stopped
in Missouri for year. working at his trade carpen-
ter In 1850 he left, taking the overland route and
after undergoing considerable hardship arrived at his
years. he became tired of the monotony of his e and
early in 1858 went to Australia His success in Austria
liza far exceeded that of his former life and it is little
singular that he did not remain there. His digging
yielded him half day, but in 1854 he again
landed in California, after absence of little
than year. He remained in California until May 1857
when he returned to- the States He first came Wash
ington in December but has permanently resided
here since then Whilst in California Mokolumne HILL
the says he became acquainted with the Of the Ma
sons and since that time the members have
him and " made fun of him. He to be i'm great
fear of the power the Masons and declares that they
have put spell upon him, from which he is very anx
ious escape He alleges this motive for his at-
tack upon the Masons and adds that he DESTROYS
killing of them, In order to provoke them to take
his lfe and thus him beyond their power This
is somewhat different from the story he told at the
gistates Office where he sgnfed his intention Of taking
the lives Of all the Masons This shows the wandering
Of his mind when conversing upon this subject Among
other singular stores he relates interview in Deem
Der last with the President whose protection he was anx
ous to gain. Before going to the White House he had
armed himself and that it was his intention to
have shot the President If no had supposed he was
kindly disposed towards him. In reply to the inquiry of
what he would have done had the President told him he
did not want to have anything to do with him. he re-
piled emphaticay that he would have shot him If
he really had the interview it will be that
the Presidents life in imminent danger for the man
seems to act wholly regardless of consequences
In reply to questions he expresses regret that the I'M
fortunate whom he shot should be suffering so Sc
yerey but at the time says that he could not help
tIat he compelled to shoot sone one in order
remove the spell which had been thrown around him
At another time he said he knew it wrong but he
could not get of it and the words he uttered on
leaving the wadens at the Jail that he desired
to kill Mason in order that they might be forced to
take his life and end oil his troubles The only relatives
he has in this country two three sisters in Mis-
souri, He states that Mr. Gcrhardt from the same
town in Prussia in which he born but he does not
think that that gentleman knows either himself or his
family.
Further particulars given in the following report
of the investigation before Magistrate Thompson, which
took place yesterday afternoon at o'clock
The prisoner having been brought from the jail to the
Central Guard House. the hearing of the testimony in
| the case proceeded.
Dr. George Mccoy, on being sworn testified that Mr..
Hcberger and himself coming out of Masonic Hall
about six oclock Thursday evening, when he heard
the report of pistol and, looking out into the street.
he saw standing on the sidewalk with pistol in
| his hand the man fired bullet, which the witness
Imagined he felt Craze his panaloons and pass between
his legs at this time the prisoner stood the curb
stone In moment two there q second shot and
Heberger said he wounded. Witness assisted him
into in the building, and, pulling off his boot
found that he had received bullet in his great Did
not tho who fired the pistol with sufficient dis
tinctness to identify him heard him make no remark
His appearance cool and deliberate saw him fire
| the pistol twice.
! 1.-The pistol shown at the preliminary examination
on Thursday evening 1t is sx-barel revolver two of
the barrels being discharged and the other four loaded
of the other caps also being exploded showing that
| there three attempts to shoot
Chaunccy Smith testified that he was coming down with
Tho IF fha a,,.I. ,La,<. a
earliest and he got the foot of the stairs Just in
side Of the door, he heard the report of pistol on
looking up, he a man, whom he identified as the
prisoner with pistol In his hand aimed directly towards
him. Witness Immediately jumped back behind the
shelter of tho door, one-haf of which shut ; and
there several Others who had then got down the
stairs of whom shot, being Mr.. Heberger.
Witness very much excited and did have an ac-
curae recollection of what else occurred thinks the
man fired three times Witness would have been shot
himself if he had not jumped aside from the place where
i he standing
r. n McGuue testified that he saw the prisoner whom
he identifies, with pistol pointed towards Dr. Davis
and he appeared to be trying to shoot him. When the
officer up he said, ARREST me, give myself up r.
| E. b. Robinson testified that he saw the prisoner
walking up and down the sidewalk in front of Masonic
Hall for an hour hour and half and as soon as
the noise heard Of footsteps coming down the stairs
and the door opened the prisoner coolly and DELHI
cracly took his pistol out of his pocket and fred twice
at the Masons, and making another attempt the cap
exploded Witness the prisoner before that
| day.
Joseph Gerhard testified that tho prisoner had been
boarding ut his house for about four weeks During
that time witness had had only conversation with