Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-09-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent,

Ahe Cdplueb OHlceIS are returning
one by one from Long Branch, with
smiling faces, and setting about the
duties of their various departments.
Secretary kirkwood was the FIRST to
come back having made UP his mind,
he says, that he could be a great deal
more useful here than anywhere else.
Secretary Window followed next,
the business of the Treasury Depart
ment requiring his presence. 1t is
rumored, by the way, that he win in
few days call in S25,000,000 or
more of the six per cents recently
extended at 81 per cent. The At
torney General and Postmaster Gen.
eral will doubtless find 1t necessary
to remain here portion of the time
during the next few days, as the
Grand jury is in session and the
''star route" cases are likely to re-
quire their attention.
TIE attempted shooting of Gui-
teau by one of the soldiers stationed
in the vicinity of the Jail to guard
the prisoner from mob violence was
quite an exciting episode. OF course
the telegraph has alread given you
the facts, but the subject is not dead
yet. There is good deal of specu-
lation as to what will be done about
it, as well as deep feeling of regret
that the shot missed its mark. Not
a few people quietly hope that the
soldier will get another chance, with
better results. The man who fired
the shot is a Sergeant in Company b
of the second Artillery, named John
A. Mason. He is about thirty five
or thirty-eight years of age, is we'll
built, slender, about five feet eleven
inches in height, with brown hair and
moustache, cl ' complexion, hazel
eyes, and would he called good
looking man. He is a native Of Vir-
ginia and is Of family of six young
men. All of his brothers served in
the Confederate Army, but John
joined and served with the Union
Army. When his Captain came up
to him after the shot was fired, Ma
son /: 81 fired the shot Captain
and / intended to kill the scoundrel.
| did not enlist to guard an assas-
sin" Great, excitement was caused
by the shooting and Guiteau himself
was terribly frightened. The ball
grazed by his head and penetrated
his 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 con-
fined, to give $1,000 in the bargain
il his bullet had pierced Guiteau's
bowels. He said he was tired of rid
ing out there over cobble stone
road every day to guard the life of a
cur who had shot such good man
as President Garfield. In this feel
ing he has a 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 for
mality of court martial will be
gone through with, but probably it
will not amount to much. If tried
by the civil authorities no jury could
be found in this community to con-
vict him OF any grave wrong. AS
for Guiteau himself, he is as great
coward as ever lived. He stands in
mortal terror of being violently dealt
with, and after this shot was very
glad to be removed to more seclud-
ed cell. 1t has not been generally
known that the window OF the one
previously occupied was in good
range of any sharpshooter outside.
Ii it had been better known proba-
bly, the attempt to pick him off would
have been made | efore this. Mason
is said to be a crack shot, and he
seems anxious to get another chance.
Since it frightens him so, no better
punishment could be. inflicted upon
Guiteau than to have some guard
shoot to the right and left of him
about once day.
Ex-Minister Christiancy is now
here ATTENDING in npreon FL hia auit
for divorce. He says there has been
some outrageous lying in the evil
dence for the defense. Washington
is the boss place for marriage and
divorce. Few hours of the five week
days-Friday being unpopular for
that purpose-pass without the re-
cording of license in the clerks Of
fee. and few terms of cnnrt mass