The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-09-30
Two Assaults On Guitea..

Washington, Sept, 29.-The deep ap-
prehension felt and expressed By Guiteau
Of an effort being made by some one
connected with the jail to kill him will
be more fully understood when it is
known that Sergeant Mason's shot was
the second attempt that has been made
on the assassin's life since his incarcer-
ation- The true story of the struggle
that occurred between the guard Magill
and Guiteau has never been given to
the public. The facts. as gathered from
an eyewitness. and the person who first
went to Magill's assistance. are about
as follows:
There is an officer OF the Jail whose
duty it is early each morning to go to
the cells OF those prisoners who work in
the fire room and waken them in order
that they may assist in starting the
hres under the boilers. On the morn
ing In question this officer had started
to attend to. this part Of his duties, had
reused out the men. and then to pre-
vent their stealing march upon HIM
and taking another nap, he seated him.
self in the immediate vicinity of their
cell doors to be sure that they dressed
and went to work. While thus seated
he was somewhat startled by the cry of
''murder," repeated about as fast as a
person could catch breath. This, while
1t attracted the attention of the officer,
did not cause any alarm whatever as it
is no uncommon occurrence for q pris-
oner to have the nightmare and utter
this blood-curdling cry in the still
watches of the night. Suddenly there
rang through the vaulted arch
ways Of the prison tbe crashing
report Of a pistol. This was enough to
bring the guard to his feet. and he
made dash for the rotunda and for
Guiteau's cell. As he reached the ro-
tunda he was surprised to find that the
door of the corridor he had been In was
unlocked and wide open, as also was the
door Of the corridor opposite and the
door of Guiteau's cell. From within
the cell came the sounds of o deadly
struggle and shrill cries of ''Help! MUIR
der" Dashing into the cell this official
was astounded to find Guiteau and Ma
gill graphing. The assassin held the
intruder from behind, with his elbows
pinioned as though in a vice. Magill,
pistol in hand, was endeavoring to
break away from the grip of Guiteau,
and try to reach over his shoulders, 90
as to fire ball into the prisoners body.
Upon catching sight of the revolver,
Guiteau did not loose his hold, but
sbrieked out: "For Gods sake, help
me; do not let him kill me; he came
here to murder me-" Springing for
ward, the officer seized both Magill and
Guiteau, thrusting the one out Of the
cell and dashing the prisoner upon his
bed.
In the investigation that followed
great embarrassment was experienced
to get statement fixed upon that would
satisfy the public. 1t will be remem-
bered that it was stated that the explo-
sion Of tho pistol was caused by the
weapon falling to the floor Tho trnth
ia. it was never ont Of Mao;ll,s hand
The ..cheese knifen found on the f1oor
was a link in the atorv hard to covar
Maeill claimed that Gp,tean tried to
cut him with this. As the assassin ia
a much more powerful man than Ma
Gill. il ia hardly To he supnosed that
Magill disarmed him and il il pnrea
sonable to suppose that Guiteau could
throw down a knife and undertake. to
defend himself against man armed
with o revolver.
Another complication In the matter
was that in the carrying out of his du-
ties Magill had no business whatever
In the vicinity of Guiteau,s cell. and
those who are conversant with all the
details of the affair could in NO reason
""y "oSo"u' iol MS pleoonce
'ne,e.