Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-02-23
An Attempt to Kill Gov. Packard.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. Is

An Attempt to Kill Gov. Packard,
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. Is.
About eleven o'clock this forenoon
two men, one of whom gave the name of
Joseph Huttlc, but whose real name
is ascertained to be w. Ii. Weldon, and
a slim, one-armed man, who gave no
name, called at the door of the State
Capitol and asked to see Mr.. Packard.
There was some demur about admitting
them, when one proclaimed himself to
be an ex-Federal officer and the other a
discharged soldier. They were brought
to the head of the stairs, where Weldon
represented that he was correspondent
of the Philadelphia Press, and desired
| to see Gov Packard. The name of Jo-
seph Huttle was sent in, but the one
armed man declined to enter. Weldon
reached the Executive office, where he
| found Mr.. Packard seated at his desk talk
| ing to Judge Boarman, of Caddo, who
occupied chair on his right. Weldon
sat down in vacant chair Immediately
on Packard's left, and after an instant
somewhat sharply asked: When can |
see your Packard turned, and found a
pistol aimed at his head. He Immediate
| ly struck it down, and the weapon was
discharged, the ball striking him in the
right knee and infliCting slight wound.
Packard Immediately dealt the man a
blow with his fist, striking him between
the eyes and knocking him down. Sew
eral parties in the room drew their pis-
tolls and fired, wounding the would-be
assassin. A scene of intense excitement
I. Il. f,1l ,nfa1
man was arrested and conveyed to the
office of the Superintendent of Police,
and Weldon was kept close prisoner in
the Executive office. Mr.. Packard was
conveyed to his private apartment on
the second floor of the building, where
his wound was examined. 1t is not of q
serious character, but might prove so if
not carefully tended, and will lame him
for several days.
The man who tried to kill Packard
says his name is William Henry Weldon,
and that his home is in Philadelphia.
| He saws further that he has a mother
and sister living there. With regard to
his attempt to kill Packard he says there
were four others with him who were to
have assisted him in the undertaking,
but that upon reaching the door of the
State House they refused to go in, and
left him to carry out the intended plan
of assassination alone. Weldon is not
very seriously hurt. The ball which
struck him hit him in the left arm just
below the shoulder and came out at the
elbow.
Weldon was nicely dressed, with a
good, intelligent-looking face, dark hair
| nlplnlV
shaven. He wore large and evidently
new Masonic badge. The marks on his
clothing indicated the truth of his state
ment concerning his name, as did also
papers in his pocket and Masonic di-
ploma. On his person was found let
ter from Chas. H. Schwartz, Bethlehem,
Pa, Sept "a, 1869, recommending VIM.
Weldon as having been pupil in his
school; another dated at the same place,
Feb. 16, 1867, recommending Weldon as
an energetic business man of good moral
habits; another dated Cincinnati, April
20, 1872, recommending W. II. Weldon
as an honest, careful business man, and
signed &C. NJ. Brown, formerly Brown
& Coleman, Springfield, H." Weldon,
on being asked the motive of his crime,
replied: "only patriotism"
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. is.
Inquiry made at the office of the Phila-
delphia Press discloses the fact that VIM.
H. Weldon, the person who to-day shot
Gov. Packard, has no connection what
ever with the Press, and nothing is
known of him at the office of that paper.
New ORLEANS, Feb. 16.
The Recorder this afternoon visited
Weldon in the room where he lies and
formally arraigned him for assaulting
Gov. Packard with deadly weapon,
with intent to murder. To the formal
question, " Are you guilty or not guilty
of this charge?" the prisoner replied, in
firm voice, Guilty" An order of
commitment was then made out direct
ing his retention in custody until further
orders.
A Mobile (Ala.) dispatch says Weldon
went to that city last October, recon-
mended by member of the firm of Claf-
lin & Co, to take service with Pepper &
Co, a wealthy dry goods house. He
remained in their employ until the 7th
inst After quitting he took to drink,
and probably on shat account, coupled
| VIII illllG lONC LldNNNlt hN dih oOhiS
wild things. On the 11th he informed
an acquaintance that he was going to
kill himself The last seen of Weldon
at Pepper s. Co.'S was on the morning OF
the 18th, when he called and received a
settlement, and bade the cashier good
by. Being asked if he was going to re-
main in the city he replied no, that he
had something else on hand, and was
about to leave the city. All who know
him in Mobile say his resolution mus
have been taken over drinking table
He was never known to take any part ol
interest in politics. An acquaintance
says he had not been in condition oi
responsibility for more than week.
Weldon's father is Rev. G. f. Weldon
highly-respected clergyman of Wes
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.