New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-04-16
Attempt upon the Life Of Secretary
Thompson.

The Washington Evening Star of the sth, gives
the following account of the attack upon the Secre.
tary of the Interior
This forenoon, at about 10 o'clock, Mr.. Peter Be-
sancon Jr., Of louisiana late clerk in the Pension
Office, called on the Secretary of the Interior in the
Department, and in answer to his inquiries was in
formed by that functionary, as the reason WHY he
was dropped last year, that he was not reported
among the most efficient clerks when, under the law,
1t became necessary to reduce the clerical force of
the Pension Bureau. Besancon then told the Secre-
ary that whoever reported him TO be inefficient was
damned liar ; and the Secretary told him he could
have no further conversation with him on the SUBJ
eet, as was not proper that he should listen to
such abuse of the officers of his department. Turn
ing TO leave him, Besancon followed him (the Seere-
tary) exclaiming, A." demand TO know who was
your informant7n ~ when Secretary Thompson again
declined TO converse with him upon the subject Be-
saneon then instantly struck him violent blow be-
hind the ear, as he (Secretary Thompson) was walk
ing away.
The Secretary, turning instantly discovered Besan
con In the act OF drawing revolver and seizng
him so as to pinion his arms to his side threw him
to the floor with such force az to dslocate his (Be
sancon's) shoulder and Eve believe) break his arm
also the Secretary falling heavily on him, and pre-
venting him from cooking his revolver by seizng his
hand and holding it. The bystanders had time 10 in
terfere and wrench the weapon from Besancous
hand; whereupon Secretary Thompson released him,
and he was taken up and placed in an adjoining
room for safe keeping by those who had rushed to
the scene of the occurrence.
Secretary Thompson has made out an order for his
admission to the Washington Inirmary for surgical
treatment.
1t seems to us that the attempt on his life must
have been the result of the derangement of Besan-
con, whose mind has for sometime past been some.
what unsettled through his domestic difficulties.
Dr. Rhett, of South Carolina, who happened to be
present, promptly set the dsocated shoulder.
The Union publishes the following note from Mr..
Besancon
To the Editor of the Union: difficulty having
occurred between Hon. Jacob Thompson and myself,
it is probable that rumors may be circulated not sls
tanned by facts. | therefore ask the use of your
columns to say that Mr.. Thompson and myself have
for years been on friendly terms-from the period
published daily journal in Mississippi and Louisiana
to the time of this occurrence that our meeting then
was OF friendly nature the affair unprecedented,
and the result of misunderstanding. Entertaining
these views, no one can regret the difficulty more
than myself.
1t may be proper to say that often visited the de-
partment and was only armed, for sefdefence in an
ticipation Of an attack from another quarter
trust that you will extend the courtesy aaked to
disabuse the public mind if wrong impressions are
disseminated.
P. BEsANCoN.
WASHINGTON, April 8, 1858.