Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-12
SHOOTING AT GUTTEAU.
Excitement at 4Ao ,Iail.

"
OF HIS cELL-THE STORY AS TOLD BIZ GuI-
TEAU HIMSELF.
Last evening about z O'Clock. Sergt. John A.
Mason, battery B, Second Artillery, United
States army, made an attempt to kill
| Guiteau. by shooting at him. At that
hour Battery B, Capt. McGilvray, was
relieving Capt. W. P. Graves command
which had been on duty the previous
twenty-four hours. The battery arrived in
| three wagons, in the first of which was seated
Sergt. Mason AS the wagon drew up in front
| of the Jail. Mason, who was sitting i'm the rear
| jumped up threw his cape to one side. and, with
| his gun on his shoulder, proceeded to the right
wing of the Jail. few seconds sufficed to
bring him abreast of the window through which
| gun to his shoulder, he fired. The ball grazed
by Guiteau's head and penetrated his coat,
| which was hanging on the side of his CELL pass
| ing through picture which was in the pocket.
| The sergeant then coolly surrendered himself to
! Capt. McGilvray his commanding officer who
! Immediately put him under arrest. He was
taken to the arsenal by Capt. Graves com mand
| and placed in a cell.
GREAT EXCITEMENT
was caused by the shooting. The guards on
duty in the building at once surmising that some
one had shot at Guiteau. hastened to the CELL
They found the prisoner laboring under great
excitement. frightened almost out of his wits.
Mason did not seem to be excited. and when
questioned said he had fired the shot for the
purpose of killing the man, for he had become
tired of riding over the cObble stone to the Jail
every day to guard the life of such a cur as
Guiteau, and made up his mind several days ago
to kill him; that he loaded his rife at the
arsenal, and went to the window where Guiteau
usually stands waiting, gaping for his arrival.
HOW GUTTEAU is EXPOSED.
1t has not been generally known that not
withstanding the reports that Guteau, the as
SaSSln has hppn confined in ioi1 in
tlOn that ever since his commitment on July 3D.
whenever he went to the window of his cell
ne was in range of any sharpshoOter outside.
Ihe fact is now, however, generally
known. His cell being the first of the ten on the
first floor of the south wing is right opposite the
window in the outside wall Through this win
dow shot could be fired, and his cell window
could be reached also by shot through another
window south Probably were it not for the
exploit of Sergeant John A. Mason Yesterday
outside, for the warden, guards and soldiers
have all been very reticent as to the location of
the cell.
THOUGHT HE WAS DOING HIS DUTY.
Sergeant Mason, in interviews with reporters
at the arsenal last night, appeared in good spir
its, and said that he would, besides being con-
fined, give $4,000 in the bargain if the bullet
had pierced Guiteau's bowels. He had been
very much worried in regard to going out to Jail
every day. Guiteau had shot good man-the
President-and he thought it was his duty to
kill him. When Capt. McIlvray came up to Ma
son after the shot was fired, Mason said, ''I
fired the shot, captain and intended to kill
the scoundrel. did not enlist to guard an as
sassin.'
WAS HIS BRAIN AFFECTED?
Capt. Mcllvray says that Mason is not drink
ing man; that he had been sick for some days
and had taken large quantity of strong medi-
cine. which he (the captain) thought had
affected his brain. Some of the soldiers think
aff fh6 hy To
while on guard duty at the jail. Mason was re-
garded as good soldier, and sober, we-reg-
nlated man. Major Graves, who took Mason
from the Jail to the arsenal, says that when he
by firing your piece?" The sergeant replied.
promptly and firmly, 81 shot at Guiteau. the
s. of a of an assassin, and hone have
blown him in two" AS he made this reply he
advanced and surrendered his gun, remarking
that he was ''tired of being jolted about and
worried, just for the sake Of guarding that fell
low, who had shot our President, and who did
not deserve to be guarded"
Mason is not known to have ever made any
threats.
He is first sergeant of company B, second
United States artillery. He is about thirty-tive
or thrty-eight years of age is well built slender
about FIVE feet eleven inches in height with
brown hair and moustache, clear complexion,
hazel eyes, and would be called good-loOking
man. He is native of Virginia and is of
family of six young men. All of his brothers
served in the confederate army, but Thomas
joined and served with the Union army.
THE STORY LEARNED AT THE JAZZ.
by STAR reporter was as follows:-Capt Nc
Gilvray, at 81 o'clock, arrived at the JAIL his
command being in three wagons. Getting out
to look in the rear wagon for something he
heard shot fired, and looking around he saw
Sergeant Mason standing with his musket in
hand. as if he had just fired. He (Mason) was
al fh0 ,f %1,o
front wing, which is about 200 feet from the win
dow of Guiteau's cell. Major McGilvray at once
said: Consider yourself under arrest" Mason
was some little excited A sentry was placed
over him. and Major Graves oonsenting to take
him to the barracks, he was placed in Major
Graves charge.
WHERE THE BALL LODGED.
The ball passed through the bars Of the win
dow of the cell, and striking the south wall AZ
feet from the floor. glanced and struck the east
wall, (near the door, about five feet from the
floor.
WHAT GUrrEAU SAID ABOUT TT.
Guiteau, when Major McGilvray and the other
guards entered his cell, as soon as he could re-
cover his composure, stated that at the time the
shot was fired he was lying on his bed. But
few minutes after he stated to the same parties
that he was standing at the window, describing
his location as first on one side and then on the
other. 1t is thought that the latter statement
is incorrect, and that he concocted it to make
AAi.AAcSAA oott VI HcIO. lOr naQ lie Dceu d. CHc
window in the position described by him the
ball would have at least grazed his shoulder or
neck.
MASON CRACK SHOT.
mason is said by his commanding officer and
comrades to be man of great GOODNESS and a
crack shot, and having been, on duty several
times at the jail he knew the location of the cell
ana also Gulteau's habit of standing at the win
DOW When the relief guard arrived. 1t was,
therefore, unnecessary for him to see Guiteau
% when n. ne flred, and having prepared himself he
OF the building. Although he could not then see
the cell winow, for the sash ofthe outer window
was down, he aimed at the spot where he sup
posed Guiteau was and pulled the trigger.
GUITEAU ANXIOUS TO KNOW WHO FIRED THE
SHOT.
Gnlteau appeared last evening very anxious
TO Know who had shot at him. whether it was
citizen or soldier. but he has not been informed.
he believes that it was the work of some citi-
zen He has been extremely careful heretofore
to have his cot as far from the window as posi-
bic, with his head several inches below the level
OF the Sill, and last night when he retired it was
with his head as close to the mattrass as he
could get it. This morning on waking he said