The true northerner., 1880-03-26
KICKED HIM DOWN STAIRS.
The Man Who Didnt Assassinate Old Ben
Wade.

The Man Who Didn't Assassinate Old Ben
Wade.
lGen. J. s. Busbin in Philadelphia Press.
1t is not generally known that an at
tempt was made to assassinate Mr. Wade
in Washington during the war, about
the same time that an attack was made
on Mr.. Charles Summers life. The great
Massachusetts, Senator had been calling
at Mr.. Wade's, and had just left to go
home. 1t was about 8 o'clock at night,
and Mr. Sumner had just quilted Mr..
Wade's door, when a pistol-shot was
heard in the street. Mrs Wade, who
was sitting in the parlor with Mr.. Wade,
spraug to her feet and said to her
husband:
My God! Frank, / fear they have
killed Mr.. Sumner"
Wade, with the people of the house,
hurried to the spot and found MIR. Sum
ner calm, but very pale and weak. He
said man standing on the outer edge
of the pavement had fired at him with
pistol, the ball passing close to his
face and apparently hitting the wall.
The assassin then ran up an alley and
disappeared. The wall of the adjoining
house was examined. and the ball was
found sticking between two bricks and
completely fattened out by its force.
No trace of the assassin could be found,
and nothing was ever heard OF him.
A few days after the above occur
renee, man called on Mr.. Wade about
s o'clock in the evening, and pretended
he had important business with the
Senator and some papers to show him.
Mr.. Wade, at this time. lived on Four
and-a.half street in house owned by
Mrs. Barrett. Mr.. Colfax lived in the
house with Mr.. Wade, and both occu-
pied rooms on the second floor. The
man pushed his way into Mr.. Wade's
sitting-room and asked him if he would
read petition. Mr.. Wade was alone
at the time, and something in the mans
face or manner aroused his suspicion.
Asking to be excused for moment, the
old Senator went into an adjoining
room, where ne and his wife slept, and
took pistol from drawer of bureau.
Holding the pistol under his dressing
gown, Wade returned to the sitting
room, snd, confronting the assassin,
said:
Now, sir, am ready for you.
Where are the papers you wished me to
read?"
Drawing a package from his breast,
the man handed it to Mr.. Wade, with
one hand, while with the other he
grasped the handle of large knife.
Quick as thought Wade saw it, and,
cooking the pistol, placed 1t under the
mans nose and said:
"Draw that knife, or attempt to draw
it. and you are dead mani!
The assassin turned very pale, and, at
the command of Mr.. Wade, held up his
hands.
"Now, about facet" roared Wade.
The assassin turned his back, and
Wade, placing the muzzle of the pis-
tol against the back of his head, said:
Forward, march"
In this way lie marched the fellow out
of the room, down the stairs, along the
hall, and, opening the street door, bid
him depart. Those who remember Mrs.
Barrett's house will recollect the front
door is reached by ascending pair OF
winding stairs. Just as the assassin set
his foot on the top stair, Wade gave
him kick and push that sent him
sprawling to the bottom, and he fell
headlong on the pavement. Then,
closing the door with bang, the old
man left the fellow to gather himself
mp and get away as best he could.
Returning to his room, as coolly as if
nothing had happened, Wade put up
his pistol, and it was three or four
days before the family learned any
thing about the occurrence.