The daily gazette., 1881-09-12
Attempt to XIII auiseau.

WAsHINaToN, D. o., Sept. 11.-An IT.
tempt was made to-night TO kill the ~
sassln, Guiteau. 1t is very probable thas
1t was an insane freak IL seems that,
for some days, there has bsen . talk
among the soldiers detailed 10 guard the
wretch as to who should take > shot It
him whenever he presented himself at
the window of his cell.
The "duty Of firing shot" at Guiteaus
1t appears, fell to tho lot of Sergeant
John A. M ason, Of Company b, Second
Artillery, and he prepared for Il when
he was ordered, with other soldiers, to
leave the Arsenal tonight to 70 70 the
jail to perform guard duty. Three wagon
loads Of soldiers left the Arsenal. Herg.
N ason was In the last wagon. he Wns
noticed By some OF his companions 70
strangely, but nothing was said, ~ the
Sergeant had been drinking all day. aud
none in the wagon were aware Of the
'dufy" that he had beeA called upon 70
fulfill. When the wagons drew mp to
the rear OF the Jail, M ason was the first
man to alight. He pushed hinnself
through group of several pessons
standing around, and, reaching small
hillock about three feet from where the
shoulder, took steady aim at the we'll
known window of Guiteau, opp0sltes
and shouted, "There he is," and fired.
The report Of the rife attracted general
attention, and before the smoke had
cleared away twenty soldiers were
crowded around Mason. Said private
Davis, "In Heayen's name, why did you
shoot ?" II wanted to kill that wretch
in there" was the answer. "l have bsen
on to this thing for ten days, and hope
have done the work In good STYLE"
Mason then walked toward his C0m-
manding officer, Captain Mc0illery, say
ing, "Captain, I have endeavored 70 kill
that dirty loafer in there; here 10 my gun
and bayonet, sir run In"
Captain McGiliery was astounded. He
heard the shot and witnessed the excite
ment. but had not dreamed Of the inten-
tions of Mason; but when the latter
came forward and made bis ackn0wiedg-
ment he recognized that something %.
rious had occurred, and turned Mason
ever to the custody Of two soldiers.
A scene of the greatest excitement
prevailed. Warden Crocker and Deputy
Rusk, with several goards on duty, who
were conversing In the ottice OF the jail,
sprang to their feet when the report OF
the rifle rang through the corridor, and,
naturally believing what it meant, ran
towards Guitean's Cell. They found the
latter on his knees, with An expression
of terror on bis face.
"Great God p he exclaimed, when
Crocker looked into his coll. "What do
these men mean, anyway? Do they
want to murder me ?"
HWhy, no, What are you talking
alb eut p ans wered Crocker, who had mot
learned what the trouble was. "Weil,
Just this" answered Guiteau, 81 have
been shot at again. 1 was standing BY
my window Just now when . shot was
fred by one of those soldiers outside. and
the bullet passed my ear, went through
my coat hanging up there, cutting IN
pieces the photograph of my old mother. :
"Did 1t strike yoa at all asked
Crocker.
"No, but 1T frightened me nearly 70
| DEATH"
When Sergeant Mason was being
driven through the streets ON his way TO
the Arsenal crowd gathered at the cor
ner of Third street and Pennsylvanio
avenue and gave him q burrah. They
had evidently heard what he had donss
but he lay back between two stout col.
diers and would say nothing. When the
news became pubic tonight It created
somewhat of a sensation, and very many
people regretted that Mason's shot had
missed its mark.
Guiteau has been removed to another
cell, where he cannot be shot tror1 the
outside.