Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-04

SCHKCuHN NH88SVU7W O6YG0
TIE DELAY IN HIS TRIAL By COURT MARsHAL.-IN
OJ-IRISG Az tn HIS SANITY


DURING AS TO HIS SANITY.
The trial OF Sergeant Mason. who shot at
Guiteau, which was ordered some time ago by
court marshal, was, it will be remembered, sus-
pended until further orders. The reason for the
aelay Is TO allow full and careful examination to
oe had as TO the sanity OF Mason The military
iIthorlties-especially In view OF the fact that
Mason is believed to be insane by them-deemed
it pest that before he was brought to trial care
iui examination as to his sanity or insanity be
made. Mason has been under the direct super
vision of medical officer, who is making care
ful study of his mental faculties The delay OF his
trial is not IN Indication on the part OF the mill
tary authorities that they are dis nclined to try
him for his gross disobedience of orders, but a
| whether he is probably sane or insane. The
result OF the close medical scrutiny under which
Mason is placed, viii decide whether he shall be
tried by court marshal or sent to the insane asy-
lum.
SOMETHING OF MAsONs CAREER
Mr.. j. G. BgelOw, attorney for Sergeant Mason,
says that the sergeant never served In the con-
federate army, but on his mothers side had TWEEN
ty-four cousins in that army Mr. Bigeiow saws:
sergeant Mason was born in 1S45, in Spottsylva-
MA county. Va. In 1850 his father and his
on'F brother, with their families, removed to
ONO. The brother returned to Virginia bout the
time the civil war began. Mason and his father
enlisted ia Company B, 18th Ohio volunteers, COM
manded by Col. NJ ID. Leggett. afterward made
general, and who was late Commissioner OF Pa
rents. ON May II, 1863 young Mason was severely
WOUNDED at Raymond, Miss, by the accidental
was supporting a light Michigan battery, and a
cavdlryman in the rear OF the line, being shot,
rceled and fell from his horse, Mason. with his
muSket In his left hand, showed himself uD from
the ground and pointing to the cavalryman, said: :
Look there" In doing so his musket accident
ally discharged. The ball entered his left armpit
and passed out through the shoulder joint, tear
in5 oil the rim OF his lett ear.
CHANGE IN HIS DISPOSITION.
"The shot destroyed number OF the cervfcal
nerves attached to the cerebrum. Ever since that
shot Mason has been OF an excitable disposition.
The chang OF his disposition was observed almost
Immediately after his return home in 1865, and
again upon his visit to his sisters and brothers,
within tFenty-fOur hours and at the end OF two
days departed in fever OF pISSion. His disposition
had undergone such marked change as to cause
ms people TO Speculate as To the question of his
insanity. About this time of his sisters wrote
letter to her cousin in Virginia, saying that her
brother Charles was losing his mind His real
name is Charles ID. Mason. He enlisted under this
name in the OHIO regiment He assumed the name
under which he is now known, John A. Mason,
upon entering the regular army. There are large
number OF persons in the District of Columbia who
became acquainted with Mason before and about
the time or his marriage, two years ago. They
noticed his eccentricitieS and thought him insane
long before he shot at Guiteau. When his trial
VIII take place do not know. The court was
appointed by Gen. Hancock more than month
ago, ana was TO have convened the 18th of Septem-
Der FOR his trial, but the order suspended until
iuftner notice AS yet no notice has been received
as to when tie trial will take place, if ever it will.
town centennial celebration. l am ready to pro-
coed with the trial. and do not think there will he
the slightest difficulty in establishing the fact of
MaSOn'S insanity"