Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-18
SERGEANT MASON,s CASE.


WHICH DIAN iepciST ufOppeu lnUO tne O11lce or
Mr. D. g. BigeloW, counsel for Sergeant Mason, To-
day, he found that gentleman in a great good
humor. 81 have found somethlng.n he said,
switch viii get Mason of right here in Washing
ton"
"What is that?" inquired the reporter
"Well, you can say that Mr.. ]. G. B;gelow, coun-
sci for Mason, has now completed his Investigation
OF the question whether Mason was pr sent when
the court-martia1 was sworn by the 1u.ge adyo-
cate, and the judge advocate by the president and
he has learned that he was not present by the tes-
tmony OF four newspaper men vino were pre- sent
at the time OF the swearing or the court that
he himself was not present when the court was
organized, coming into the court at the time
the orders conVening the court were being read by
Ihe JUICE advocate: that on the morning OF the
2lSt OF September he observed In the reading OF
the record by the judge advocate that it was not
stated affrmatively that Sergeant Mason Was
present when the members of the court were sw orn
that tns is fatal error Ia the proceedings the Ia
requiring the court and the judge advocate TO be
sworn in the presence or tie ac.,lsat: tat hs
low Intends To present these facts in due form to
the proper authority here in Washington with the
request that the sentence OF the court martial be
annulled and Mason liberated and restored to
duty.'
MIR. Bigelow has had one or two interviews with
members OF Congress, who, it is stated, proposed
to ask for Congressional inquiry into the sudden
| removal or Mason.
On every hand are found evidences OF sympathy
VITA MaSon'S family. A meeting has been called
at the pariors OF Mrs Fitzgerald No 325 PennsyI-
vania avenue, for next Tuesday evening, TO take
steps for the relief OF Mrs. Mason.
AN Ex-ARMY OFFICERS VIEWS.
A gentleman who was formerly in the army In
speaking Of the case of Sergeant Mason. said yes
terday: 1.-The sentence in this ease is just accord
Ing TO the evidence 1t Is necessary that IL should
be severe, but it does not exceed that the civil
courts would have given on convection Ii Is more
necessary TO be severe ia the army than in civil
life for the soldiers the conServators OF peace
1t was the highest crime known to the law for q
soldier gong on duty 10 protect the life OF pris-
oner TO attempt TO shoot him. Even the person OF
that abo,ninaDie wretch Guiteau under the law is
sacred suppose for a moment that Mason had
been acquitted, what would have been the effect
on the army7 How long would 1t have been be-
tore some one would have committed the same
offence? The life OF the assassin in the lail
would not be worth insuring for week, for some
soldier-and all who have been sent TO guard him
would like to see him torn to atons-would have
put him out OF the way. FROM what have heard
even some OF the officers have hid TO Stife their
feelings when they went on duty at the jail"
The question WAS asked whether the evidence
did not support the charge OF intent to kill, and
the officer answered: "leS, the evidence Sustains
the charge; the evidence as given, mean. Had
the declarations OF Mason been Kept out OF the
case, there would have been no evidence that he
shot at or intended to kill Guteau. 1t is true that
was q t sa1a was given In the testimony OF
dence; 1t was only hearssy. His statements,
except the one first made, are OF course lies He
out He supposed that It would make him great
man to say that he had made such narrow
escape, ana theretore invented the story that he
saw the shot fired and heard the ball whz past
What do you thfnk, =" asked the reporter, "of
the condition OF MaSonS mind? Was he not in
sane on the point that the assassin OF the President
should be killed at Once?"
81 don't see, ~ remarked the Colonel, "why the
plea OF insanity was not interpoSed unless the de-
tense was quite certain OF clearing him the teS-
1mODy without the insanity dodge. Bigelow had
much experience during the war and made a good
record, and he showed the result OF his experience
In the management OF the case, but was too conf
dent OF an acQuittaL Mason could have easily
been acquitted on the plea OF insanity without any
disgrace attaching. He may have been as crazy
as loon on Guiteau But IL it had been shown
(and happen TO know that it could have been
for some time before, his head was full OF qunne,
the result would have been different"
"What do you think or hurrying Mason OF when
the petition 1or habeas corpus was pending7" was
the next question asked.
"WeH, do not think that Gen. Ayres intended
to defeat the execution OF the WRIT said the Col
oneL 1.-THE TACT that Mr. Bigelow appriSed Gea.
Ayres OF his Intention to apply for the writ, and
that the prisoner was soon alter started for AL.
bany, looks somewhat suspicious. and it should be
Inquired into. Doubtless the entire proceedings
win be reviewed"
AMONG THE CALLERS at the White House to-day
were Judge Strong, Senators Rollins Window and
Hill. and Representatives Hawk, Horr, Smith,
New York; A0rey, Aldrich, Haskell, Hubbell ,Ladd,
WadSworth, Lacey, Gibson, Harris, Wise, Penn
syivania, and TOWnshend, Illinois
GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS To-DAY.-Internal reve-
nue.. sSo6. .46a. Is; customs, s55a.aH.la
NATIONAL BANK NOTES outstanding, ssei, ,75i .7H.
ARMY ORDHRs-The leave granted BY the War
department In August last to Lieut. Samuel c. Rob
1cfc ovolrx