Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-09-14
A Shot nj Guiteau.

The telegraph has already given our
readers a brief account Of the attempt to
kill the assassin Guiteau. Further details
are as follows: For some days there had
been talk among the soldiers detailed to
guard the wretch "a to who should take a
shot at him whenever he presented himself
at the window Of his cell. The prisoner
cell looks out through another window on
the outside corridor. and was plainly
perceptlble to the guards who watched the
eastern side of the Jail. The chance oil
firing shot at Guiteau, il appears, fell to
the lot of Sergeant John A. Mason oil
company B, second artill,ry, ana he pre-
pared for il when he was ordered. win
other soldiers, to leave the arsenal Sunday
night to 90 to the jtil and perform guard
duty. Three wagon loads OF soldiers LETT
the arsenal, and Sergeant Mason Was IN
the last. He was noticed by some OF ms
companions to tumble with the lock OF his
rifle, and act strangely, but nothing was
said as the sergeant had been drinking
during the day, and none in the wagon
were aware of the talk referred to. When
the wagons drew up to the rear of the jail
Mason was the first man to alight. lie
pushed himself through group oil several
persons standing around, and, reaching a
small hillock about three feet from where
the horses stood he brought his rifle TO IA
shoulder, took steady aim ut the we'll
known window of Guiteau's opposite,
shouting There he 3, and fired. The
report of the rifle attracted general atten.
ton, and before the smoke had cleared
away twenty soldiers were crowded around
him. Said Private ID avis: &" In heaven T,
name. man. why did you shootP" 81
wanted to kill that wretch in there" was
the answer; " have been on to this thing
for ten days and hope have done the
work up in good style" Mason then
walked toward his commanding officer
Captain McGilvray, saying. Captain
have endeavored to kill that dirty loafel
in there. Here is my gun and bayonet
sir; run me in" Captain McGllvray
turned Mason over TO the custody of two
soldiers. The prisoners who could Iool
out of their windows and had been aroused
began to scream and shout; aud on TIT
inside Of the Jail scene of the gre ates
excitement prevailed. Warden Crocke
and Deputy Russell ran towards Gulteau
cell. They found the latter on his knees
with an expression of borrow on his face
Great Godr' he exclaimed, when Crock
er looked into his cell. What do thes
men mean, anyway Do they want t
talking uboutP" answered Crocker VIII
had not learned what the trouble was
"Well, Just this" Guiteau replied, .
J have been shot at again. l was standln
AT my window, ust now, when shot WI
fired by one OF those soldiers outside, an
the bullet passed my ear, went throug
} my coat hanging up there, cutting /
pi, ces the photograph of my old mo her.
Did it strike you AT alp asked Crooke
No; but it frightened me nearly
death" After consultation it was agree
S to inform Guiteau that the shooting W;
9 accidental. Guiteau took the explanatio
, ,uetly. Il went out OF the office, sal
Crocker, "and had a talk with the guard
: and we came to the conclusion that Glltel
s had better be removed toanother cell. w
= lhereupon removed him TO the old &c
q occupied by Jim Stone, and you ought
have heard him kick. He though, IN ii
face of our explanation that he had bee
y shot by accident, that his sudden removi
= WAS strange, but we pacltied him and too
n him over to his new cell" " What iii
they do with MasonP" They took hi
down to the arsenal and placed him und'
IL strong guard" What did Guiteau $.
g after he got into his new quarters IN
:. Il word, except to complain that he W.
/, not allowed better view from the Wi
= dow" There is no chance, then, of h
> being shot at againp' Not in the leas
Y He Is safe" When Sergeant Mason W
Q being driven through the streets on h
a way to the arsenal, crowd gathered
tie corn 7 of Third streetand Pennsylvan
j. avenue and gave him cheer. They HI
1t evidently heard what he had done; but
8 lay back between two stout soldiers, al
~ would say nothing.