The Evening critic., 1881-11-21
GARFiELD,S AvENGER.
Arrest of william Jones on the
Charge Of Shooting Guiteau---He IN
Committed TO Jail by Judge SneiI---
His Identification Said to be Posi-

Saturday afternoon the CITY was agitated
with excitement over the attempted assas-
sination by an unknown horseman Of the
assassin Guiteau as tho latter was being
conveyed in the Black Maria y from the
courthouse to the Jail. At first 1t was un.
derstood and believed that the wretch had
been killed.
THE CRITIC was the first journal in
Washington to get the entire account and |
narrative upon the streets, and in our Sat
urday's extra the history of the shooting |
affair and interviews with Guiteau, Officer
Edelin,, who fred upon the assailant, and |
with Perry Carson, the guard of the van,
were given in detail.
The pursuit of the assaiant by Edelin, |
and the van was fruitlcss, as he took the
ono thoroughfare route across the track
of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad but the
telephone rung up the stations, and to all
them the ofTense, the prisoner, his horse,
his appearance and route were quickly
given. Almost instantly mounted officers
Cole, Rhodes and Morgan were en- route for
the Bunker Hill road, which the flying
man had taken after escaping from the
pursuit of the prison van. They soon saw
the man, who, seeing them, put spurs to
his horse. They followed several miles
and cmpted their rev0lvers at him. Be-
fore the Maryland line was near he Had
disappeared. Intelligence that the man was
William Jones led them to seek his house
and remain and watch there. By chance
they learned that Jones was at the house
of Mr.. William Lord, some distance off
They proceeded there and arrested him,
finding him quite drunk. The hard ridden
horse was found fastened near Mr. Lords
house.
He was arrested and conveyed to the
Seventh-street Station-house, near the
Boundary. He denied being the shooter
and defed the officers to prove his identity.
officer Edelin,, who shot upon the would-be
assassin of Guiteau and pursued him, said
that the prisoner, William Jones, was not
the man. Perry Carson, the guard of the
van, asserted positively that no was the
same man who had been watching the van,
riding behind it on horseback.
It is understood that Jones on Saturday
morning, in riding to town from bis farm,
overlook Gen. Beale and told him that he
intended to shoot Guitear that day.
Strenuous efforts were made to obtain the
release of Jones yesterday on bail. Bonds
to the extent of $4,000 were offered, but
refused.
Jones is young man about 90 years Of
age and farmer of considerable wealth.
His farm is in the county about three miles
north of the city, and is one of the most
valuable In this section. He has the repu-
tation of being Eighty and has several
times committed half.crazy acts.
His main amusement for the past two
years has been to personate policeman,
and after arresting some unsuspecting way
, farer and making show of taking him to
, the station-house, to release him with a
warning never to be caught offending again
, He spends much of his time in the saddle,
. and Is an accomplished horseman. Upon a
recent occasion he rode up to n carriage
;. which was just entering the grounds of the
{ Soldiers Home, and compelled the driver
to halt. The occupants, q gentleman and
, two ladies, protested, but with much sever
, ity of manner, Jones called out: "This
S thing has been going on long enough; you
: must go with me to the station-house; l
: have my orders to arrest you" Explana-
tions failed to satisfy him, and supposing
. him to be an officer-though laboring
under an evident mistake in regard to
;. them-the party accompanied him to the
. station-house Just rs they were about
, to alight from their carriage, however,
n Jones, laughing, babe them goodbye, and
5 putting spurs to his horse, quickly disap-
! peared. As he had neither offered violence
t nor attempted to defraud them in any way,
no charge could DO sustained against him
n Shortly afterward he arrested woman
!, and upon this occasion he was fined in the
!, Police Court His freaks were always of a
+ harmless character, and he was never
known to use or carry n revolver.
d Jones Committed to Jail.
! Judge Smell was on the bench at the Po
lice Court at o. M, by special appoint
ment and at that hour Lieut.. johnson ar
rived at the court with William Jones, tht
il alleged avenger, in custody. The prisone
d appear to better advantage than when HI
4. was captured, being perfectly sober ant
Or having the appearance of a man who wa
g conscious Of having become famous.
o Can't Vernon stated that he had swori
s. out a warrant yesterday morning charging
"a the prisoner with assaulting and attempt
III ing to kill Charles ]. Guiteau on Saturda.
evening and that as he was not ready Il
have the case tried, he would request tina
Q, the prisoner be committed to Jail.
10 Judge Smell then committed the prisone
N to Jail, in default of 5000 bonds, to avail
a. further examination.
* Soon after this decision was rendered tn
~ Police Court van started for the Jail, an
o. when near that building the two van
passed each other, the one containing tn
er murderer of President Garfield and tn
70 other the would-be avenger of his death.
to Shortly after Jones' committal II. X. FL
lg lott, esq, attorney for the defendant toll
be the Judge that if agreeable to the Court h
would waive an examination and allo'
!, Jones case to 60 to the grand jury.
IL IS Claimed Dy inc prosecuting oihcci
o., that an excellent case is made out agains
IS; Jones, and that witnesses have appeare
I'D who heard him threaten to kill Guitea
n and followed him all the way from til
Us City Hall to where the shooting occurre
e, for the purpose of seeing the act and VIII
ai positively identify him.
So 1t is stated that the prisoner proclaime
TO his intention to shoot Guiteau in restat
"a, rant on Louisiana avenue before numbe
Is of people, who also identify him, and
On whom he stated the exact point where I'll
nc shooting would occur and outlined his pla
C. Of escape.
The names of all these witnesses will
kept quiet until the case comes to tria
Jones, in conversation with several office
in this morning, is reported to have said thu
nd he had shot at Guiteau and sincerely n
lg, GREETED his failure to kill him.
ed Jones' wild Ride.
en- A gentleman whom the IMAM on hors
,it back passed on his pilgrimage to the coul
en- try told CRITIC reporter this mornin
gu that he had had great deal of experien'
We in the Indian country and had seen col
or siderable ely" riding in his time b'
az, ne nothing to equal that Of Bill Jones
'e' "Why," said the gentleman, "he was fair
flying. He could ride with the expertne
of Sioux Indian"