Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-01-20
THE Attempted A ssassination OF Senator
W1Iy.


ON Wednesday last IA man "dre>sed IN
gray rloihes." OF "unLsusliy large pro-
horizons" called a, Senator Wade,s resi-
dence, in Washington, and was shown
M stairs "Aitei being seated he siaieu
tina, he was trying TO obtain employment
in the United States navy, and asked Mr..
w de 10 sign paper of recommendation
for him. Senator Wade refused to do so,
saving he did not know him, and advised
him 10 procure HE signature of some per-
Ion to whom he was known. After list
ening to this reply, the strange visitor.
whose phvsngnomy VIZ. Wade describes
a. singularly malicious and brutal looked
al The Senator with significant seowl,
which The latter plainly interpreted as
meaning mischief. A, this jnnclure of
me Interview Mr.. Wade arose, and, step.
| ping into an adjoining room, armed him
self with loaded pistol, ard quietly re-
TUNED again inlo The room where the man
in gray was siidng. Ailer looking at
each other sometime in silence. the man
began the conversation BY saying: "Ain'
you going 10 sign my paper 2" To
which the Senator returned an emphauc
NEGATIVE. adding thai lie had no knowl.
dge OF him. Matters now began 10 reach
crisis. rhe stranger arose TO his feet,
drawing out bowie knife, about twelve
inches long, and remarking, II suppose
sou know we are alone, sir, in this room.
. He was proceeding 10 unshealh his wea.
pom, when Senator Wade sprang 10 his
eet and drawing forth his pistol, placed
lit iihIn short distance OF his head,
telling him to clear out imme diatelv or he
would Shoot him. Taken snmewhat by
surprise, the man in gray began 10 find
his way to he door, followed up closely
by Senator Wade, with his pistol still in
close proximity to his head The Sena.
tor with true Western poiiteness, saw his
visitor down stairs, and. before reaching
the door, quietly Informed him that be
, had great notion to shoot him anyhow.
Upon this the stranger departed. During
the visit he failed 10 produce any papers
for signature, and, evidently, made ibis p
e mere prelexI for the interview. Al The
lime OF the visit. there were no persons
in the house beside Senator Wade, ex-
cep, Mr.. Matthews and his lady and a
servant.
The National lnleligencer contains the
! following III regard TO The man who re-
; Gently threatened 10 sssassiDate Senator
: w ade:
We last night, however. ascertsined
It, 4
known: that he is from Massachusetts,
and common vagabOnd: and that after
leaving Senator Wade he visited the room
Of another Senator, and stated that he had
visited the Senator from Ohio. No e.
lcris are being made to arrest the indlvid-
uai, who is not considered abs oluleIy
dangerous, although he is "a man Of nnu
sually large proportions" He had been
employ ed in several Navy Yards and had
written to Senator Wade as well as TO
the Senator above referred 10 with regard
to Teappointmeni.
But the attentions of mysterious indi
viduals are not confined to Senator w ade
alone. for on Saturday evening Senator
Sumner received box such as contains
paper collars. and upon opening il he
found the fore6neer Of hand, somewhat
shrivelled, buI evidently taken from del.
icsle hand. The finger was carefully
; wrapped up in part of newspaper; and
accompanying it was the following note,
written in plain hand, the writer OF
which had evidently knowledge OF chi
Biography:
"You Old, send you a piece of
one Of Your friends, and if that bill Of
yours passes, will have piece OF you.
"A UNION MAN."
Senator Sumner does not spprehend
assassination, Tor he treats the matter
very lightly. and states that he is the dali
/ ly recipient of such missives. minus the
fingers or other parts Of the body.