The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1880-04-01
KICKED MN DOWN STAIRS.


The Man Who Didn't Assassinste Old
oea Wade.
Gen. J. 3 Brisbin, in rhiiaielphiz Press,
1t Is not generally known that AL
attempt 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, Sena-
tor had been calling at Mr.. Wade's,
and had just left to 90 home. Ii was
about So'clock at night, and Mr.. sum-
ner had just quilted Mr.. Wade's door.
when pistOl-shOt was heard in the
street. Mrs. Wade, who was sitting
in the parlor with Mr.. Wade, sprang
to her feet, aud said to her husband:
MY God: Frank. l fear they have
killed Mr.. Sumner.
Wade, with the people Of the house.
hurried to the spot. and found Mr..
Sumner calm, but very pale and weak.
He said = man standing Oh the outer
edge Of the pavement had fired at him
with pistol, the ball passing close in
front OF his face and apparently hit
ting the wall. The assassin then ran
mp an alley and disappeared. The
wall Of the adjoining house WAS exam
incl, and the ball was found sticking
between two bricks and completely
flattened cut by its force. No trace of
the assassin could lie found, and noi,,-
ing was ever heard Of him
A few days after the above occr,r-
renee, q man called on Mr.. Wade ~
about 5 o'clock i'm the evening, and
pretended he had important bushes,
with the Senator and some papers to
show him. Mr.. Wade ut this time
lived on Four. and-a-half street i'm a
house owned by Mrs. Barrett. Mr..
COifax lived in the house with Mr..
Wade, and both occupied rooms on
the second floor. The man pushed
his way into Mr.. Wade's .itting-room
and asked him il he would read q
petition. Mr. w AIDE was alone at the
time, and something in the mans face
or manner aroused his suspicion.
Asking to be excused for q moment,
the old Senator went i2tO an adjoin-
ing room, where he and his wife
slept, and took pistol from y drawer
Of q bureau. Holding the pistol un-
der his dreasing-gown, Wade returned
to the sitting-roOm, and confronting
the assassin, said,
"NOw, sir. ! am ready for YOU.
Where are the papers You wished me
to resd?"
Drawing package from his breast,
the man handed 1t To Mr. Wade with
one hand, while with the other he
grasped the handle of q large knife.
Quick as thought Wade saw it, and
cooking the pistol, placed it under the
mans nose and said:
DRAW that knife or attempt 10
draw II, and you are dead man.
The assassin turned very pale, and
ct the command of Mr.. Wade, held up
his hands.
Vow, about face" roarei Vale.
The assassin turned his back, and
Wade, placing the muzzle of the pistol
against the back Of his head, said:
Forward, march,
out Of the room, down the stairs.
along the hsll and opening the street
door. bid him depart. Those who re-
member Mrs. Barrel. house will
recOllect the front door is reached ~
ascending pair al winding stairs.
Just as the assaSsin set his foot on the
top stair Wade gave him a kick and IA
push that sent him wiling 10 The
bottom, aud he fell headlong Oh the
pavement. Then, closing the door
with hang, the old man left the irl-
low to gather himself up and gel away
as best ne could. Returning To- his
room as cOolly a. Ii nothing had hap
pened, Wade put up his pistol, and il
was three or four days before the fam
lily learned anything of the occur
renee.