The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-09-22
only such protection as the laws of my country
afford, am truly yours, J. p. CR1sTIANCY.
A white Conv,ct wnlpp.a to De.sh.


An Atlanta (Ga.) dispatch to the Cincinnati
Commercial of September u tells the follow
ing horrible tale: John Massey, q white con-
vict, attempted to escape from Marietta or
North Georgia Camp, near Canton, but was
captured and whipped, one hundred and fifty
lashes ut four different times in twenty-four
hours, then made go in and work. Beaten
until stupefed, he was unable to lift shovel
of dirt, when he was made kneel in the dirt
with his face to the bank, o pick was stuck in
the bank near his head, and hands pressed
aci oss the neck, in which position he was again
numerically beaten. He sank insensible, and
was placed in Q wheelbarrow to be removed, but
was dumped out and being unable to rise,
a strap was placed around his neck, and
jerked up, taken to camp, died and was
hurried into the ground. This was Friday
week ago. The affair tried to be concealed, but
suspicious citizens agitated the matter and
informed the Governor who appointed Frank
L. Harralson, lawyer, to accompany the PEN
itentiary physician, Rairs, to investigate. On
reaching the camp Mr.. Harralson had to dig
up the body himself, when he found the cruel
evidences of barbarous treatment in bruises
extending from the neck to the waist. Cor
oner's jury rendered verdict Of death from
heart disease, superinduced by cruel treatment
at the hands Of Charles d. Phillips, jr. Phil
lips is a nephew of General VIM. Phillips
Convict Lessee, and was section boss on the
road. The lessee is exonerated, and young
Phillips held solely responsible. He left the
day after the dead man was buried.
Sergeant Thomas Mason.
Thomas Mason, First Sergeant Of Company
B, Second United States Artillery, who at
tempted to kill Gmteau, Is about thirty-fve or
thirty-eight years old, is well-built, slender;
about five feet eleven inches In height, with
brown hair and mustache, clear complexion,
hazel eyes, and would be called good-looking.
He is q yirginian, and is OF family Of six
young men. All his brothers served in the
Confederate, but Thomas Joined and served
with the Union army. He is said by
his superior officers and comrades to
be man of coolness and crack
shot, and, having been on duty several
times at the jail he knew the location Of the
cell, and also Guiteau's habit Of standing at
the window when the relief guard arrived.
It was, therefore, unnecessary for him to see
Guiteau when he fired, and, having prepared
himself, he took his stand at the corner of the
front wing of the building. Although he
could not see the cell window, for the sash Of
the outer window was down, he aimed ct
the spot where he supposed .Guiteau
was and pulled the trigger. Mason re-
peats that he regrets he did not
kill Guiteau. When asked when he had
formed the idea to shoot Guiteau, he an
swered: "When the attempted assassination
was made by the scoundrel first heard of it
in Texas, on train where there were num-
ber of soldiers, and secretly resolved il ever
I was put in position or had the oppor-
tunity, to kill the assassin. On Sunday
morning loaded my musket, knowing that
was going on duty, with the intention of shoot
ing him the first chance I got. When We
arrived at the Jail walked to where I could
get the range Of his window, and fired. I am
perfectly sane, and if had killed him I would
be willing to remain in prison the remainder Of
my life. II restored to duty, I will shoot him
as soon as can get chance" It Is not be-
ieved that there will be any Court-martial In
Msson's case. It is not thought at the War
Department that there will be any trial at all.
The opinion that Mason was not in his right
mind when he did the firing is apparently ac-
ceptable among officials Of the War Department.