Daily Republican., 1881-10-03
lHE AsSI SSIN GUITEAU
Sergeant Nelson's Not tho Only At
tempt ON hts Life.

|
A special despatch from Washington
to the New York Herald says: The
deep apprehension 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 Mason's shot
was the second attempt made upon the
assassin's lite since his arrest. The
true story of the struggle that occurred
between the guard and Guiteau has
never been given to the public. The
facts, rs given by an eyewitness and
from the person who first went to Ma.
gill : assistance, are about as follows:
There is an utlicer Of the Jail whose duty
it is early each morring to go to the
cells tor those prisoners who work in
the tire-roon AMI awaken them ia!
order that they may assist in starting
the fires under the boilers. On the
morning in question this officer had
started to attend 10 this part of his
duties. He had reused the men, and
then to prevent them from stealing II
march upon him and taking another
nap, he had secreted himself close by
their cells, to be sure they dressed and
went to york. While thus seated he
was somewhat startled by the cry of
"Murder" repeated az long as "A person
could catch breath. This, while it ar.
rested the attention of the officer, did
not cause any alarm whatever, as it is
no uncommon thing for prisoner to
have the nightmare and utter this blood
cnrdling cry in the still watches of the
night. Suddenly there tang through
the vaulted archways of the prison the
crashing report of u 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
rotunda he was surprised to find the
door Ct the corridor he had been in was
vice open, as also was the door Of the
corridor opposite and the door Of Gni.
teau's cell. From within came the
sound ola deadly struggle and shrill
cries of "HeIpi.' "Murder." Dashing
into the cell, this official was aStuni,lled
to find Guiteau and Magil graphing
The assassin had the intruder from be-
hind with his elbows pinioned az sthough
in II wise. Magill, pistol in hand, was
endeavoring TO break away from the grip
of Gniteau and trying to reach over his
shoulder so as to fire ball into the
prisoners body.
GUITEAr's FEAR.
Upon catching sight of the new conner
Guiteau did rot relax his hold, but
cried cut: "For Gods sake help me.
Do not let him kill me. He came here
TO murder me.
Sprinmiug forward the officer seized
both, thrusting 'he one out of the cell
and dashing the prisoner upon the bed.
IN the investigation that followed great
embarra ssment was experienced to get
a statement fixed up that would satisfy
the Eublic. 1t will be remembered that
it was stated that the explosion of the
pistol was caused by the weapon falling
to the floor. The truth is it was never
out of Magi,l'S hand. The "chetser
knife found on the floor was n link
in the story hard to cover. Magill
claims that Guiteau tried 10 cut him
with this. AS the assassin is a much
more powerful man than Magill. it is
hardly to be sUppos. d that Magill dis
armed him, and it is hardly to he sup
posed that Guiteau wOu>d throw down
II knife and unael take 20 defend himself
against man armed with revolver
Another complication III the matter was
that in the carrying ont of his regular
duties MagiIl had no business what
ever in the vicinity Of his cell, and those
who were converSant Wi h all the uc.
tails o. the affair could in 10 reason
able way account tor his presence there.
The statements of the warden were, of
course, based upon the reports received
from his suhOrdinateS, AID he could rot
be held responsible for the presumed in
:entiou of Magill'> visit in Guiteau'S
cell, yet the impr, S,'iuN strong on the
minds Of at least one of the jail officials
thai this visit was made for he purpose
of killing Gulfral, and was defeated
by the watrhfulness and activity Of the
assassin. The shpt ui sergeant Mason
was another couvin lng proof to Gui-
tcau that his life was in constant dam
ger from those around the Jail. The
constant and careful! watch that hr has
kept up ever since and the anxiety he
has displayed to have hi cell protected
from the possibility of shot being
ii" a at him, either from the outsil or
the inside of the Jail, is Il convincing
proof of his sanity.