Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-13
GUITEAU.
Further Particulars OF the Attemps 70
Assassinate tho Assassin.

WAsHISGroS, September 12.-Ser
geant Mason, who fired the shot at Gui
teau last evening, still remains under
military guard at the arsenal. District
Attorney Corkhill has not yet decided
upon making demand for the prisoner
and the question OF jurisdiction remains
in doubt. The idea that Mason was
under the influence OF liquor or drug
is generally discredited in the vicinity oi
the Jail, and although no evidence
of plot among the military
guard for killing Guiteau has yet been
discovered 1t has long been known that
a feeling of the deepest hostility against
him exists among the soldiers on duty
at the Jail. The officers OF the Jail, at.
ter having made an examination, are oil
the opinion that Guiteau was not at the
window OF his cell, as he told them, but
was reclining on his bed at the time the
shot was fred. They state that Guiteau
exhibited an agony of fear and appre-
hension for some time alter the shoot-
ing. He was removed to another cell.
Guiteau has told ten different stories
about his position when Sergeant Mason
fred into his cell last night. At first,
and when under excitement, he said he
was living on his bed when the shot was
fired. Subsequently he said he was
standing at the window. But 1t Is be.
lieyed his first statement is true, ard
that he concocted the second with the
idea that it would give him more motor
10 q
narrow escape. This is not the first
time Guiteau has given reason since be
was imprisoned to believe he does not
always tell the truth. His account OF
the shooting as now given to Warden
Crocker is as follows:
He was getting close to me and walk
ing to the window he pointed TO hole
in the outer glass and asked: "Do you
see that? Well, saw the wagons when
the came up. 1t was raining then, and
| was looking at the soldiers getting out
two OF them. l had my arms in this
position quitting one arm over the other
near the elbow and RISING them on the
first bar OF the Window and my chin
was resting on them when l say the
fash from the corner Indicating the
south corner of the west wing), and the
next thing was
The Ball whizzing by Me,
passing over here (pointing over his
shoulder). 1t was a powerful shot
for after it glanced it went
right through my coat, which
was hanging on this nail. See
what it did. 1t spoiled this picture"
pulling out one oi the photographs
taken OF himself in which the left breast
is completely torn out. 81 had some
other things-a tooth pick among them
which it did not touch. l want to
keep the picture as q memento."
General Crocker said, "There was
good aim at the heart of the picture"
than in me-" and he added, Il don't
know who did it."
A guard remarked: 1T looks like it
was an accident"
Guiteau made no reply, but evidently
did not take any stock IN the sugges'
ton. =,
Sergeant Mason is said by officers OF
the battery to be the
Best Shot In the Company.
He says he had observed that every
evening when the guard arrived Gulteau
took the same position at the cell win
dow. For weeks Mason noticed this,
and he made up his mind that a bullet
aimed at that spot any evening Just al
ter the guard arrived would hit Gulteau.
From one view he could see Guiteau
through window opening in
line with Guiteau's cell win
dow. but he could not fire
a direct shot from that position. He
had to 90 round the Jail and get a
position ut another place in order
to command range of Guiteau's. cell
window. Mason did not stop at his
usual place of observation to see II
Guiteau was at the window, but as he
had never failed to be there when the
guard arrived, Mason took it for granted
that the prisoner was at the window, 80
he hurried on to the point where he
could
and fired without attempting to make 1t
certain that Guiteau was in range. The
reason for believing that Guiteau tells a
falsehood in saving he was at the win
dow is that from where the shot
was fred he must have been
hit had he stood there. Gulteau has
been removed to another cell, and It's
location in the Jail is kept a profound
secret. Neither the military nor othcers,
other than those who are on duty IN
that particular portion OF the building,
known where it Is. About noon to-day
Guiteau took up his abode in his new
quarters. There will be no Courtmar,
tial in the case Of Sergeant Mason. His
offsnse IS one against civil, not military
law. 1t is now not thought at the
War Department that there will
be any tr1al at all. The opinion
Mason Was Not in HisRiEht Mind
when he did the firing is prevalent
one among the officials OF the War De-
partment. The civil authorities must
move in the matter, and prosecute
Mason, but it is not thought they will
The District Attorney has not taken any
action, and says he has no official notl'
fication of the shooting. Guiteau keeps
his y. cknniny OF time by making little
notch in a piece OF candle he has fol
each day that passes. This is how he
knew when his birthday arrived. Some
of the jail guards say that Guiteau is an
uusocial liar, that he lies about the mosi
unimportant matters. He was in great
terror last night lest he should bs
murdered, and guards in passing his
cell frequently heard him praying
during the night. He is evidently ar
arrant coward.
Jonathan g. Blgelow, Sergeant Ma
spn's lawyer, called upon the Distric
ATTORNEY this afternoon and asked hin
to claim the prisoner from the military
authorities. 1t was Msson's wish to be
tried in civil court. Col. Corkhill de
clincd 10 do this at present, and the
lawyer expressed his intention to sweal
ont a warrant himself for Mason's ar'
rest. Bigelow says in his opinion
Mason is Insane on the Subj ct.
He further states that when the new:
OF Guiteau's crime first reached Mason
he was serving in Texas, and at the
time expressed his intention o.
killing Guiteau. Mason is said
to be of the famous family o.
Mason and Slidell fame. He served
creditsbly in the late war. If the mat
ter is taken up by the civil authorities
the first proceedings will be before the