Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-08-18
RAND0LPH'S ATTACK on PRESI.
DENT JACKSON.

From the Nev York sun.
1t is q fact not crcditable to the
civilization of Virginia that one of
her sons, who belonged to First Fam.
lily, set the example of making n VIC.
lent assault upon the President of the
United States. This national disgrace
occurred on board Potomac steamer
at Alexandria on MAY Is, 1888.
Lieut. Robert i. Randolph of the
navy, on board the fTigate Constitu.
tion, was appointed by Captain Pat.
terson, in the year 1928, to assume the
duties of Acting Purser, in place of
John b. Timberlakc, the Purscr, who,
in fit of drunken delirium, had com.
ntted suicide. Timbcrlakc was the
first husband of the future Mrs Gen.
John III. Eaton, nee Peggy O'Neale,
who enjoys the dubious honor of hav-
ing caused the dissolution of General
Jackson's first Cabinet. Randolph
took charge of the office or duties of
Purser and, in his statement of the
case, he complains that the survey and
inventory required By the regulations
OF the law were not made, and that he
was held accountable for an amount
of stores which were not on hand.
After some years he was found to be a
defaulter, ON what he insisted was an
assumed state of facts, when he took
charge of the Pur,crship. \ court of
inquiry was appointed TO investigate
his accounts Their report eXonerat-
ed him from o. intcntloadi misuse of
public property, but not from tLc de-
fault. They reported him to be care
less or neglecttul, though not dishon-
orablc. Otherwise he was an citiciept :
officer. who had rendered the country
valuable service. On this report Gen.
Jackson dismissed him from the SER
vice, in spite of the strenuous efforts of
influential friends in his behalf. 1t
was to avenge himself of this injustice
rs he regarded it, that he made the
violent assault upon the President.
The friends of General Jackson were
never willing to admit the fact, but
his opponents insisted that Randolph
pulled the old hero's nose That seems
to have been the purpose of the ruff
fan, at any rate and the blood upon
the Generals face would seem to prove
that the attempt was successful.
The opportunity for this outrage
was furnished by trip of the Prcsi-
dent, portion of his Cabinet, his
Private Secretary, and other friends,
down the Potomac to Fredericksburg,
in Virginia, to witness the ceremony
of laying the corner stone of tho mon
ument to the memory of the mother
of Washington. The boat stopped ut
Alexandria for n few moments, and
while there number of persons came
on board, and among them Mr.. Ran.
dolph, the late Lieutenant in the Ma
Wy, who had recently been dismissed
from the service. lie entered the cab
in where the President was seated and
engaged in reading a newspaper He
advanced toward the President rs if
to address him, and seemed to be in
the act of drawing his glove. THE
President" says the account in the
Globe, mot knowing him, and sup
posing it was some person about to
salute him, and seeing him at some
difficulty in getting Off bis glove,
stretched out his hand toward him,
saying, Never mind your glove, SIR
Randolph having then disengaged
himself from his gloves, thrust one
hand violently into the Presidents
face, and before he could make use of
the other received blow from n gen.
tleman standing near by him with an
umbrella. Almost at the same time
two other gentlemen in the cabin
sprang upon him. and he was dragged
back and thrown down.
1.-The moment he was assaulted the
President seized his cane, which was
lying near him on the table, and was
forcing his way through the gentle.
men who had crowded around Ran
dolph, insisting that no man should
stand between him and the villain
who had insulted him that he would
chastise him himself. Randolph by