The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-09-24
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The attempted shooting Of Guiteau, by
one Of the soldiers stationed in the vicinity
Of the Jail, to guard the prisoner from mob
violence, was quite an exciting episode.
or course the telegraph has already given
you the facts, but the subject is not dead
yet. There is a good deal Of speculation
as TO what will be done about IL, as we'll as
a deep feeling Of regret thstthe shot missed
Its mark. Not few people quietly hope
that the soldier will get another chance,
with better results. The man who fred
ths shot is Sergeant in Company 8 Of the
Second Artillery, named John A. Macon.
He is about thirty Eve or thirty-eight years
Of age, is well built, slender, about Ave feet
eleven inches in height, with brown hair
and moustache, clear complexion, hazel
eyes, and would be called a good looking
man. He is n native of Virginia and is Of
family Of six young men. All Of his
brothers served in the Confederate Army,
but John Joined aud served with the Union
Army. When his Captain came up to him
after the shot was fred, Mason said &: Z"
fred the shot Captain, and intended to
kill the scoundrel. did not enlist 10
guard an assassin" Great excitement was
caused by the shooting, and Guiteau hin.
sci: was terribly frightened. The ball
grased by his head, and penetrated bis coat
which was hanging in the cell, passing
through picture of himself which was in
one of the pockets.
In an interview with the reporters after
the occurrence Sergeant Mason appeared in
good spirits and said he would be willing,
besides being con6nel, to give $4,000 in
the bargain il his bullet had pierced Gui-
teau's bowels. He said he was tired Of
riding out there over a cobble stone road
every day to guard the lie of cur who
had shot such good man as President
Garfield. In this feeling he has good
deal Of sympathy hereabouts. There does
not appear to be much disposition to bring
him TO very summary punishment for the
act. 1t is understood that the formality OF
Il court martial will be gone through with,
but probably it will not amount to much.
If tried by the civil authorities no jury
in this community could be found to con
vict him of any grave wrong AS for Gui-
teau himself, he is as great coward as
ever lived. He stands in mortal terror oil
being violently dealt with, and after this
shot, was very glad to be removed to o
more secluded cell. 1t has not been gener-
ally known that the window of the one
previously occupied was in good range oi
any sharp shooter outside. If it had been
better known probably the attempt to pick
him Off would have been made before this
Mason is said to be a crack shot, and be
seems to be anxious to get another chance.
Since it frightens him so, no better pun
ishment could de inflicted upon Guiteau
than to have come guard shoot 10 the righ,
and left Of him about once a day.
Ex-Minister Christisncy is now here at
tending in person to bis suit for divorce.
He says there has been some outrageous ly-
ing in the evidence for the defense. Wash
Ington is the bose place for marriage and
divorce. Few hours Of the Eve week days
Friday being unpopular for that pur.
pose-pass without the recording Of IL
cense in the clerks office, and few terms
of court pass that several divorces are not
decreed. This District is the Gretna Green
OF Virginia and Maryland, ana our parsons
pocket lotso Of fees for trying knots which
their brethren of neighboring states had q
right to expect. The explanation ia simple.
The Virginia clerk requires chat both the
parties shall be twenty -one, or the consent
OF parents or guardian be given. The
Maryland clerk demands heavy toll, four
or five dollars, on all who travel through
his gate To matrimony. But the clerk in
Washington takes delight in the creation
Of happy couples, asks no questions,
charges only one dollar and does the work
with such exquisite good nature that the
applicant takes with bis license a higher
appreciation Of the holy estate, whose path
opens SO pleasantly. Every ten or twelve
couples going in, however, meet at the City
Hall one couple trying to get out, for there
is one divorce to each dozen marriages. The
way out is'by no means as easy as the way
in. At the very 6rst step they meet the
clerk, anstere and solemn, who requires ten
dollars cash before be will file paper; and
whereas, il took but one person few minu.
teB and few words 10 make q bride, II
needs a chansellor, clerks, lawyers, exami.
ners, bailiffs, witnesses, score in all, with
bills arguments, depositions, DEGREES, &c.
; &C., from ten weeks TO ten years, 10 make
grass-widow. Still the throng moves bott
r ways. DoX PBpRo.